Lindenhurst Plan Commission Minutes

   


VILLAGE OF LINDENHURST
2301 E. SAND LAKE ROAD

REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLAN COMMISSION
APRIL 16, 2008, 7:00 P.M. MINUTES

   

 

Call to Order

Chairman Jane Gattone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Roll Call

The following Commissioners were present: Chairman Jane Gattone, Joy Gajda, Alice Cattani, Robert Reding, Vincent Springer, David Hartwig.

A MOTION was made by Commissioner Reding to appoint Commissioner Gajda Secretary pro-tem; in the absence of Commissioner Stittgen. Commissioner Springer seconded the motion.

All were in favor; Ayes- 6, Nays- 0

Others Present

Jim Stevens, Village Administrator, Pat Meehan, Village Planner, Paul Phillips, Village Attorney, Dominic Marturano, Village Trustee, and Liz Thomsen, recording secretary.

Commissioner Stittgen arrived at the meeting at 7:07 p.m.

Approval of the Minutes of the April 2, 2008 Meeting:

There were corrections to the minutes. Page 1, para. 2 under Public Hearing, sentence 1: “Attorney Phillips said the Public Hearing on the Proposed re-zoning of Property… was to take place on Wednesday April 2, 2008….”

Page 1, para. 3, sentence 3: the red dotted-line area is west of Anchor 3 near Falling Waters Blvd.

Page 2, para. 2, under heading: 2. Review of the Revised Tentative Plat and First Final Plat, Sentence 3 should read: She noted overall road easements would be approx. 80 ft. wide and each lot size would include 40 ft. of the easement.

Page 4, para. 1, sentence 1: Mr. Hickcox of OM, not Mr. Eiden said he was working on new renderings for the main Village Green.

Page 4, para. 1, sentence 2: “… single stem trees were to be used as well…”

Page 4, para. 2, sentence 2: “Atty. Phillips noted this zoning designation would probably not change…

Page 4, para. 3, sentence 5: “OliverMcMillan plans to try to transplant mature trees from other areas…”

Page 4, under Staff Updates and Status Report, sentence 1: Daycare facility Tutor Time is looking at property in Heritage Park Commercial area.

Page 4, under Staff Updates and Status Report, sentence 4: add the word “affordable” before housing units.

Page 4, under Staff Updates and Status Report, sentence 5: Identify the name of the property owners of the two houses on the west side of Rt. 45, east of Wendy’s as Exceed Development.

Page 5, para. 3, sentence 1: add the words “and the Village Board after the Planning Commission.

Page 5, Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m., not 9:50 p.m.

Page 5: Addendum to Minutes from April 16, 2008 Planning Commission Meeting.

[Advisory Note: Per Administrator Jim Stevens and Chairman Jane Gattone: Please refer to further action by the Planning Commission at the April 16, 2008 meeting on the topic of the 1st Addition to the Lindenhurst Village Green: Review of Proposed Rezoning, Tentative Plat and First Final Plat.]

Commissioner Reding made a MOTION to approve the April 2, 2008 minutes with the above corrections. Commissioner Hartwig seconded the motion. All were in favor: Ayes- 7, Nays- 0.

Communications and Correspondence

None.

Old Business- Lindenhurst Village Green - (Refer to 4/09/08 Meehan & Company, Inc. memo)

Mr. Hickcox spoke to the Planning Commission and noted there are no dramatic changes to lots and their configurations. One minor change is conveyance to IDOT of two out lots.

Attorney Phillips noted one other minor change concerning access to Lots 1 and 10. Mr. Hickcox explained that currently the easement granted is leading from Rt. 45 and terminating at the Lot 10, Lot 1 boundary. Attorney Phillips said staff is recommending adding a condition that a change is going to be made adding cross-access easements for Lots 1 and 10 for purposes of ingress and egress.

Summary of the Proposed Lindenhurst Village Green Tentative Plat and First Final Plat

The proposed “Tentative Plat” and “First Final Plat” for the proposed Lindenhurst Village Green show the combination and reconfiguration of ten existing parcels of land (which currently comprise the subject property) into 17 lots and 2 out lots. Each of the lots would have access to public street rights-of way through ingress and egress easements indicated as well as through the existing “Easement Maintenance and Operation Agreement” recorded on April 30, 2007 at the Lake County Recorder’s office. Zoning includes CBR-2, R-4, and I (Institutional) for well placement. The “Tentative Plat” and “First Final Plat” are subject to the terms and conditions of the provisions of the “Annexation Agreement” between the Village and the property owners dated March 21, 2007.

The property to be developed by OliverMcMillan includes a central multi-use oval Village Green (see separate summary) surrounded by several Anchor Stores, multiple smaller retail and restaurant-type businesses, and a movie theatre.

Main Intersections: The properties are bounded on the east by State Route 45 (running north/south) and main ingress/egress entrances include Chatham Way and Deer Trail Drive. The property is bounded by State Route 132 (Grand Avenue) running north/west. Developers plan a proposed “spine road” which would run near the east edge of the property, providing a proposed ingress/egress from Grand Avenue to Falling Waters Way.

Lands abutting the subject property have the following existing land uses:

North: Falling Waters Business Park and Falling Waters multi-family condos.

West: Vacant lands.

East: Single-family detached residential and dwelling uses (located outside of the Village of Lindenhurst village limits).

South: Vacant lands.

Summary Description of proposed Village Green Oval

The proposed Village Green is situated in front of Anchor 1. An oval-shaped great lawn about 215 ft. by 150 ft., crossed by a meandering path varying from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in width to accommodate benches, planters, night lighting and other furniture. The Green is to include large trees, a possible water “mist-type” feature, some large boulders or other play structures. A spot for a temporary stage is being planned and OliverMcMillan (OM) is working with an event planner. Some type of movable lawn furniture may be incorporated. At either end of the oval proposed 50 ft. plazas with lush landscaping and seating areas would be built. Substantial but see-through tree canopy is planned with edge definition for the oval edges. A 30-inch perimeter paver area/carriage walk would be added around the Village Green oval for maintenance and snowmelt placement and lighted at night. The central walkway would include night lighting as well.

New Business

OM introduced 3-D renderings of the Village Green to Planning Commission members at the 4/16/08 meeting. Mr. Hickcox reminded Commissioners that they are re-zoning much of the south east side of the spine road, resulting in a net gain in CBR-2 zoned area for the Village.

A. Lindenhurst Village Green Subdivision: Review of Proposed Rezoning, Revised Tentative Plat and First Final Plat.

Commissioner Gajda made a MOTION that the Planning Commission recommend to the Village Board the Conditional Approval of the Lindenhurst Village Green Subdivision: Revised Tentative Plat and First Final Plat per the Meehan & Co. Memo dated April 10;2008 with the special condition that a change be added to the Revised Tentative Plat and First Final Plat adding a Cross-Access Easement for Lots 1 and 10. Commissioner Reding seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken:

Commissioner Gajda - Yes
Commissioner Reding- Yes
Commissioner Hartwig- Yes
Commissioner Stittgen- Yes
Commissioner Cattani- Yes
Commissioner Springer- Yes
Chairman Gattone- Yes

The motion carried. Ayes-7, Nays-0.

Advisory Note: Administrator Stevens suggested an advisory note be added to the end of the 4/2/08 Planning Commission minutes to show this change in Access Easement language.

Access Note Revision

Planner Meehan noted a revision in the Access Notes on page 2 of the “Final Plat of Subdivision of the First Addition to Lindenhurst Village Green”. The 2nd note titled Public Ingress and Egress Provisions has changed to read:

An easement for public ingress and egress is hereby reserved and granted to the Village of Lindenhurst for use by the general public over areas designated as public ingress and egress. Planner Meehan noted there is an off-site easement now shown for future access to Rt. 132, and the owner /developer name has been changed from the previous plat.

Mr. Hickcox clarified the change in easement is necessary to give the 7-acre area described as the Horvat Parcel, public ingress/egress and future access to Rt. 132 (Grand Ave.). He noted that since the Horvat parcel was under different ownership, it had to be platted separately.

B. 1st Addition to Lindenhurst Village Green: Review of Proposed Rezoning, Tentative Plat and First Final Plat.

Commissioner Hartwig made a MOTION that the Planning Commission recommend to the Village Board that a change be made to the First addition to the Lindenhurst Village Green Review of the Tentative Plat and First Final Plat Lindenhurst Village Green as subject to the conditions contained in the Meehan & Co. Memo dated April 9, 2008, and a special condition be added regarding the change to the Public Ingress/Egress Language on page 2 of the Final Plat of Subdivision. Commissioner Gajda seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken:

Commissioner Hartwig- Yes
Commissioner Gajda - Yes
Commissioner Reding- Yes
Commissioner Stittgen- Yes
Commissioner Cattani- Yes
Commissioner Springer- Yes
Chairman Gattone- Yes

The motion carried. Ayes-7, Nays-0.

Staff Updates/Status Report

Mr. Hickcox of OliverMcMillan, Mr. Ryan Kettlekamp of Kettlekamp & Kettlekamp and Mr. Tim Kent of Pappageorge Haymes showed the Planning Commission updated 3-D renderings for the main Village Green and surrounding areas based on the recommendations of Commissioners at the last meeting.

Landscaping- Some of the changes included the addition of large rocks, as big as 4 x 4 or 5 x 5; added as a tribute to the glacial history of the area, as seating spots for people and climbing areas for children. Other changes included a lighted perimeter loop walk area added for maintenance and snowmelt, a spot for a temporary stage, the addition of large decorative barrier planters for the end plazas, and lighting renderings for the central walkway. Plazas are now tucked in a little more to the planting beds.

Mr. Kettlekamp noted they had built a lighted scale model of the Village Green which will be taken to the International Conference of Shopping Center Developers (ICSC) in Las Vegas and then presented to the Village for them to keep. He noted they were working on providing seasonal drawings and a more detailed version of the Village Green as it related to the surrounding retail area at the 5/7/08 Planning Commission meeting.

Commissioner Stittgen suggested the addition of stone chess tables to the area. Discussion continued among the Commissioners regarding the geology of the site and the addition of boulders not only in the Village Green but possibly in surrounding areas as well. Commissioners discussed the merits of tall lampposts on the central walk, which could possibly hold speakers for special events or the use of bollard lighting. Commissioner Gajda noted tall lampposts could also be used for banners to add color.

Commissioner Springer commented that the idea of a gradual slope or terraced look would not work with a temporary stage concept. The temporary stage is currently shown to be about 30 ft. x 50 ft. Developers propose adding a few more trees in the middle, but the hope is for people to have a view across the Village Green to see the buildings.

Commissioner Hartwig asked about color spectrum of lighting to be used and was told lighting would lean towards a warmer spectrum. Commissioner Stittgen suggested possible plaques for self-guided tours playing off the geology of the area.

Architecture- Mr. Tim Kent of Pappageorge Haymes made a presentation to the Planning Commission about incorporating large anchor stores, particularly Anchor 1 into the general look aimed for by developers. Mr. Kent showed renderings of a stone plaza entry to be added to Anchor 1 to help it blend in with other stores, as well as the addition of cornice treatments and covered canopy entryways. They would use the same kinds of classic stone or decorative concrete materials on the back and sides of the building as well, including pre-cast concrete wall panels that could be recessed or lighted at night. They would soften the edges with lush landscaping as discussed earlier.

Chairman Gattone asked if the pre-cast materials would look like natural stone and was told that with score lines, lighting and new material technology, pre-cast materials are now almost indistinguishable from natural.

Commissioner Springer asked if any balcony effects had been considered for second stories and was told that it depended on the tenant. Discussion continued on second story views of the Village Green as well as corner treatments and façade materials.

Administrator Stevens advised the Commission that Tutor Time daycare facility addition to Heritage Park would be discussed in late May. Discussion of the gas station facility and other tenants for Village Green continued.

Planner Meehan noted the May 7, 2008  Planning Commission agenda may include the changed use for Ultimate Transportation in the Falling Waters Business Park.

Attorney Phillips noted they may move forward with legal action if Exceed Development did not remove the two houses east of Wendy’s on Rt. 45.

Public Participation

Public Participation opened at 8:45 p.m.

Jim O’Niel, 497 Whispering Pines Rd., Lindenhurst: I have a request that you post your Planning Commission meeting minutes on the community website like Village Board meeting minutes are posted. He also had a question about energy-efficient glass and materials and the re-use of rainwater. He asked that the Village look at lessening the environmental footprint of the development.

Administrator Stevens noted that there were state regulations and building code requirements already in place for energy efficient building. He said while the Village does not have specific lighting code requirements, OM is looking at sustainable lighting and energy saving options for roofing and other architectural aspects.

Chairman Gattone called for any more public comments. There were none.

Administrator Stevens noted they may post the minutes on the website after approval at the next meeting. Public Comment closed at 8:49 p.m.

Adjournment

A MOTION TO ADJOURN the meeting was made by Commissioner Gajda and seconded by Commissioner Cattani. All were in favor: Ayes- 7, Nays- 0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.