Planning & Zoning Board

May 10, 2016 WHEATON PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE Chair Weller called the May 10, 2016 Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley Street. Upon roll call, the following were: Roll Call Vote Present: Ron Almiron Bob Gudmundson Dan Wanzung Scott Weller Absent: Nicole Aranas Chris Derrick Mark Plunkett City Staff Present: Paul Redman, Director of Engineering Tracy Jones, Staff Planner II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 26, 2016 The minutes were approved as corrected. III. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none. IV. NEW BUSINESS ZA #16-09/ PUD/ 603 & 611 COLLEGE AVENUE/ WHEATON COLLEGE Pursuant to notice duly published on April 23, 2016 and letters mailed to neighboring property owners on April 21, 2016, Chair Weller called to order the May 10, 2016 public hearing requesting approval of a special use permit for a planned unit development to allow the construction and use of an 11,600 square foot, two-story Welcome Center for Wheaton College on the property located at 603 and 611 College Avenue. The site has already been cleared of all structures and would remain zoned I-1 Institutional District. Chris Derrick, 506 South Gables Boulevard, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Derrick stated that he was the architect working on the Welcome Center for Wheaton College. He stated that the subject property is located at the northeast corner of Chase Street and College Avenue and is completely surrounded by other Wheaton College properties. Two apartment buildings owned by Wheaton College were recently demolished on the subject property in anticipation of the new 11,600 square foot, two-story Welcome Center. Mr. Derrick stated that the exterior of the Welcome Center building would be a combination of stone similar to Blanchard Hall and brick consistent with the rest of the campus. The brick color has not been finalized yet but would either be red similar to the Beamer Center or tan similar to the Wade Center. The building would be of wood frame construction with masonry veneer and a shingled gable roof. Mr. Derrick stated that a landscape plan was submitted for this project that shows a mix of shade, ornamental and evergreen trees as well as deciduous shrubs. The plan shows a mix of plantings on all sides of the proposed Welcome Center building, with a higher concentration on the west side of the building where the main entrance  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board May 10, 2016 Page - 2 - of 3 would be located. An outdoor patio space is proposed on the south side of the building (lower level) and on north side of the building (upper level). Mr. Derrick stated that a signage plan was submitted for this project. A monument sign is proposed at the southwest corner of the property. The monument sign would be 6 feet in height, 24 feet in length and would be constructed using stone veneer to match the exterior of the proposed Welcome Center. This sign is consistent with other newly constructed Wheaton College monument signs. Bruce Koenigsberg, 1911 Stoddard Avenue, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Koenigsberg stated that he was the architect for Wheaton College. With the construction of the proposed Welcome Center, 10 additional parking spaces are planned on the west side of Chase Street for the guests who are currently parking at the Billy Graham Center. In addition, 13 parking spaces were demolished with the former buildings located on the subject property resulting in a net decrease of 3 parking spaces. Wheaton College has completed a campus wide parking study that shows that the College exceeds the required number of on-site parking spaces for the overall campus. Mr. Koenigsberg stated that the landscape plan shows a fire pit just north of the proposed Wheaton Center building. The fire pit would have a 30 foot setback to anything combustible and would be available for use by various student groups under the supervision of the Wheaton College ground maintenance staff. Mr. Koenigsberg addressed the special use permit standards for a PUD as required by the Zoning Ordinance. He stated that the proposed special use permit for a PUD would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience or general welfare of the neighboring property owners. Mr. Gudmundson moved and then Mr. Almiron seconded the motion to close the public hearing. On a voice vote, all voted aye. The Board decided to vote this evening. Mr. Gudmundson moved and then Mr. Wanzung seconded the motion to approve ZA #16-09 as presented. Roll Call Vote Ayes: Ron Almiron Bob Gudmundson Dan Wanzung Scott Weller Nays: None Absent: Nicole Aranas Chris Derrick Mark Plunkett Motion Passed Unanimously V. MISCELLANEOUS There was none.  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board May 10, 2016 Page - 3 - of 3 VI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Gudmundson moved and then Mr. Wanzung seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. On a voice vote, all voted aye. Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Jones, Staff Planner