Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS DATE: June 19, 2019 APPROVED TIME: 7:00 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801 _______________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERS PRESENT Matt Cho, Ashlee McLaughlin, Adam Rusch, Nancy Uchtmann, Harvey Welch MEMBERS ABSENT Joanne Chester, Charles Warmbrunn STAFF PRESENT Marcus Ricci, Planner II; Will Andresen, Planning Intern OTHERS PRESENT Gary Satterlee 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM Chair Welch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken, and he declared a quorum of the members present. 2. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were none. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The minutes from the May 15, 2019, regular meeting were presented for approval. Ms. Uchtmann moved to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Rusch seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote as written. 4. COMMUNICATIONS There were none. 5. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS There were none. NOTE: Chair Welch swore in members of the audience who indicated that they might give testimony during a public hearing. 1  June 19, 2019 6. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS ZBA-2019-C-02 – A request by Gustavo Bautista for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Contractor Shop at 802 North Goodwin Avenue in the B-1, Neighborhood Business Zoning District. Chair Welch opened the public hearing for this case and continued it to the July 17, 2019 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. ZBA-2019-MAJ-02 – A request by Gary Satterlee, on behalf of Culver’s, for a Major Variance to construct an electronic display at 201 West University Avenue, in the B-4, Central Business District. Chair Welch opened the public hearing for this case. Will Andresen, Planning Intern, began by presenting the staff report to the Zoning Board of Appeals. He stated the purpose for the Major Variance request, which is to allow a permitted freestanding sign to include an electronic display. Using Exhibit A, he showed the location of the subject property. Exhibit C shows other existing electronic displays along University Avenue in Urbana. He talked about the size of the electronic display and noted that it would be smaller in size than what would be allowed for a regular sign. He summarized City staff findings and stated City staff’s recommendation for approval of the proposed major variance request with the following condition: the proposed electronic display’s location and size generally conform to the attached site plan and specifications. Chair Welch asked if any members of the Zoning Board of Appeals had questions for City staff. Mr. Welch asked about the chronology of the purchase of the property and the acquisition by the Illinois Department of Transportation for additional right-of-way. Marcus Ricci, Planner II, replied that the acquisition occurred with the previous owner. Culver’s purchased the property after the acquisition of the right-of-way occurred. Ms. Uchtmann inquired about the shape and direction of the proposed sign. Mr. Andresen responded that his understanding from the plans that were submitted was that the proposed sign would be showing along both sides of University Avenue. Ms. Uchtmann asked if the proposed sign would obstruct the view of drivers turning left onto University Avenue off Race Street. Mr. Ricci pointed out that the City’s Public Works Engineering staff reviewed the plans and determined that the sign would be out of the visibility triangle for the proposed location of the sign. It would be 26 feet from the right-of-way with an additional distance of the sidewalk and the curb. He introduced Gary Satterlee, the applicant, and stated that he would be available to answer any questions. Chair Welch opened the hearing for public input. There was none, so Chair Welch closed the public input portion of the hearing and opened the hearing for discussion and/or motion(s) by the Zoning Board of Appeals. 2  June 19, 2019 Mr. Rusch moved that the Zoning Board of Appeals forward Case No. ZBA-2019-MAJ-02 to the City Council with a recommendation for approval including the following condition: the proposed electronic display’s location and size generally conform to the attached site plan and specifications. Ms. McLaughlin seconded the motion. Roll call on the motion to amend was as follows: Mr. Cho - Yes Ms. McLaughlin - Yes Mr. Rusch - Yes Ms. Uchtmann - Yes Mr. Welch - Yes The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 0. Mr. Ricci noted that this case would be forwarded to City Council on July 1, 2019. 7. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 8. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 9. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION There was none. 10. STAFF REPORT There was none. 11. STUDY SESSION There was none. 12. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING Chair Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lorrie Pearson, AICP Planning Manager Secretary, Urbana Zoning Board of Appeals 3