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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJPZ - 02/29/2000 - RENTAL HOME INSPECTIONS/ZONING GROUND COVERAGE/VEHICLES OVERHANG SIDEWALKS JPZ COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES February 29, 2000 ✓�/ 7:00 P.M. Chernick Conference Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Trustee Lissner, Chairman Trustee Czarnik Trustee Prochno STAFF PRESENT: Alan Boffice, Director of Engineering and Community Development Steve Trudan, Assistant Director of Community Development Michael J. Cavallini, Health Services Coordinator Stephen Schmidt, Police Chief The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.. Chairman Lissner began the meeting by asking if there were any notations or changes in the minutes of the February 15, 2000 meeting. As there were no changes, the minutes of that meeting were approved. RENTAL HOME INSPECTIONS: Chairman Lissner then wished to reopen the discussion regarding the inspection of rental homes. He asked A] Boffice if there were any guidelines that he follows to inspect the rental homes on an annual basis. Mr. Boffice indicated that he checked the minutes of Village Board meetings and Committee of the Whole meetings and determined that this was an administrative policy that was put in place in 1990. 1W Boffice indicated that there are approximately 430 to 450 rental homes which are inspected annually on the exterior and it takes approximately one month to complete this inspection. Chairman Lissner then questioned if there should be a fee for this as the people who own the rental houses are in the business of making money. The fee would be for the outside inspections to offset the cost related to the time Village personnel spend on this task. There was further discussion as regards to the enforcement of a possible ordinance and how the ordinance would require persons with rental homes to register with the Village. Mr. Boffice indicated that prior to 1990, all homes were inspected over a four-year cycle. In 1990, the Board wanted the inspection of rental units on an annual basis. Mr. Boffice indicated that he sees no percentage increase or decrease in problems with rentals but he believes that the potential is there for violations of Village ordinances. There was further discussion with regards to rental homes and the inspection of condos. Mr. Boffice indicated that there is no inspection of the interior of condos. After this discussion, it was the consensus by the members of the JPZ Committee not to propose any additions to the current ordinances or any additional ordinances with regards to the inspection of rental homes at this time. Page 2 ZONING GROUND COVERAGE: The next item discussed was the ground coverage. Chairman Lissner discussed the proposal submitted earlier by Steve Trudan and felt that his conclusions were reasonable. There was then discussion about ground coverage in the front of the houses and in the rear of houses. Mr. Boffice indicated in the current ordinance only the front yard and the width of the lot is addressed as all houses should be set back by 25 feet. Currently, residents can cover the entire back of their yard by ascertaining a permit from the Village. Mr. Boffice also indicated that Elk Grove Village is one of the few villages to regulate how much pavement may be put on a lot. After this discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to recommend the proposal set forth by Steve Trudan and it is recommended that the Village pursue necessary public hearings before the Plan Commission to amend the zoning ordinance. VEHICLES OVERHANGING SIDEWALKS: The next item discussed was the blocking of sidewalks by cars parked in private driveways. Chief Schmidt provided a summary of several ordinances that were gathered through the Northwest Municipal Conference where some villages do not allow the blocking of driveways; others allow blocking the driveways only from late evening to early morning hours; and one community only allows the blocking of driveways during the late evening to early morning hours as long as no axles on the vehicles are blocking the driveways. Chief Schmidt then gave an overview of potential problems that the Village will encounter if an ordinance is enacted because there will be additional cars parked on streets and other hazards may be created. Chairman Lissner indicated that he sees cars blocking driveways which he believes is unnecessary. For an example, a car that would be parked at the end of a driveway appears to be parked there so that a vehicle can be maneuvered out of the garage, around this vehicle, without the resident having to move the vehicle. By blocking the sidewalk, it causes an inconvenience for anyone walking in the area either by walking or with strollers or in a wheelchair. After a short discussion regarding the potential problems that will surface if parking restrictions were placed on the vehicles in driveways, it was the consensus by the members of the Committee not to recommend any changes in Elk Grove Village's parking ordinances at this time. Copies of the ordinances from the Northwest Municipal Conference will be distributed to the JPZ Committee members, along with the minutes of this meeting. PUBLISHING ORDINANCE INFORMATION AND TYPES OF VIOLATIONS: The next item that Chairman Lissner wished to discuss was publishing a list of violations and Village ordinances. (The names and addresses of violators will not be indicated.) All members of the Committee agreed that this can be accomplished through listing ordinances in the newsletters and also publishing them on the website so that citizens can be aware of the ordinances and potential violations. In addition, staff has budgeted for a mailing to all residents. Page 3 DRIVEWAYS IN POOR CONDITION: The next item discussed was driveways that are in poor condition. Mr. Boffice addressed the Committee members and indicated that according to the local ordinances, all vehicles must be parked on a hard surface when on private property and there have been very few incidents where the Engineering Department had to address driveways that were in ill repair. Mr. Boffice indicated that this is basically a judgement call and he believes that the current provisions in the ordinances are feasible and effective in addressing this issue. Mr. Lissner then inquired about people having asphalt in the parkway portion of their driveways and Mr. Boffice indicated that residents could place asphalt on the parkway driveways as long as there was a concrete base. FENCE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM: The next item discussed was a fence replacement program. Chairman Lissner indicated this discussion was the result of a citizen who came to a Village Board meeting recently to discuss some type of standard fencing that should be adopted by the Village in fencing along main roadways in the Village. Mr. Lissner indicated that he felt a proposal very much like the concrete program where the Village would set the standard on the type of fencing could be considered. Mr. Boffice indicated that this would still cause problems as fencing is replaced at difference times and there will still be different coloring of the fencing along with the staining and the weathering which will cause a less than uniform appearance. Currently, any fencing that is in need of repair is handled by the Engineering Department. Mr. Lissner indicated that he believes that this would be on a volunteer basis only and people would still be able to buy their own fencing and they would be able to purchase anything they want. By offering a program through the Village, he felt that this would be an incentive for people to purchase fencing at a reasonable price. possibly a discounted price, so that maybe there would be some type of uniformity and cost savings to the residents. There was discussion among the members where the Village would have to recommend two or three different styles. Trustee Czarnik also indicated that there would be problems with fencing where privacy fencing could not be located on certain areas due to its location and sight issues. After reviewing this entire topic, it was decided by the members of the JPZ Committee that they were not interested in pursuing this matter any further. INCREASED INSPECTIONS/PERSONNEL: The next item that Trustee Lissner discussed was the possibility of increasing enforcement activities and associated personnel. After reviewing the minutes of the last several meetings and the discussion of this current meeting, Mr. Boffice indicated that he did not believe that he would need any additional personnel at this time to enforce the ordinances that are currently active in Elk Grove Village. The housing in the residential section of the Village is completely checked every three years and he indicated that if the Village wanted to have all the housing units checked every two years, he probably would need an additional person to accomplish this. Mr. Boffice feels he does not see a need to step up Page 4 the inspections to every two years and feels comfortable with the current level of three years. Mr. Cavallini indicated that we are finding more trashed homes and apartments and that issue is being addressed. He did not indicate any need for any additional personnel. Mr. Boffice indicated that a majority of the violations that are brought to the attention of the Engineering and Community Development Department are found on their three-year inspections. There may be more resistance now than ever due to finances and family issues, etc. of residents in the community. Mr. Boffice then reinforced his earlier statement that he feels he can handle any issues with his current staff and as a result of this discussion, the recommendation from the Committee members was that the current staff level is adequate and there is no need for any increases at this time. DEAD LANDSCAPING: The Committee discussed dead trees and bushes on private property and questioned if the Village can go on to private property to remove these trees. Mr. Lissner indicated that the Village can enter private property for safety, health and welfare issues. As of this time, the Village has no ordinances to address dead trees or bushes on private property. After a short discussion on this issue, it was decided that a survey would be conducted through the Northwest Municipal Conference by Mr. Boffice regarding the removal of dead trees and bushes. Also to be included in the survey would be the size of the trees or bushes that would fall under an ordinance of this type. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Mr. Lissner indicated that this was the end of his agenda and there were several residents at the meeting who questioned the Committee members on several issues. One citizen requested the issue of Christmas lights up on houses and indicated that there was a Herald editorial several years ago which recommended that all Christmas lights be taken down by January ls` or earlier. After a short discussion of this issue, the Committee members decided that this is not an issue they wish to address. ROOFING: Another issue that a citizen brought up was roofing material that curls and Mr Boffice addressed this issue indicating that the curling itself is not an indication of the deterioration of the roof. The Village will get involved if deterioration results in some type of leaking of water which is usually addressed by the residents prior to the Village getting involved in these types of situations. WINDOW AIR CONDITIONERS: Another citizen addressed the committee and asked if there was any ordinance regarding window air conditioning units in the Village as he believes that they are unsightly. He was advised that there were no ordinances that address window air conditioning units. Page 5 As there were no more issues to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8.34 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Stephen F. Schmidt Chief of Police SFS.lb c: Chairman and Members of JPZ Committee, President and Board of Trustees, Village Manager, Assistant Village Manager,Assistant to the Village Manager, Village Clerk, Chief of Police, Director of Engineering and Community Development, Health Services Coordinator, Assistant Director of Community Development