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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-09-03 PC minutes VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD PLAN COMMISSION RECORD OF MINUTES DATE: September 3, 2013 Chairman Sobkoviak called the Plan Commission meeting to order at 7:0 0 p.m. and led the pledge to the flag . ROLL CALL Commissioners Seggebruch, Renzi, Kiefer, Heinen, Green, and Chairman Sobkoviak were present . Commissioner O’Rourke , the Park , School, Fire and L ibrary Districts were absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : The Plan Commission minutes from August 20 , 2013 w ere accepted as presented . PUBLIC COMMENTS: There w as no response . DOWNTOWN DESIGN WORKSHOP Mr. Garrigan stated one of the goals of the Strategic Pla n was to create a Central Area Plan to create a vibra nt downtown; mentioned the plans that have been approved and indicated this is a draft of the Central Area Plan. Mr. Garrigan indicated he was looking for open discussion . Some of the q uestions are a) What should the boundaries of the downtown be ; and b) What is a downtown ? Mr. Garrigan reviewed plans that have been approved and described which plans have been implemented (i.e. our building, First Midwest Bank, the Town Center and Van Dyke Place ha ve been de veloped using the Teng Plan.) A question is whether this plan is still relevant. Lockport Street Corridor Plan outlined guidelines for the Teng Plan including the façade program and the streetscape project. The Village invested over $2,000,000 .00 dollars in our façade program and $7,000,000.00 in our streetscape project. Mr. Garrigan stated the Village owns 57 acres along Van Dyke Road for the Metra Star Line (TOD Transit Oriented Development Plan.) CMAP and the Metra have requested we remove the Star Line from our Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Garrigan reviewed the Lockport Corridor Design Guidelines; the Transit Oriented Developmen t Plan; interconnected streets; blocks; infill; Village Center vision; the street cross sections; parking and garage placement; the downtown vision and the residential development. Mr. Garrigan described some of the other vibrant downtown areas such as Naperville, Wheaton, St. C harles, Batavia and Lake Forest. Mr. Garrigan asked the Commission what should be the boun daries of the downtown. One of the commissioners felt it should be from the present downtown west to Wallin Drive and include all four corners at 126 and Wallin Drive then north to 143 rd Street . Another commissioner felt the downtown stops at the underpa ss of the tracks on Route 59/30. Another commissioner felt the downtown could run to Wallin Drive if you can establish that much growth; possibly implant the streetscape to Van Dyke Road and Lockport to take in Fairfield Ridge as the north boundary for th e downtown . Michael P. Collins VILLAGE P RESIDENT Michelle Gibas VILLAGE CLERK TRUSTEES Margie Bonuchi Paul Fay Bill Lamb Garrett M. Peck James Racich Dan Rippy Plan Commission Minutes September 3 , 2013 Page 2 of 3 Mr. Garrigan stated people seem to be comfortable walking ¼ of a mile or a five minute walk. A nother commissioner felt the traditional downtown (Lockport Street) was more to his liking as some people just want more house with larger lots . If the walk becomes too long, people will get in their cars and drive to the new location. One of the downfalls of Plainfield is transportation; do the residents of Plainfield really want a high density in the downtown or do they want the larger lot and not care if they have to drive to other locations. Another commissioner suggested taking a long term view and limit the downtown to south of 143 rd at Route 59; suggested the possibility of the Star Line thirty years from now or possibly rapid transit if the Village is able to hang on to the property along Van Dyke Road. Mr. Garrigan stated that is a great question – What is the character of Plainfield? One commissioner indicated until just recently there was not a good walkway to get west of the river or f or subdivisions west of the river to get downtown. One of the commissioners mentioned the comparison to other communities and indicated some have the trains and some are the county seats. Naperville has I -88, the train, the river walk, the large employe rs, and the many restaurants. One of the commissions stated Wallin Drive makes sense on the west side but indicated 143 rd Street is our industrial corridor and asked why we would want to pull the industrial into the downtown. Some of the commissioners felt the river walk would draw more people downtown. If we increase the foot traffic in the downtown then parking may become an issue. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Barb Kujath. Mrs. Kujath agreed Wallin Drive would be as far west as you would want to tak e the downtown; agreed people do not want to walk far; asked what the draw would be to bring people from other communities to come to downtown Plainfield; stated you need businesses to attract people. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Vern Kujath. Mr. Kujath s tated the Village has invested a lot of money in the downtown; the tax base is changing; businesses are struggling; the TIF district i s diverting money to facades rather than keeping this money for the schools; felt there is more to the Village than just t he downtown; wants to make it fair for everyone. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Mike Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman, Teska Associates, felt the area south of the cemetery along Route 59 should be removed from being part of the downtown ; felt the Wallin Woods subdivis ion has more of a typical suburban feel than a downtown area and should be removed from the downtown; felt some high density is a key component for the downtown. Mr. Hoffman suggested s ome of the amenities needed would include more dining opportunities , t he river walk, a little bit of shopping and access to the transit system. The higher density is needed to support the transit system. One commissioner felt the downtown needs apartments and townhomes or condos, and this would also put some contractors ba ck to work. Some discussion was held regarding the density in the downtown; motor traffic to the west and the need for a parking deck ; expanded bus service or a transit center on the village owned property. Discussion regarding the possibility of apart ments in the downtown or the expanded downtown and how far residents will walk. Some of the commissioners felt Plainfield would never have a parking deck; parking decks are expensive and generally do not make money. Discussion was held regarding the rive r walks in the different communities. Several commissioners felt the river walk could be a destination for the people coming to the downtown. Plan Commission Minutes September 3 , 2013 Page 3 of 3 Mr. Proulx stated the Riverwalk Steering Committee has looked at the foot print of the river front plan which is a 2 mile stretch that begins at the Route 59 crossing at the north and Renwick Road at the south and contemplated doing a floodway remapping to maximize areas that could be brought out of the floo d plain for development potential for shops or restaurants. Some Commissioners felt the village owned property could be developed as a hub for a transit system. Mr. Garrigan mentioned there are still issues relating to some of the subtopics; i.e. transportation which could be a separate discussion for another ev ening; whether there is the potential to extending some of the streets i.e. Village Center Drive and others ; does the Teng plan still make sense; would there be support for a classic auto oriented retail strip west of Van Dyke Road; what type of density sh ould be supported. Mr. Garrigan stated he would like to bring this back for discussion prior to going to the Village Board in the first part of January. Chairman Sobkoviak suggested the possibility of a questionnaire if time gets short . DISCUSSION Adjo urned at 9 :00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by _________________________ Merrilee Trotz Recording Secretary