Industrial & Commercial Development Commission

1 APPROVED 2 MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 3 INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 4 5 Village Hall Terrace Room 6 June 26, 2012 7 8 Members Present: Chairman Patrick Lederer, Curt Wilens, Larry Herskovitz, Richard Rushkewicz, 9 Brian Lee, Susan Elfant, Mark Freeman and Tensley Garris. 10 11 Members Absent: David Gottlieb, Jill Narens and Dick Leopold. 12 13 Staff Present: David Schoon and Colleen Brunner. 14 15 Call to Order & Introductions 16 17 Chairman Lederer called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall at 7:30 a.m. 18 19 Review of Minutes: 20 21 On a motion made and seconded, the minutes from the May 22, 2012 ICDC meeting were approved as 22 presented. 23 24 Public Comment- Hear from the Audience- None 25 26 Community Planning and Economic Development Coordinator Report 27 28 A written report was provided. Schoon’s additional comments included: 1) currently a zoning variance 29 is valid for 180 days until the start of construction. The Board directed staff to prepare an ordinance 30 amendment to extend the time period to one year. It will now go to the Plan Commission; 2) Old Willow 31 recreation project is requesting an extension as they are exploring financing options; 3) the board will 32 be considering the extension of the Class C property tax incentive for the property at 1000 Skokie 33 Boulevard; 4) Staff is exploring how to respond to requests to be allowed to serve liquor at various 34 retail events; 5) The bank for the property at Dundee/Skokie is happy with the number and quality of 35 bids received and is in the process of gathering information on the bidders. 36 37 Discussion Regarding Ways to More Proactively Market Available Industrial and Commercial Space in 38 the Community 39 40 The Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee has been looking at the Class 6B and alternative tax 41 abatement measures. They determined 6B incentives are difficult to have strict guidelines and typically 42 require review on a case by case basis. In the past, Northbrook has been in the middle to lower range of 43 granting 6B incentives; the process typically takes 45-60 days and requires a $5000 refundable escrow. 44 The committee would like to see a 45 day turn around and an escrow fee of $2500. The committee feels 45 Northbrook needs a clearer purpose statement. They also plan on visiting four buildings in the 46 community that might qualify for 6B tax incentives. This committee is looking to the ICDC for some 47 input as to how the Village can assist in marketing Northbrook as a good place to conduct business and 48 fill empty buildings. A broad discussion lead to the following comments, 1) transportation issues –  ICDC Meeting Minutes June 26, 2012 1 various methods of getting to work and commute time; 2) Village waiving some of the permit fees; 3) 2 work on changing the perception that Northbrook is a difficult town to have a business. Issues of 3 concern are that we over inspect, are demanding and expensive. These are counterproductive to 4 development; and 4) obtain feedback from contractors and permittees as to their experiences with the 5 Village. 6 7 Discussion Regarding a Shop Northbrook Holiday Campaign 8 9 The ICDC’s opinion is that the Village partnering with the Chamber of Commerce is great, although they 10 don’t want retailers to feel pressured to participate in any promotions. The Chamber currently has 11 brochures with inserts listing all restaurants. The committee felt an ad/coupon with a charitable 12 component would be met receptively. Another idea was to have an event highlighting each individual 13 shopping/dining location, educating residents what is unique about the area. 14 15 Update and Discussion Regarding Creation of Industrial and Commercial Services District 16 17 The Plan Commission continued to discuss the issue to allow additional uses in the area. Issues include 18 accessory retail sales- this is a small retail component to businesses. Currently they are allowed to have 19 4 retail sales event per year and also that items can be displayed in a show room, but cannot once 20 purchased they cannot be taken with the customers; they must be delivered. Questions for staff are 21 how we regulate the retail activity, traffic and the impact on other retailers. A number of Commission 22 members indicated that they encourage the Plan Commission to look at allowing some level of retail 23 sales. The issue needs further discussion. The Commission also discussed accessory outside storage. 24 Currently it is allowed by special permit in the ICS District. Areas of concern are the height of storage, 25 area (front/side) and screening. The Commission was inte5red 26 27 New Business 28 29 Member Garris noted that in the spring of 2013, the intersection of Lake Cook and Waukegan will be 30 under major construction. This will have an impact on getting to Northbrook Court and general traffic 31 frustration. The Village and the Chamber have sent letters encouraging the State and County to 32 complete the project by November 2013 to minimize lost sales tax income. The Chambers annual 33 business expo will be held Monday July 23rd at the Wyndham. On August 30 there is a volunteer 34 opportunity at the Renaissance Hotel to package meals. 35 36 Old Business - None 37 38 Next Meeting 39 40 The next ICDC meeting had been scheduled for July 24, 2012, 41 42 Adjourn 43 44 On motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m. 45 46 Respectfully Submitted – 47 Colleen Brunner