Building & Zoning Committee

“Where People Count” Community Development 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles, Illinois 60714 Mayor Telephone (847) 588-8040 ● Fax (847) 588-8050 ● TDD (847) 588-8059 Robert M. Callero April 11, 2011 Trustees Chris Hanusiak James T. Hynes Joe LoVerde Louella B. Preston Building and Zoning Committee Meeting 4:30 p.m. Andrew Przybylo Alan Weel Village Manager In Attendance: George R. Van Geem Robert M. Callero – Mayor Joe Annunzio – Village Attorney Village Clerk George Van Geem – Village Manager Marlene J. Victorine ______________ Andrew Przybylo – Village Trustee Tom Kanelos – Planning & Zoning Committee Community Chris Hanusiak – Village Trustee Development James Hynes – Village Trustee Director Chuck Ostman – Community Development Director Charles Ostman Rich Wlodarski – Community Development Assistant Director Mary Ann Starzynski – Recording Absent: Steve Vinezeano – Assistant Village Manager Meeting called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Andrew Przybylo. Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Chris Hanusiak for the minutes of the December 16, 2010 and March 3, 2011 meetings to be approved. This was seconded by Mayor Callero. All were in favor. The sub committee meeting for the Comprehensive Plan will be held Monday, April 18, 2011 at 6 p.m. Andrew Przybylo asked who will be in attendance and if the public was invited. Mayor Callero responded that all meetings are open to the public but that they were not specifically invited to this meeting. George Van Geem stated that this is not a meeting intended for public participation. Mayor Callero stated that the last sub committee meeting held Wednesday, March 15, 2011 sparked discussion as the sub committee voiced frustration with the content and direction of the Vision Statement/Goals & Objectives. The sub committee felt the Vision Statement was too long, uninspiring and unfocused. Chuck Ostman stated that a planning intern, Clayton Jirak, will be joining the Village on a part time basis beginning Monday, May 9, 2011. Mr. Jirak plans to attend the sub committee meeting on Monday, April 18, 2011 and to help with the Niles 2030 Comprehensive Plan. www.vniles.com Sign Code: discussion ensued regarding the amended language pertaining to exempt signs which includes construction signs, celebratory signs, holiday decorations, light pole banners, political/campaign signs and existing Public/quasi-public signs. Construction signs: no change Celebratory signs: no limits, exempt, no regulations Holiday decorations: no limits It was noted that the planning committee had a majority vote to take out all regulations. Andrew Przybylo asked why. Tom Kanelos responded free speech; religious beliefs should not be regulated. The committee felt it best to just exempt all. James Hynes said there is no problem with not having regulations on celebratory or holiday signage, leave as is now and can always amend later. Chuck Ostman responded that it is the intent on an annual basis to do a report of complaints to see if corrections need to be made. Andrew Przybylo responded alright but this needs to be voted on by the board. Also felt that No Restrictions should be included in the ordinance “Unrestricted”. Chris Hanusiak felt there should be a restriction on time limits. Chuck Ostman responded that is State regulated and we can not set time limits. The Village can regulate size and number but not time limit. Light pole banners are exempt with conditions: (12) Light Pole Banners. Banners affixed to parking lot light poles shall be allowed under the following conditions: a. Only on light poles bordering or parallel to the street with a maximum of one (1) per thirty (30) lineal fee with a maximum of eighteen (18) total banners per lot; b. Banners shall be allowed on interior parking lot light poles; c. All banners must be maintained in a safe and aesthetically pleasing condition. Banners which become illegible, are damaged or otherwise in poor condition, must be removed; d. Banners may not exceed twenty-one (21) square feet per face and shall have no more than two (2) sides. Only the area of the actual boulevard banners itself shall be counted in determining the area of the sign face; e. Banners shall only be displayed on light poles and shall not extend higher than the light poles. The lower bracket used to display the banners must be installed at a height of at least eight (8) feet in an area accessible to pedestrians; or twelve (12) feet in an area accessible to vehicles; and f. Any banners that exceeding these requirements shall be regulated under the provisions of Sec. 78-6.0. Political signs have no restrictions, fully exempt. Public/quasi signs: (22) Public/quasi-public signs – existing. Any sign lawfully established prior to INSERT APROVAL DATE on a lot that is owned by a public/quasi-public agency or organization (e.g. governmental body; elementary, middle, or high school school, library, etc.) and does not provide commercial advertising shall be allowed. Any structural or visual change which tends to make the sign less in compliance with the requirements of this chapter than it was before the alteration shall require a Special Use Permit approved by the Board of Trustees. 2 Ground Signs: It was decided to take out “plus six (6) feet of embellishment” under a. Height i. No ground sign shall……. Embellishment was also defined as beautification not wording. Mayor Callero brought up Point Plaza on Touhy Avenue and read a letter he received from them that they were upset and felt the leases currently in effect would be affected by the decreased signage allowed by 2026. Joe Annunzio responded they could request a variance. He suggested adding wording allowing a business to apply for a variation up to 20% on existing signs. Andrew Przybylo stated that any new signage would have to meet code. Chuck Ostman stated that staff is recommending the size of temporary banners be increased from the original proposal of 24 square feet to 32 square feet (example: 4’ x 8’ or 3’ x 10’). Feels a larger banner size is more appropriate. Andrew Przybylo responded alright. Sec. 78-6.6.2 Conditions The following are the conditions for granting a temporary sign permit: (3) Special event is an event of less than four (4) weeks' duration sponsored and/or run by a commercial enterprise in connection with seasonal sales or other special offers; all listed temporary signs in Sec. 78-6.6.1 are allowed, provided they may be allowed for a maximum four-week period no more than four (4) times a year and a minimum of one (1) month between events. The maximum area of signs shall be no larger than thirty-two (32) square feet. Inflatable figures may not exceed ten (10) feet in width or depth. All signs shall comply with all setbacks, height maximums, and other regulations in this chapter. At the discretion of the Director of Community Development, special event signs may be displayed for up to eight (8) weeks provided that the same entity does not exceed the total annual allotment of special event signage (sixteen (16) total weeks). Charles Ostman stated that Planned Unit Development (PUD) would apply to all NEW not existing PUD.  This amended section would apply if a PUD is considered, the signage included in the PUD submittal would be part of the PUD approval and exempt from the sign code. Sec. 78-10.7 Planned Unit Developments. All signage included as part of a Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.) shall be as detailed in the P.U.D. Agreement approved by the Board of Trustees and shall be allowed to depart from the provisions of this chapter. Any changes to the signage of an approved P.U.D. Agreement shall be governed by the procedures for a minor change as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance. Andrew Przybylo again stated that he was suggesting on personal property free speech is okay but felt time limits were called for. James Hynes responded that signs are expressions just like verbal freedom of speech and if they are not “endangering” anyone there should be no time limit. James Hynes also restated that political signage is mandated by State. General consensus was that the Village has never really had a problem with time limits/complaints received. Andrew Przybylo stated he felt we were ignoring “content” issues by not restricting time. Motion to adjourn by James Hynes, seconded by Chris Hanusiak. All in favor. Adjourned at 5:30 p.m. 3