Planning & Zoning Board

July 25, 2017 WHEATON PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE Chair Weller called the July 25, 2017 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: Christopher Dabovich Bob Gudmundson Cecilia Horejs Mark Plunkett Scott Weller Absent: Nicole Aranas Dan Wanzung City Staff Present: Tracy Jones, Staff Planner Chair Weller welcomed Mr. Dabovich and Ms. Horejs to the Planning and Zoning Board. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 9, 2017 The minutes were approved with one minor wording change. III. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none. IV. NEW BUSINESS ZA #17-17/ REAR YARD SETBACK VARIATION/ 1111 MARCEY AVENUE/ GARVEY Pursuant to notice duly published on July 1, 2017 and letters mailed to neighboring property owners on June 29, 2017, Chair Weller called to order the July 25, 2017 public hearing requesting a variation to Article 3.4A.6 of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance to allow the construction and use of a deck on the property located at 1111 Marcey Avenue with a rear yard setback of 10.0 feet in lieu of the required 25.0 feet. Nora Garvey, 1111 Marcey Avenue, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Garvey stated that the subject property is located on the east side of Marcey Avenue near Paula Avenue. The property is approximately 12,197 square feet in size with a lot depth ranging from 133.4 to 152.6 feet. The property is improved with an existing one- story brick and stone sided residence that was built in 1958 with a rear yard setback ranging from 26.41 to 41.76 feet. Ms. Garvey stated that the property has an existing patio that is in poor condition. She added that she is proposing to replace the existing patio with a slightly larger “L- shaped” deck that would wrap around the southeast corner of the house, since the only exit to the backyard is on the south side of the house. Situating the deck at this location would also avoid blocking light to three basement windows, avoid the relocation of the A/C condenser and avoid the removal of some mature landscaping, including a blue spruce tree, that are all located along the back wall of the house. The new deck would have an area of approximately 550 square feet and a rear yard setback of 10.0 feet in lieu of the required 25.0 feet. Ms. Garvey addressed the variation standards as required by the Zoning Ordinance. She stated that the proposed variation would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience or general welfare  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board July 25, 2017 Page 2 of 4 of the neighboring property owners. She added that no adjacent property owners would be negatively impacted by the variation request. Chair Weller questioned whether the adjacent neighbors were supportive of the request. Ms. Garvey stated that two of the adjacent homes were owned by her sisters and they were supportive of the request. Mr. Gudmundson moved and then Ms. Horejs 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. Plunkett seconded the motion to approve ZA #17-17 as presented. Roll Call Vote Ayes: Christopher Dabovich Bob Gudmundson Cecilia Horejs Mark Plunkett Scott Weller Nays: None Absent: Nicole Aranas Dan Wanzung Motion Passed Unanimously ZA # 17-18/ PUD AMENDMENT/ 1000 W. PRAIRIE AVENUE/ WHEATON SPORTS CENTER Pursuant to notice duly published on July 5, 2017 and letters mailed to neighboring property owners on July 3, 2017, Chair Weller called to order the July 25, 2017 public hearing requesting a PUD Amendment to City of Wheaton Ordinance No. F-0957 to allow the construction and use of two parking lot lights in the western parking lot of the Wheaton Sports Center located at 1000 W. Prairie Avenue. An email from Ms. Barron dated July 5, 2017 and a letter from Mr. Sheahin dated July 25, 2017 were incorporated into the record. Chair Weller stated that on December 19, 1988, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. F-3406 (Original Ordinance), which granted approval of a special use permit for a planned unit development (PUD) for the Wheaton Sports Center to construct and operate a sports facility on property commonly as 1000 W. Prairie Avenue. Over the years, this PUD has been amended multiple times to accommodate various additions and remodeling to the Wheaton Sports Center. Chair Weller stated that on October 18, 2004, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. F-0957 (Eighth Amended Ordinance) which granted approval of a PUD Amendment to allow the construction and use of a 109- space parking facility. Based upon concerns raised during this public hearing process, Section 1 of Ordinance No. F-0957 included a condition that states “Parking lot lighting shall not be installed or maintained in the proposed parking lot”. Pursuant to this restriction, the parking lot is not currently illuminated. Maribeth Russell, 1000 W. Prairie Avenue, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Russell stated that she works for the Wheaton Sports Center. To provide for the safety and security of their members and staff, she stated that the  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board July 25, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Wheaton Sports Center is requesting an amendment to the parking lot lighting restriction to install two, 25-foot tall parking lot lights on 3-foot bases with LED fixtures. Ms. Russell stated that the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance typically requires all parking lots with 20 or more parking spaces to have parking lot lights; this portion of the subject property has 109 parking spaces. Because of the number of parking spaces provided on the subject property, lighting is typically required. Only the parking lot lighting restriction in the Amended Ordinance is prohibiting the Wheaton Sports Center from installing parking lot lights. The remainder of the Wheaton Sports Center parking areas as well as all other nearby office developments have parking lot lights. Ms. Russell addressed the special use permit standards for a planned unit development as required by the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance. She stated that the proposed special use permit would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience, or general welfare of the neighboring property owners. Ron Haynes, 1N286 Papworth, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Haynes stated that he was the electrician working on the project. He stated that the Wheaton Sports Center currently has thirteen existing parking lot lights that were recently retrofitted to LED fixtures. He added that the proposed lights would match the existing lighting fixtures on the rest of the property. Staff Planner Jones stated that a lighting plan has been submitted that shows the proposed light levels at the edge of the parking lot and the plan appears to be fully compliant with the requirements of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance. However, staff recommends that the lighting plan be revised to show the property lines as well. Staff Planner Jones stated that the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance limits the pole height to 30 feet, luminare wattage to 400 watts and light levels at the property lines to .5 footcandles. Between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance further limits the light levels along residential property lines to .05 footcandles. Since the light levels shown on the lighting plan are as high as .5 footcandles at the edge of the parking lot, staff recommends the parking lot shall not be illuminated between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am. Larry Lyon, 1111 Champion Forest Court, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Lyon stated that there are no cars parking in this area at night and he questioned whether there was a need for the lights. He added that speed bumps in the neighborhood would improve safety. William Sippel, 1151 Champion Forest Court, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Sippel stated that there are no cars parking in this area at night and he questioned whether there was a need for the lights. If the lights are truly needed, he questioned whether glare shields could be installed. Robert Stozek, 1130 Champion Forest Court, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Stozek stated that there are no cars parking in this area at night and he questioned whether there was a need for the lights. Amy Johnson, 1131 Champion Forest Court, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Johnson stated she was new to the neighborhood and does know the history of the Wheaton Sports Center like her neighbors but she is concerned over the additional lights being added. Michelle Sheahin, 1171 Champion Forest Court, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Sheahin stated that her home backs up to the existing parking lot and her daughter is irritated by the existing parking lot lights at night. She stated that adding additional lights would make the existing situation worse. Ms. Russell stated that during the summer attendance numbers are lower, especially in the evening. She added that attendance numbers go up during the winter months and more people would use the parking lot in the evening then. She added that they were already planning to install glare shields on the proposed lights but these shields were not reflected on the current photometrics plan.  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board July 25, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Chair Weller requested additional background information from staff on the reason behind the lighting restriction. He further requested the applicant revise the photometrics plan to include the property line and try to further tweak their request to address some of the concerns raised by the adjacent neighbors. Ms. Horejs moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to continue the item until the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2017. On a voice vote, all voted aye. V. MISCELLANEOUS There was none. VI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Plunkett moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. On a voice vote, all voted aye. Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Jones, Staff Planner