HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLAN COMMISSION - 02/20/2002 - MEACHAM RD/ANNEX & DEVELOPMENT J c�
Elk trove Village
Plan Commission Minutes
February 20, 2002
Present: J. Glass, Chairman
P. Ayers
C. Henrici
J. Meyers
D. Sokolowski
T.Thompson
Absent: F. Geinosky
E. Hauser
D. Paliganoff
Staff: M. Pye,Asst. Dir. of Engineering
S. Trudan,Asst. Dir. of Community Development
P.Vadopalas, Assistant to the Village Manager
Petitioner: L. Garr, Gan& Schleuter,Attorney at Law
T. McGowen, Garr&Schleuter, Attorney at Law
L. Cummins, developer
G. Carey, owner
Chairman Glass called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.
Item 1: Annexation& Development-Meacham Road, South of Biesterfield
Chairman Glass stated the petitioner had submitted a petition to annex approximately 8 acres of land at
Meacham Road, south of Biesterfield Road. The subject property is located immediately south of the
existing Cambridge Homes Whytecliffe Subdivision. The petitioners have requested an opportunity to
discuss the development of this property with the Plan Commission before developing plans for an
annexation petition.
Lee Garr introduced himself as the representative of this proposal. Garr stated a plan for a row of
townhomes had been submitted to the Village, which did not meet the Village's approval,primarily due to
two variation requests: one for a culdesae that exceeds the maximum length permitted, and the other related
to waiving required sidewalk on the south side of the proposed new roadway. Subsequently, a concept Plan
for condominium buildings was submitted and has been provided to the Plan Commission for discussion'
L.Garr stated the petitioner is seeking some consensus from the Plan Commission before proceeding in the
planning of this site.
Chairman Glass noted the Plan Commission normally considers a concrete plan developed by the petitioner.
In this case, the concept drawing offers little detail to comment on.
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Commissioner Meyers questioned if the submitted condominium concept still contemplates the use of
neighboring parking lots for alternate ingress and egress. Garr responded it does still contemplate this
method of providing alternate access to the site. T. McGowen stated the petitioner has a written agreement
in place with the owner of the neighboring Wal-Mart store for use of its parking lot.
Chairman Glass asked for the distance between the proposed driveway off of Meacham Road and the
neighboring driveway serving the Living Hope church? Garr responded approximately 25-feet.
Commissioner Sokolowski noted the lot immediately to the north of the subject property is zoned for
commercial development, and questioned if screening from the proposed residential units is planned.
McGowen responded they are aware of the need to screen the two uses and would consider the combination
of fencing and landscaping to accomplish this.
Chairman Glass asked for the number of townhouse units proposed in the townhouse plan. Garr responded
36. Chairman Glass asked for the number of bedrooms in each unit. Garr responded 2.
Commissioner Ayers questioned if the units would include basements. Garr responded they would include
basements. Commissioner Ayers asked for the sales price of the units. Garr responded they would be priced
in the upper-$200's.
Commissioner Sokolowski questioned the availability of off-street parking. McGowen stated the units
would each include a two-car garage, and a driveway that could accommodate up to 4 additional cars.
Commissioner Ayers asked staff if the townhouse proposal was problematic from their perspective. M. Pye
responded the two variations(culdesac and sidewalk)were the only issues from a code standpoint.
Chairman Glass stated the site presents several challenges,namely provision of second access,the
appearance of the buildings, and the nature of the surrounding uses. Chairman Glass noted the best
alternative access plan would be the construction of the roadway in such a way as to provide access to an
existing roadway, such as Home Avenue.
Commissioner Henrici asked if the units would be sprinklered. McGowen stated they are willing to install
sprinklers. Commissioner Henrici stated that the townhouse concept made sense in his opinion.
Commissioner Ayers stated the plan makes sense to him as well, as an appropriate transition between single
family homes to the north and the church and shopping center to the south. Commissioner Ayers questioned
if the petitioner had considered the construction of single-family homes on the site. L. Garr responded that
single family homes would not be economically feasible.
Chairman Glass stated the construction of a public roadway to connect to another public roadway besides
Meacham Road would be the secondary access most acceptable to the Village. At this time, the petitioners
and Commissioners reviewed an aerial photo and discussed potential options to accomplish this, either to
West Glenn Trail or to Home Avenue. Chairman Glass asked if staff had any opinion on either option. M.
Pye stated there might be a concern about cut through traffic from motorists seeking to avoid the
Meacham/Nerge intersection. Chairman Glass stated he lives in this area and does not believe the traffic
counts are such that cut through traffic would be a major issue.
Chairman Glass noted if the church driveway is eliminated, there would be additional development area and
traffic conllicts between the two properties would be reduced. Chairman Glass noted the preliminary
townhouse plan show limited outdoor recreational space, and recommended recreational space be increased.
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M.Pye noted the property has a significant slope to the east, and in planning the site the developer would
have to locate detention to the east side of the property.
Chairman Glass stated he has no objections to the concept of townhomes on this property,if planned
correctly. He stated any plan would need to include substantial landscaping and screening, some solution to
the culdesac.issue would need to be engineered, and he suggested a curvilinear street would serve to break up
the line of units going west to east. He noted the petitioner would need to be more creative,but the concept
of townhouses would be appropriate for this site. Commissioner Henrici concurred.
There being no additional questions,Chairman Glass adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Peter I Vadopalas
Assistant to the Village Manager
C: Chairman and Members of the Plan Commission,Mayor and Board of Trustees,Village Clerk,
Village Manager, Assistant Village Manager,Assistant to the Village Manager,Administrative
Intem, Director of Engineering/Community Development,Director of Public Works,Fire Chief,
Deputy Fire Chief(2), Assistant Fire Chief,Village Attorney.
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