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Home My WebLink AboutPLAN COMMISSION - 10/05/1972 - DOCKET 72-8/ADVENTURE LAND/CENTEX IND PK Y MINUTES REGULAR PLAN COMMISSION MEETING October 5, 1972 Members Present: Chairman William Shannon; Messrs. Mead Killion, Al Krasnow, Richard Pottker, Charles Siewert, Richard Sorenson; Secretary Leah Cummins ; and later, - Mr. Noah Hamilton. Others Present: The Honorable Trustees Vanderweel , Kenna and Staddler; Messrs. Willis, Walla and Rettenbacher representing Village Adminis- tration; Mr. Robert Calkins representing Centex Homes Corporation. Village Clerk Richard McGrenera was there as well as Mlle. Michelle. Petitioners and citizens of the community were in attendance. 1 . New Business: A. Public Hearing - Docket 72-8. At 8:30 P.M. the Plan Commission, acting as a Zoning Board, conducted a public hearing identified as Docket 72-8 on a petition to rezone from B-1 to A-2 special use multiple family for development of senior citizen housing, a 15.65 acre tract of land adjacent to the Grove Shopping Center. An official transcript was made of that hearing and is on file in the Village Clerk' s office. At 10: 15 P.M. the Zoning Board reassembled upstairs where they trans- formed themselves into the Plan Commission. The Chairman rewarded Commission members for having conducted a fine public hearing, by handing out homework assignments. These were received with delirious glee by all members present in their persistent efforts to please their leader. . . lest they be taken out in the hallway for a "pep talk". Then, in stentorian tones , Chairman Shannon called for the unqualified attention of Commission members to the business at hand. B. Proposed annexation of one acre tract of land, formerly known as Adventure Land, for a restaurant. This item was tabled. D. Centex Industrial Park Unit No. 172. The Chairman reported that this plat had not been approved by engineering since there is a question on the easement and corner of the lot. E. Higgins Industrial Park Unit No. 99• It was noted with great consternation by Plan Commission members that this porperty is directly in the flood plain. It is a condition that none of us want to ignore; however, members expressed diverse means of approaching a solution to the problem. For example, the Chairman wants to postpone action on this plat until develop- ment of a flood control plan can be explored further. To which suggestion Mr. Siewert, in his ubiquitous manner queried, "Are we on watery grounds in holding back approval of this plat?" Which prompted Mr. Pottker to comment, "I suggest we go to the Village Board with it -- they' ll override Y • • Y 1 . E. (continued) our objections anyway - so no time will be lost!" Mrs. Cummins proposed that the Plan Commission reapproach the Board with the former recommendation that a special flood control commission be created, with its first order of business being to create a flood control ordinance for the Village. When it was mentioned that the Village Trustees had already rejected this recommendation which was made by the Plan Commission on May 4th of this year, it was suggested that this time we should present an improved rationale for our position, and that we should present it in person at a Village Board meeting, with the Plan Commission appearing en masse. In other words, eyeball to eyeball . . .appointed, consultant, strictly advisory-capacity Village planners, to elected, decision-making, omnipotent Village officials. . .one to one! It was no accident that the Chairman kicked the Secretary under the table as he counterproposed that he, personally, would write a position paper for presentation to the Trustees which, he promised, would be stronger and more persuasive than was his previous communication. It was decided that this course of action would be taken and - should the Trustees again refuse, the Plan Commission would confront them in the manner described above. F. Elk Grove Industrial Park Unit No. 5 Lots 17 and 18. It was moved by Cummins, seconded by Siewert that this plat be approved. This item was tabled. A. Discussion on Docket 72-8. A short time was spent in review of the senior citizen housing project. It was then decided to defer further comment until the next meeting, in respect for the interested citizens who attended the public hearing but did not reconvene with the Plan Commission upstairs since they did not expect any more time would be spent on this subject tonight. 2. Minutes: Minutes of the meeting of September 21 , 1972 were read and approved by the Plan Commissioners. 3• Unfinished Business : A. Devon-53 Project. The Chairman circulated a proposal letter and several sample reports emanating from the firm of Allen Kracower, of Evanston, who is being considered as a possible consultant to the Plan Commission in its deliberations of the Devon-53 Project before, during and after a public hearing is held. A decision will be made at the next meeting regarding the hiring of this firm, pending all members having an opportunity to read the letter and reports , and pending a reference check by the Secretary. B. Centex North Stage II . Mr. Al Markson, architect of Busche & Markson was present to discuss this particular development with the Plan Commission. He commented that his proposal is the most copied concept since the quadrominium. He mentioned that in the Northbrook development the parking in the rear is not used. It is more convenient for tenants to use the - 2 - Plan Commission Minutes October 5, 1972 (corrected) 3. B. (continued) front parking areas. Mr. Shannon said, "My question is that this plan looks fine on three acres, and on five acres. . .but, on thirteen acres, is it still that great an idea? Don' t we have TOO MUCH for that acreage?" Other members expressed the same viewpoint, that the plan looks TOO CROWDED, TOO BUSY. Mr. Markson feels that it is okay the way it is. He said success is predicted on how fast they rent the units. Phase building will permit an adjustment to smaller units if required. . .fewer units or possibly larger units. Somehow, Nicholas Boulevard development was brought up and some Commission members and Mr. Rettenbacher commented on how untidy that area is. The Gottlieb-Beale representative disclaims responsibility for all that mess since he says his firm developed the land but sold the buildings and thus has lost control . All the gravel , dirt, mud and water resulting from the road construction at Higgins and Nicholas Boulevard is another situation aggravating the neat appearance of that area, but is something totally beyond his firm's control . As the conversation took turns into the philosophy of good building management and items such as burnt-out light bulbs on stairways were mentioned, Mr. Killion relieved the dramatic suspense by popping for cokes and sugarless gum. Mr. Rettenbacher was to check with the Fire Department to see if there is sufficient room to turn trucks. Commission members continued to protest the proposed plan by expressing concern that it is too crowded. They said that the green areas were not really open space. . .but a mere gesture. Mr. Markson said, "We could do a much denser thing." With the discussion lacking direction, Mr. Rettenbacher in a magnanimous attempt to administer comfort to a seemingly unconsolable tenant of a Gottlieb-Beale managed building said, "The Ampex building is available." Noah replied, "Don' t tempt me; I think I ' ll open a lingerie factory." Siewert remarked, "Let me know if you do; I 'd like to get into that! !" It was obvious that the Chairman had lost control of the meeting, the members had lost interest in the subject, Mr. Rettenbacher lost an opportunity to endear himself to Noah, everyone had lost some much- needed sleep and so Mr. Pottker moved for adjournment, hurriedly seconded by Mr. Sorenson. It was 12 :05 A.M. and the Plan Commission had outlasted its next door neighbor, the midnite Jewel . LC:ms 3 - Plan Commission Minutes October 5, 1972 cc: Village President Village Clerk Board of Trustees Village Engineer Village Manager Police Chief Administrative Assistant Fire Chief Building Commissioner Park District Health Inspector Centex 4 - Plan Commission Minutes October 5, 1972