Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES January 26, 2015 Present: Mayor Burns, Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Seno Also Present: McKittrick, Dawkins, DeGroot, Dahl, Babica, VanGyseghem 1. Call to Order Chairman Kilburg called the meeting to order at 7:00pm noting all were present. 2. Consider Consent Agenda Moved by Ald. Flanagan, second by Ald. Marks V/V: 10-0 Motion carried. *3. Approve Minutes from January 12, 2015 Approved on Consent Agenda 4. Items of Business a. Recommend Draft Ordinances - Annual Abatements for 2014 Tax Levies. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Seno Roll Call Ayes: 10 Nays: 0 Motion carried. b. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing 2014-15 Budget Amendments As Presented. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Seno Roll Call Ayes: 10 Nays: 0 Motion carried. c. Recommend Approval of Certificate of Completion for Lincoln Square Public Utility, Roadway, Curb/Gutter and Binder Course. Moved by Ald. Singer, second by Ald. Flanagan Roll Call Ayes: 10 Nays: 0 Motion carried. d. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Execution of Boundary Agreement Between the City of Geneva and the City of St. Charles. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Maladra Roll Call Ayes: 10 Nays: 0 Motion carried COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES, JAN. 26, 2015 1 e. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Repairs to Well No. 9 Pump and Motor in an Amount Not to Exceed $56,000 with Layne Christensen. Moved by Ald. Simonian, second by Ald. Brown On a question from Ald. Singer, Babica provided history on the pump and projected life span. Roll Call Ayes: 10 Nays: 0 Motion carried. f. Recommend Draft Ordinances (1) Amending the City’s Downtown Station-Area Master Plan to Change the Future Land Use Designation for a Portion of the Subject Realty from “Single-Family Residential” to “Single-Family Residential Attached”; (2) Rezoning (Zoning Map Amendment) the Subject Realty from the R6 Two- and Three-Family Residential District to the R7 Multiple-Family Residential District; and (3) Granting a Special Use for a Preliminary/Final Planned Unit Development – Oak Creek Capital Partners. Dir. DeGroot provided an overview of the review process up to the present, including what transpired at the Plan Commission level. The applicant was seeking zoning relief and a reduced cash contribution for land/cash to the park and school districts for the existing properties on the site. Ald. Bruno was excited to see development in this area. He agreed with the concept to include the entire block. Bruno looked at the project and sees significant diversion from existing heights on neighboring properties, setbacks. He was troubled with the mass and scale abutting the historic district. Bruno stated he would like to see concessions made by the developer on height and setback. Ald. Brown agreed with much of Bruno’s comments. Brown disagreed with many of the findings of fact. Believed there will be traffic impact on Stevens St. He desired more green space than what was proposed in the plan. Brown was also not in favor of granting the land cash credits. Ald. Flanagan spoke about issue of potential car headlights facing neighboring homes, as well as the height/elevation Ald. Cumming stated that although there were many aspects of the proposal that he liked, including the colors, differences in façades, trees and greenspace, he saw problems with it potentially being too large for the neighborhood at the present time? Cummings stated that in hearing some of the neighbors’ concerns, they would be less opposed if the project was brought down in scale somewhat. Cummings would not vote in favor of the plan as presented. Ald. Maladra believed that as times are changing and city leaders are favoring density in downtown, each time a project comes forth there is trepidation. He agreed that the scale of the project is big but so was the Marquette proposal that no one blinked at. Maladra wanted to be certain that new developments downtown were complimentary to the existing size and scale of properties and was not in favor of looking like a Naperville or a Wheaton. He was also concerned about the potential inconsistency in voting for land/cash credits for one developer but not another. Should follow the code. Before Chairman Kilburg invited the public to comment, he asked that two emails from concerned residents be entered into the minutes and provided hard copies to the recording secretary. (Exhibit A and B) Brannen Anderson, 328 N. Second St. stated that she was encouraged by words and comments by the aldermen. Thanked council that they had thought about this and had seen the neighbors’ concerns. Brannen was supportive of higher density in the downtown but was concerned about size of the proposed development. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES, JAN. 26, 2015 2 Kurt Beyer, owner at 116 and 124 Stevens, stated he was concerned about the car headlight issue and had yet to speak about it with the developer. Beyer had concerns on the height and density of the project and suggested the Downtown Master Plan not be amended to allow for more transition from higher to lower density in that area. He was also supportive of higher density downtown but not to this scale as proposed. Mary Zander, 121 Ford St., mentioned the potential loss of open space and the walkway around Wheeler Park. She was also not supportive of issuing and land/cash credits. John Bassett, 607 N First, supported development in the block, but was troubled by the three variances on the agenda. Bassett requested that the developer comply with existing setback and height requirements. He was also not in favor of issuing land/cash credits. Mark Grosso, 7 Bridgeport Lane, President Geneva 304 School Board, raised his concern with issuing any land/cash credits noting that while $12,000 in credits may seem small, it would fill up one classroom with computers. He understood the formula for the credits but did not agree with the concept and urged the council not to short-change the students and taxpayers. Sheavon Lambillotte, Exec. Dir. of the Geneva Park District director also voiced her concern over the land/cash credit request. She stated that since there was no language on difference between existing development and new development in the ordinance, the credits should not be allowed. Lambillotte also pointed out that many of the new residents would utilized Wheeler Park just to the north. Resident Andrea DesCoteaux, 422 Richards St., stated her concern over the possible uptick in traffic on Stevens Street. John Luzinski, representative with Oak Creek Partners, provided their reasoning on the land/cash request based on the fact that there were nine existing homes that sit on site. Luzinski spoke about what the current properties had already been paying to those taxing bodies. Oak Creek was asking for credits for only what was already there. There was discussion on potentially moving the entrances off of Stevens and on to North St. Admin. McKittrick asked that the Fire Chief weigh in on that to make sure emergency vehicles would be able to traverse North. On a question from Ald. Kilburg – Luzinski stated that he did not believe the new development would have a heavy impact on the use of Wheeler Park. On a question from Ald. Simonian, the developer stated that the setbacks and height allowances were the most vital to their project. There was discussion on eliminated the raised porches to meet the height requirement. Simonian warned the council that they needed to support the Master Plan and not abandon its intent every time a new project comes before them. He was confident some compromises could be made to make the project agreeable to all parties. He was also supportive of the request for the land/cash credits. There was additional discussion on water main projects that would be paid by the developer as a result of the construction. Ald. Cummings stated he supported the request for the land/cash credit. On a question from Ellen Bassett, 607 N. First St., Director DeGroot stated that the requested variance was from private side of the sidewalk – 10 feet from that side to the closest part of the building. Ms. Anderson believed a decision could not be made at the present time based on the concerns. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES, JAN. 26, 2015 3 Ald. Simonian moved to table the item to the February 9, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Ald. Maladra seconded the motion. Roll Call: Ayes: 9 Nays: 1 (Kilburg) 5. New Business Admin. McKittrick stated that city staff would have information coming forward in the form of a management plan in relation to coyote management. 6. Upcoming Meetings Ald. Kilburg relayed the information on the upcoming Route 31 Road Diet Open House meetings on January 28th and February 4th. 7. Adjourn On a motion by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Singer, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 9:00pm. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES, JAN. 26, 2015 4