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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-02-07 PC minutes Plan Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Chairman Kiefer called the Plan Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the pledge to the flag. ROLL CALL: Commissioners, Renzi, Minnis, Womack, Heinen (7:02 p.m.), and Chairman Kiefer were present. The Fire and Library Districts were present. Commissioners Seggebruch and Green were absent. The Park and School Districts were absent. The Plan Commission minutes dated January 17, 2017 were approved as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There was no response. DEVELOPMENT REPORT Mr. Proulx indicated the Village Board approved the ordinances for a fence variance at 12549 S Wingstem Street, a special use for the beauty salon at 12443 S Route 59, and the special use for the 2 unit residential property at 23904 W Main Street; also approved the site plan review for 15233 S Joliet Road; directed the village attorney to draft the ordinance for Primrose School in the Meijer Subdivision; and approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for 24215 W Lockport Street in the Historic Downtown District. Tom Ruane was appointed Trustee to fill the term vacated by Jim Racich. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Case No. 1751-011717.SU R R Tire and Auto Repair Mr. Bogda indicated the applicant is seeking a special use to operate an auto repair service at 15924 S Lincoln Highway in a 1,500 square foot building. Mr. Bogda stated the uses of the adjacent buildings include a liquor store, a tax service office, a barbershop, Mexican restaurant and office of a religious ministry on this 1.38 acre lot; and reviewed the land uses of the adjacent properties as listed in the staff report dated February 3, 2017. Mr. Bogda stated the applicant plans to service 1-2 automobiles at a time; with approximately 2-3 customers at any given time; the planned hours of operation are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday and 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sunday. Mr. Bogda indicated nearly the entire balance of the lot is paved with a small portion at the south end where automobiles are currently stored on a dirt field. Staff recommends vehicle parking or storage not be allowed in this area until this portion is paved. The building includes 3 garage bays and a service door which was previously used for auto repair. Mr. Bogda stated the auto repairs will be buffered by a building housing storage units from the residential area. Mr. Bogda mentioned the applicant will provide 6 parking spaces, 4 for customers and 2 for employees. The zoning ordinance requires 3 parking spaces per service bay or a total of 9 spaces. Mr. Bogda reviewed the findings of fact as noted in the staff report dated February 3, 2017. Staff believes that the renewed productive use of this auto repair building will add more value to the subject property and surrounding commercial properties and could potentially lead to improvements to the subject property or to surrounding properties. In advance of any comments from the public hearing or input from the Plan Commission, staff recommends approval. Plan Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Chairman Kiefer swore in Richard Ramirez, owner of the business. Mr. Ramirez corrected the hours of operation to 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday thru Saturday and 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sunday. Chairman Kiefer asked if the 5:00 p.m. closing of the business would allow for the customers to pick up their automobiles. Mr. Ramirez indicated the business hours are sufficient. Chairman Kiefer opened the meeting to public comments. Chairman Kiefer swore in Robert Breeding, representing the church. Mr. Breeding indicated the church has been operating at this location for 4 years; indicated their first concern was the parking and secondly the noise on Sunday when they hold church services. Mr. Breeding stated the business closing at 5:00 p.m. would not affect their Thursday services but they would be affected by the business on Sunday when they hold their services. Chairman Kiefer asked which building the church occupies. Mr. Breeding indicated the building immediately north of this proposed business. Chairman Kiefer asked about the parking for this area. Mr. Bogda mentioned it may be the landlord that will need to address the parking issues; stated he did not know how many parking spaces the church uses on Sundays and what the existing agreement is regarding parking. Mr. Bogda was not aware church services were held at this site. Commissioner Womack asked if it is the same owner of these buildings. Mr. Ramirez indicated it is the same owner for all the buildings. Chairman Kiefer asked how the parking meets the church’s needs at this time. Mr. Breeding mentioned they had no parking problems until the barber shop came in; stated the parking has been changed with the improvements to Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) and now the church parks in the rear; mentioned this business will take even more of their parking. Commissioner Heinen asked the number of members in the church. Mr. Breeding indicated they have 63 members. Mr. Bogda mentioned religious uses are now required to obtain a special use permit. Mr. Proulx stated he was not aware there was an active church at this location; stated the village recently changed their zoning code over time to regulate special uses; religious services may have been permitted by right in the previous code. Commissioner Heinen suggested going back to the owner of the lot to figure out the parking to see if this is an issue and how it could be addressed; stated he was not comfortable voting on this case until we have more data. Chairman Kiefer suggested the applicant talk with the landlord about the priority for the parking. Commissioner Heinen stated the conflict is Sunday; asked if the applicant was comfortable with not being open for business on Sunday. Mr. Ramirez stated he would not rule out this suggestion, stated he was willing to work to settle the parking issue with the landlord. Plan Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Chairman Kiefer asked if cars would be stacked for service. Mr. Ramirez stated he would not have any cars waiting for service; stated with 3 bays the cars should be able to pull right in for service; described how access is obtained to the rear portion of the lot. Chairman Kiefer asked if the Fire Department has looked at this. Commissioner Heinen suggested this be looked at for the safety issue. Commissioner Womack asked what happens when someone comes to access their storage unit. Mr. Ramirez stated he has never seen anyone park in front or near the storage units. Commissioner Renzi asked if the auto repair shop previously had a special use permit. Mr. Proulx thought the regulation for auto repair has been fairly consistent, that the special use treatment has not been changed. Commissioner Renzi asked how long the auto repair shop has been gone from this location. Mr. Ramirez thought the car repair shop has been gone for 5 years. Commissioner Renzi stated then the shop and the church have not operated together before. Commissioner Renzi asked if the property owners to the west had been notified. Mr. Bogda indicated all surrounding property owners were given notice including the residences to the west; and the applicant provided the certified mail receipts; stated the sign was posted along Route 30 also. Commissioner Renzi asked about the southwest corner. Mr. Bogda stated there are vehicles parked there now; stated he could let Code Enforcement know about those vehicles. Commissioner Renzi asked for clarification from the Village Board that we either have a variance granted to them for parking or we should make specific findings that their default vision would not necessarily apply. Chairman Kiefer mentioned the accessible parking requirements have not been met at this site. Commissioner Minnis suggested striping would not be possible with the storage, church, and auto repair businesses in the same area. Chairman Kiefer mentioned one of the standard requirements is approval from the Fire Department. Commissioner Renzi asked if a stipulation for the hours of operation should be included with the special use permit. Mr. Bogda stated a stipulation might be appropriate to modify the Sunday hours proposed. Commissioner Womack mentioned this is a case of tenant coordination. Commissioner Minnis asked if there was language in the leases with regard to the shared parking. Mr. Ramirez stated he does not currently have a lease. Chairman Kiefer asked if the applicant was currently working out of this location. Mr. Ramirez stated no. Mr. Proulx indicated the Plan Commission will be meeting again this month prior to the Village Board meeting; and this could give them time to work with the property owner with the shared parking. Plan Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Chairman Kiefer suggested the Fire Department would need to look at this request. Commissioner Renzi made a motion to continue Case No. 1751-011717.SU R.R. Tire and Auto Repair to the next Plan Commission meeting on February 21, 2017. Seconded by Commissioner Minnis. Vote by roll call: Womack, yes; Heinen, yes; Minnis, yes; Renzi, yes; Kiefer, yes. Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION Commissioner Renzi suggested Staff be consistent with the wording in the staff reports and asked for direction from the Board regarding the findings (i.e. parking requirements.) Commissioner Heinen stated he prefers the plans submitted with applications be 11 X 17 inches. Meeting Adjourned at 7:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Merrilee Trotz Merrilee Trotz Recording Secretary