Building & Zoning Committee

VILLAGE OF NILES 1000 Civic Center Drive Niles, IL 60714 www.vniles.com Approved Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 18, 2016 8:00 AM Village Hall BUILDING AND ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING Chairman Denise McCreery - Trustee Members Charles Ostman – Community Development Director Rich Wlodarski – Community Development Assistant Director Tom Kanelos – Chairman Planning and Zoning Hadley Skeffington–Vos – Assistant Village Manager Joe Annunzio – Legal Rich Mangold – Resident Building and Zoning Meeting Minutes February 18, 2016 Committee Meeting CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The Niles Building and Zoning Committee Meeting was called to order at 8:02 AM. Present: 11 - Chairman McCreery, Ostman, Wlodarski, Kanelos, Skeffington-Vos, Annunzio, Vinezeano, Thake, Mangold, Preston and Tom Benson – guest. Absent: 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman McCreery asked if there were any additions, clarifications or corrections to the minutes of January 14, 2016. There were a few clerical corrections to the previous meeting minutes so they were tabled until the next meeting so they could be updated. Also, Hookah Bars which was not on this month’s agenda will be on next months. Chairman McCreery moved to table the minutes and Chuck Ostman seconded it. AYES: 10 – Chairman McCreery, Ostman, Wlodarski, Kanelos, Skeffington-Vos, Annunzio, Vinezeano, Thake, Mangold, Preston NAYS: 0 NEW BUSINESS III. Request for relief from section 18-436 screening of mechanical units regarding Thermal Care – 5680 Jarvis. IV. Discussion of moratorium on Touhy Triangle TIF area. V. Discussion on SSA for Nordica townhouse area. VI. Next meeting scheduled for March 17, 2016. DISCUSSIONS III. Request for relief from section 18-436 screening of mechanical units regarding Thermal Care at 5680 Jarvis. Chairman McCreery called for the third item on the agenda. This request is based on that Thermal Care believes that the subject cooling tower meets the spirit of the code section and the related financial hardship associated with this requirement. Mr. Tom Benson was here to represent Thermal Care. Village of Niles Page 2 of 4 Building and Zoning Meeting Minutes February 18, 2016 Committee Meeting Chuck Ostman mentioned that Thermal Care’s corporate headquarters has been located in the Village of Niles for over 45 years at Lehigh Street and is moving to Jarvis and Central. There was much discussion about the cooling tower which is a product manufactured by Thermal Care and has been relocated towards the middle of the building, at their new location, to minimize the visibility. A map and pictures was provided with various views of the tower. Mr. Benson said when driving by the tower the cooling tower is not visible from the east, north or west. He also mentioned that the tower is made of all fiber glass and is designed to withstand hurricane winds whereas the screening would not. Tom Kanelos said that even though it does not meet the code, the cooling tower is not offensive and we do not have a problem with it. He suggested, if it is already in manufacturing keep it the same and it should be fine but we should revisit the code. Chuck Ostman said he would check with other communities about what they have done as far as screening. Chairman McCreery mentioned that because it is a manufacturing and industrial area and the tower is in the center of the building it is not as much of an issue. Chairman McCreery accepted the motion to approve the tower. Tom Kanelos agreed and Rich Mangold seconded it. Chairman McCreery thanked Mr. Benson for coming and he mentioned to the committee that occupancy to the building is March 1, 2016 his people will be moving in April 1, 2016 and they will be in production on May 1, 2016. Chairman McCreery wished him luck along with several other committee members. He in turn thanked everyone for their decision. IV. Discussion of a moratorium on the Touhy Triangle TIF area. Chuck Ostman explained that the Gross Point Touhy TIF will be guided by the Touhy Triangle Master Plan. After he talked to Joe Annunzio in our Legal department he found out that the moratorium is on for nine (9) months. In order to protect the Gross Point Touhy FIF from an unwanted building and new construction until the Gross Point Touhy TIF Zoning Overlay is complete a moratorium on all new commercial and/or business development must be enacted. Once the Overlay is enacted the Moratorium will be lifted. The Village Board may provide exceptions to this moratorium when specific needs arise. Also noted was that this moratorium does not apply to those businesses that are already far along in obtaining permits but have not completed the process. This subject will be discussed at next Tuesday’s meeting. Chairman McCreery accepted the motion to approve the moratorium. Village of Niles Page 3 of 4 Building and Zoning Meeting Minutes February 18, 2016 Committee Meeting Rich Mangold agreed and Chuck Ostman seconded it. V. Discussion on SSA for the Nordica townhouse area. This kind of financing enables municipalities to construct physical improvements or provide services to a limited area of the community and to levy a tax only in the area which benefits from the special service. Chuck Ostman mentioned that the Nordica townhome located between Oakton and Jonquil Terrace consists of 168 townhomes which the homeowners associations was dissolved many years ago. Sidewalks in the Nordica townhome area are common sidewalks benefiting all the owners and the maintenance of the sidewalks is the responsibility of the townhome owners and not the Village of Niles. There is approximately 1,000 square feet that needs replacement. It is proposed to create a Special Service Area to fund the costs to repair the sidewalks. There is also a problem with the garbage being blown around and the Village is looking into Public Works cleaning up the area which would be cheaper than going to an outside company and would be a lot less money than going to an outside company. Chairman McCreery, after much discussion with the committee, accepted the motion to approve this SSA for the Nordica townhouse area. Rich Mangold agreed and Tom Kanelos seconded it. VI. Next meeting scheduled for March 17, 2016. Chuck Ostman mentioned that we should continue to have meetings once a month to strengthen the committee. Rich Wlodarski said we could continue with the third Thursday of every month which will mean the next meeting will be March 17, 2016 and everyone agreed. Denise McCreery asked to adjourn the meeting at 8:50am. Chuck Ostman motioned to close the meeting and Rich Wlodarski seconded it. Village of Niles Page 4 of 4