Plan Commission

Draft Plan Commission Meeting Minutes Date: May 6, 2021 A motion was made by Commissioner Franklin and seconded by Commissioner Mitchell to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2021 Plan Commission meeting. The chairman read the following statement into the record. Until further notice, meetings of the Skokie Plan Commission will be electronically, with a majority of members participating via remote access in order to comply with the State of Illinois Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Members of the public who wish to comment as to an item on the published legal notice must submit their statement or question in writing to Steve Marciani at steve.marciani@skokie.org and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented and read during the relevant portion of the meeting. Written comments also may be submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org ; by mail to Village of Skokie, Attn: Matt Brandmeyer, Ex Officio Plan Commissioner, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL 60077; or via the Village’s drop box (no later than noon the day of the meeting) located by the public entry to Village Hall. The chairman called the roll to confirm a quorum. Currently there are two vacancies on the commission. Six commissioners were present. Commissioner Burman arrived after the cases were continued. Case Descriptions: 2021-13P – Parking Determination: Amazon at 7539 Linder Avenue Amazon.com Services, LLC, is requesting a parking determination for a truck and freight transportation services uses at 7539 Linder Avenue. 2021-14P – Special Use Permit: 7539 Linder Avenue CP Logistics Linder Avenue, LLC, on behalf of Amazon.com Services, LLC, is requesting a special use permit for truck and freight transportation services at 7539 Linder Avenue in an M1 Office Assembly zoning district and any other relief discovered during the review of this case. PIN: 10-28-305-024-0000 Discussion and Interested Parties The project manager, Mindy Krea of Core-States Group, submitted an email message to staff requesting a continuation of these cases to the June 3, 2021 meeting. Casey Polmanski of Stream Realty, the property management company, as well as Eric Armai of CP Logistics, were in attendance briefly as they were not aware of the continuation request. They both exited the meeting after they were given the new meeting date. 588256 Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-13P 5-6-2021 Recommendations and Voting Cases 2021-13P & 2021-14P have been continued to the June 3, 2021 Plan Commission meeting. No vote was taken. 588256 Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-13P 5-6-2021  Draft Plan Commission Meeting Minutes Date: May 6, 2021 A motion was made by Commissioner Franklin and seconded by Commissioner Mitchell to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2021 Plan Commission meeting. The chairman read the following statement into the record. Until further notice, meetings of the Skokie Plan Commission will be electronically, with a majority of members participating via remote access in order to comply with the State of Illinois Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Members of the public who wish to comment as to an item on the published legal notice must submit their statement or question in writing to Steve Marciani at steve.marciani@skokie.org and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented and read during the relevant portion of the meeting. Written comments also may be submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org ; by mail to Village of Skokie, Attn: Matt Brandmeyer, Ex Officio Plan Commissioner, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL 60077; or via the Village’s drop box (no later than noon the day of the meeting) located by the public entry to Village Hall. The chairman called the roll to confirm a quorum. Currently there are two vacancies on the commission. Seven commissioners were present. Commissioner Mathee recused himself as the applicant is his employer. Case Descriptions: 2021-15P – Zoning Map Amendment: 5050 Mulford Street Wintrust Bank N.A. is requesting a zoning map amendment to rezone 5050 Mulford Street from R2 Single Family to NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use. 2021-16P – Alley Vacation: alley adjacent to 7800 Lincoln Avenue Wintrust Bank N.A./North Shore Community Bank & Trust is requesting a vacation of the whole alley between 5050 Mulford Street and 7800 Lincoln Avenue in an NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use. 2021-17P – Special Use Permit: 7800 Lincoln Avenue Wintrust Bank N.A./North Shore Community Bank & Trust is requesting to modify an existing special use permit to expand the parking facilities at 7800 Lincoln Avenue in an NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use and any other relief discovered during the review of this case. PINs: 10-28-212-006-0000 and 10-28-212-009-0000 Discussion and Interested Parties Legal notice was advertised, posted, and delivered to property owners in the area as prescribed by the Zoning Chapter. Corporation Counsel determined that notice was proper and correct. 588201 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-15P on 5-06-2021 As all cases were related, they were discussed together but voted on separately. Mr. Richard Witry, attorney, presented the cases along with Mr. Mike Kelly of Wintrust Bank and Mr. Tom McCabe, engineer with Smith LaSalle Consulting Engineers. North Shore Community Bank has been in Skokie since 1999 and in 2001 built the facility with a drive-through at 7800 Lincoln Avenue; their current location. The bank purchased the abandoned residential property across the alley at 5050 Mulford Street and the house, which was in disrepair, was razed. The bank is planning to provide additional parking on the site. The chairman asked if additional handicapped spaces would be added. Mr. McCabe stated that the space would be used for employee parking leaving the spaces closest to the bank for its patrons. A commissioner inquired if the additional spaces are needed presently or for improved value of the site. Mr. Kelly stated that the bank is currently partially operating with some employees working from home. When the bank re-opens fully, the new lot will be used for employee parking, so they don’t infringe on the neighborhood for parking. Staff requested that all 3 staff reports be entered into the record as presented and summarized each one. The use of a residential lot for a stand-alone parking lot is not allowed in a residential district. Therefore, the re-zoning request to neighborhood mixed-use is necessary to for the parking area to be included in the bank’s zoning classification. The bank always contemplated on consolidating the 2 lots. The alley vacation request would bridge the 2 parcels, so the site could become a 15-space parking area adjacent to the bank parking lot. It would be heavily landscaped and a nice buffer between the bank and the residential neighborhood. The original special use permit request was granted in 2001 (Case 2001-39P) with restrictions on tenancy due to limited parking spaces. The bank would like to modify that special use permit to expand the site plan with the additional parking lot. The ordinance would be repealed and all conditions that are still relevant would be carried over to a new one along with the 2 items of relief that were granted. Staff acknowledged an email that was submitted regarding the general condition of LeClaire Avenue wondering if it would be improved as part of this project. The resident, residing at 7806 LeClaire Avenue, was happy with the bank’s landscaping efforts and is confident that the new landscaping will be up to par adding screening on LeClaire Avenue. There were no additional public comments. In closing, Mr. Witry stated that his client was in support of staff’s findings for Cases 2021- 15P & 2021-16P. However, there is a concern about Condition #23 for Case 2021-17P; the petitioner bearing the cost of placing all overhead utility lines on the site or in the right-of- way underground. The cost would be extremely exorbitant and make the project financially not feasible. 588201 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-15P on 5-06-2021 Mr. McCabe added that these lines carry heavy power and could go across the street. Recently, Wintrust Bank undertook a project to move 3 buried lines 2-3 feet deeper and the cost was $500,000 for the ComEd line and $100,00 for each of the phone and cable lines. Mr. Brandmeyer, Community Development Director, stated that after a site visit, it was decided to reach out to ComEd for easement language. A determination was made that if lines deliver power to the house and bank and terminate at the transformer, the lines need to be buried. If the lines feed other houses, they could remain in place. Per staff, according to the Building Code, all private service must be buried underground. A commissioner added that if the lines are above 12,000 volts, they could be express feeders or reverse voltage flows. He strongly urged contacting ComEd for their requirements. The chairman suggested amending Condition #23 now; adjusting some language at this meeting and clarifying with ComEd as to their requirements before the case is heard before the Village Board for final approval. Mr. Witry confirmed that as a conditional approval. He reiterated again that for the project to move forward, it has to be financially feasible. It was noted that the cases were tentatively slated for the June 7, 2021 Village Board meeting. He confirmed with Mr. Kelly that meeting with the utility companies before the June 7th meeting date was doable. He also wanted verification that he can withdraw or continue the cases before the Village Board meeting. Another commissioner mentioned that the bank can explain this matter directly to the Trustees at the Village Board meeting. Staff added that the cases don’t have to be assigned to a Village Board agenda until the issue is resolved. Mr. Witry stated that the bank will do its financial due diligence in the meantime. Recommendations and Voting Case 2021-15P – Zoning Map Amendment: 5050 Mulford Street A motion was made to approve a zoning map amendment to rezone 5050 Mulford Street from R2 Single-Family to NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use. Motion: Quane Second: Franklin Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Recused: 1 (Mathee) Case 2021-16P – Alley Vacation: alley adjacent to 7800 Lincoln Avenue A motion was made to approve the vacation of the whole alley between 5050 Mulford Street and 7800 Lincoln Avenue in an NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use. Motion: Franklin Second: Lakhani 588201 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-15P on 5-06-2021 Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Recused: 1 (Mathee) Case 2021-17P – Special Use Permit: 7800 Lincoln Avenue A motion was made for approval with the condition that private service of above ground utilities be determined and finalized prior to a meeting with the Village Board. Motion: Quane Second: Burman Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Recused: 1 (Mathee) 588201 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-15P on 5-06-2021