1998-08-05 - Plan Commission - Minutes REGULAR MEETING
BUFFALO GROVE PLAN COMMISSION
August 5, 1998
Proposed expansion of Metra commuter parking area,
Commonwealth Edison properly and adjacent parcels,
east of Commerce Court and south of Deerfield
Parkway adjacent to the Wisconsin Central Railroad
tracks-Annexation with zoning in the Industrial District
and approval of a Special Use and Preliminary Plan—
Workshop#1
Chairman Goldspiel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Council Chambers,
Buffalo Grove Municipal Building, 50 Raupp Boulevard, Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Commissioners present: Chairman Goldspiel
Ms. Howard
Mr. Samuels
Mr. Berman
Mr. Trilling
Mr. Ottenheimer
Mr. Moons
Commissioners absent: Mr. Krug
Mr. Viehman
Also present: Mr. Lee Szymborski, Assistant Village Manager
Mr. Robert Pfeil, Village Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES -None
COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Commissioner Ottenheimer stated he attended the Village board meeting on July 20, 1998 and the
following items were discussed:
1. The home day care center at 296 Windsor Drive was not approved for a special
`./ use
2. The proposed LaQuinta Inn development at Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield
Parkway was referred to the Plan Commission
Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 1
3. Annexation of the Walsh property in Prairie View was continued to the August 17,
1998 Board meeting to resolve certain issues concerning the timing of utility
construction
III Commissioner Berman stated he attended the Village board meetingAugust 3, 1998. He noted
on gu
that there was a referral to the Plan Commission for a development on the south side of Aptakisic
Road east of the Grand Prix auto laundry property. The proposed development would include a
gas station, car repair shop and a third commercial building.
PROPOSED EXPANSION OF METRA COMMUTER PARKING AREA,
COMMONWEALTH EDISON PROPERTY.AND ADJACENT PARCELS,EAST OF
COMMERCE COURT AND SOUTH OF DEERFIELD PARKWAY ADJACENT TO THE
WISCON,SIN CENTRAL RAILROAD TRACKS - ANNEXATION WITH ZONING IN THE
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE AND PRELIMINARY
PLAN--WORKSHOP#1
Mr. Szymborski stated the Village is seeking annexation with zoning in the Industrial District and
approval of a Special Use and Preliminary Plan. He noted that in 1994 the plan presented to the
Plan Commission included the 451 parking spaces currently in place as well as an area for future
expansion. This was the buildout to meet the 2010 projection, along with an 1,100 square foot
station facility.
Mr. Szymborski stated that in just two years since inception of the Metra North Central service,
the amount of boardings has far exceeded Metra's projections for the Buffalo Grove facility.
Metra's original projections for the entire North Central line was 3,900 daily boardings by 1998.
At the present time, Buffalo Grove accounts for 900 boardings, and it is the busiest station on the
line.
Metra has been undertaking a major study of future improvements to its facilities, which is a
requirement in order to get additional federal funding for system expansions. There is tremendous
interest for more trains to serve the North Central line, and this will require a major investment
to provide double-tracking. Metra's preliminary plan is to do a partial buildout of the North
Central service. This means there would be double tracking for only part of the line from Antioch
to Chicago. This improvement would accommodate 22 daily runs as opposed to a full buildout
which would accommodate 52 runs. In the long term Metra would like to see the North Central
service as a full service line.
Mr. Szymborski stated it is necessary to accommodate additional parking demand that is already
occurring at the Buffalo Grove facility as well projected demand to account for the planned
service expansions. The proposed parking lot expansion would be on the Commonwealth Edison
property. He stated that plan would provide for up to 211 additional parking spaces. He noted
that a minimum of 130 additional spaces will be built as part of the current plan, and up to 200
spaces will be built if funding is available. He said it may be possible to the project this Fall, but a
Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 2
number of items would need to be resolved to meet this schedule.
Mr. Szymborkski explained that the parking lot expansion will be similar to the current parking
facility. The same lighting standards and stall numbering system will be used. He indicated that
an additional stormwater facility will be required to serve the new parking area. The two existing
ponds cannot accommodate the additional stormwater detention needed on the site. He noted
that the Village is in the process of negotiating with two property owners to acquire the land
needed for the stormwater facility.
Mr. Szymborski stated the Village has received an Operation Green Light grant from the Illinois
Department of Transportation(IDOT)to do intersection improvements at Commerce Court and
Deerfield Parkway. The improvements will include dual left turn lanes for traffic exiting
Commerce Court to westbound Deerfield Parkway. This improvement is planned for construction
in 1999.
Mr. Szymborski said there is a minor change in the original plan for the commuter facility to
construct a 400-square foot warming shelter. This shelter would be located halfway between the
depot and the north windbreak. The shelter will accommodate passenger overflow at the depot
and have the secondary benefit of spreading out passengers on the platform.
Chairman Goldspiel asked for a description of the surrounding uses adjacent to the proposed
addition.
Mr. Szymborski stated the surrounding area is part of the Covington Corporate Center business
park. Immediately to the south is Commonwealth Edison property. The stormwater facility is
adjacent to a single family residence in unincorporated Lake County.
Chairman Goldspiel asked if sufficient distance has been maintained between the stormwater
facility and the residence to meet Village ordinances.
Mr. Szymborski stated yes. He commented that the Village engineer has been in contact with
Vernon Township to discuss drainage and stormwater runoff issues in the unincorporated area.
Commissioner Moons asked if there are any plans for further expansion into the Commonwealth
Edison property south of the proposed parking addition.
Mr. Szymborski stated it is possible, but the distance to the boarding area would begin to reach
the limits of how far commuters would be willing to walk. One of the long term plans for Metra is
an additional warming shelter for the area south of the depot.
Commissioner Trilling asked if there is any way of connecting the road from the residential area
south of the parking lot.
Commissioner Berman noted the street does not go far enough to allow for a connection. He
Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 3
commented that a connection between the parking area and the residential street would send
traffic down Newtown to Weiland, and residents in the area would probably consider it an
undesirable impact on their neighborhood.
Chairman Goldspiel noted some concern by some residents about emergency access and asked if
there is a need to discuss emergency access running to the south.
Commissioner Berman commented that there are only about three 5 to 10 minute periods in a
given day in which there is any backup of commuter traffic at Commerce Court trying to enter .
Deerfield Parkway. While the dual left turn lanes from Commerce to Deerfield is a useful
improvement, it is not necessary to do major costly improvements on the bikepath to provide
emergency access.
Chairman Goldspiel commented that emergency access is veryimportant, and this issue should
P g cY
not be overlooked.
Commissioner Berman stated this is a backwards condition. As people are leaving they are
queuing up to turn left onto Deerfield Parkway and the entrance is still open. Even with people
picking up commuters,the breaks in the traffic are such that those people are able to make a left
turn into Commerce Court to access the commuter facility even in the worst peak traffic
conditions.
Chairman Goldspiel stated he would like to have this issue checked out with the police and fire
departments to see if there is anything needed concerning emergency access.
Mr. Szymborski said that he would check with the Police and Fire departments.
Commissioner Samuels asked if there has been preliminary engineering to determine the amount
of land that is necessary to provide the detention.
Mr. Szymborski stated the amount of land presented on the site plan has been reviewed by the
Village Engineer and it provides adequate capacity for the parking lot expansion.
Commissioner Samuels asked if this would be adequate for any future expansion of the parking
area. He inquired if the existing ponds on adjacent industrial properties could provide additional
stormwater capacity.
Mr. Szymborski said any additional detention requirements would have to be met by stormwater
facilities at other locations. The Village Engineer has indicated that the existing ponds cannot
provide additional capacity for parking lot expansions.
Chairman Goldspiel asked if the green light project improvement of the Commerce
Court/Deerfield Parkway intersection eliminate or significantly solve the backup problem in the
Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 4
\ \
evening.
Mr. Szymborski said it is now taking about 3 to 4 signal cycles for traffic to clear at the
intersection. The latest observation by the Police Department determined that it takes about 12
minutes to get all the traffic through the intersection. This time will be significantly decreased with
the dual left turn lanes.
Chairman Goldspiel asked about the traffic circulation pattern in the parking lots. He asked if the
LI ability for inbound traffic will be maintained when there is traffic coming out during the morning
and evening rush hours.
Mr. Szymborski stated traffic can flow both ways. He stated that what happens now is that most
people want to get as close to the depot as possible. As parking spaces fill up near the depot,
other people decide to go into the north end and park there.
Commissioner Moons asked if the new signal at the Courtesy Company can be coordinated with
the dual exit lanes at Commerce Court.
Mr. Szymborski stated he will have some answers to that at the next hearing.
FUTURE AGENDA SCHEDULE
Mr. Pfeil noted the next meeting of the Plan Commission will be on August 19, 1998.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS -None
STAFF REPORT -None
NEW BUSINESS -None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Ottenheimer, seconded by Commissioner Howard and carried
unanimously to adjourn. Chairman Goldspiel adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Respec s lly submit'-•,
tom.
APP OVED BY. Fay 'ubin, ' ec.rding Secretary
)7i
416704-d
(STEP GOLDSPIEL, Chairman
Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 5