Plan Commission

STAFF REPORT 2018-34P: Street Vacation Community Development Department Council Chambers, 7:30 PM, October 4, 2018 To: Paul Luke, Chairman, Skokie Plan Commission From: Mike Voitik, Associate Planner Re: 2018-34P: Street Vacation Main Street Related Case – 2018-22P: Site Plan Approval General Information Location Unimproved street, as follows: A triangular-shaped portion of Main Street north of and adjacent to 5255 Main Street. Purpose To vacate approximately 135.23 linear feet of unimproved public street. Petitioner Niles Township Board of Auditors Size of Site The street’s dimensions are 147.62 feet on the northeast, 135.23 feet on the south, and 60.44 feet on the west. The area of the street is approximately 4,108 square feet (0.094 acres). Existing Zoning & NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use – unimproved public right-of-way Land Use containing grass, trees, landscaping, a ground sign, and a flag pole Adjacent Zoning & North B1 Service Commercial – off-site parking lot for 5214 Land Use Main Street, grocery store, dental laboratory B2 Commercial – construction management company South NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use – legislative and executive functions, community food services East NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use – services to the elderly and disabled West B2 Commercial – multitenant office building R2 Single-Family – detached residences Comprehensive Plan The site is designated as retail/service employment PETITIONER’S SUBMITTAL Niles Township Board of Auditors is requesting the vacation of a triangular-shaped portion of Main Street north of and adjacent to 5255 Main Street in an NX VOSDOCS-#542472-v1-Staff_Report_-_2018-34P_-_Street_Vacation__Main_Street 1 of 3 Neighborhood Mixed-Use zoning district. At the present time, the street is unimproved and contains grass, trees, landscaping, a ground sign, and a flag pole. The Village intends to vacate the street and convey it to Niles Township at no charge. The township has maintained the subject site for many years as part of its facility at 5255 Main Street. During the Village’s recent review of the petitioner’s request to replace its existing ground sign with a new LED sign (as part of site plan approval case 2018-22P) Planning staff noted that the sign is located within Main Street, a Village- owned right-of-way, and placed a condition that a petition be filed to vacate the street prior to the hearing of the case before the Board of Trustees. STAFF ANALYSIS Comments All pertinent departments and divisions were offered an opportunity to comment on this case. Other than the Water & Sewer Division and Planning Division comments below, all others approved the request without comment. Water & Sewer Division An easement must be established for the full extent of the vacated street to preserve access to all underground public utilities. Planning Division The Planning Division staff supports the proposed street vacation. Niles Township has been maintaining the area within the subject site for many years and vacating the street will place the petitioner’s sign onto its own property. Main Street used to run through the subject site and Lockwood Avenue used to connect with Lincoln Avenue, creating an odd-shaped 6-way intersection. The intersection was redesigned sometime between 1966 and 1972, resulting in the closure of Main between Lincoln and Lockwood and the blocking of access to Lincoln from Lockwood south of Lincoln. A 12-inch water main runs through the north end of the subject site. A 27-inch combined sewer main runs through the middle of the site and a storm sewer line of unknown width runs between a catch basin on the subject site and a manhole within Lincoln Avenue. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends that the petitioner’s request to vacate a triangular-shaped portion of Main Street north of and adjacent to 5255 Main Street in an NX Neighborhood Mixed- Use zoning district be GRANTED subject to conditions listed below. VOSDOCS-#542472-v1-Staff_Report_-_2018-34P_-_Street_Vacation__Main_Street 2 of 3 RECOMMENDED VACATION CONDITIONS 1. An easement incorporating the full extent of Main Street must be established on the plat of vacation in order to enable continued access to the underground public utilities present within the subject site. 2. The property shall be vacated pursuant to the Plat of Vacation, dated October 12, 2018, and as may be further revised with the approval of the Village Manager, or designee, and Corporation Counsel. 3. Upon the passage of the ordinance by the Board of Trustees, the Mylar of the Plat of Vacation shall be submitted to the Village with all signatures other than Village staff or elected officials. 4. The vacation shall be effective upon the recording of a Plat of Vacation by the Village in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County, Illinois. ATTACHMENTS 1. Site Photos 2. Plat of Vacation, dated September 20, 2018 3. Land Use and Zoning Map VOSDOCS-#542472-v1-Staff_Report_-_2018-34P_-_Street_Vacation__Main_Street 3 of 3