HomeMy WebLinkAboutZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - 06/28/2012 - ZBA MINUTES #12-7 - STARBUCKS ELK GROVE VILLAGE
Zoning Board of Appeals
Meeting Minutes
June 28, 2012
Present: P.Kaplan, Chainrum
L. Dohrer
S. Carlson
R. Bookler
M.Colgan
D. Childress
D. Zinnel
J. Meister, Sr.
Absent: P. Rettberg
Staff: J. Polony, Plan Review Supervisor, Community Development
Zoning Variation —Docket# 12-7 102 Biesterfield Road-Starbucks
Chairman Kaplan called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm and read a statement describing the
hearing notification procedure as well as the legal notice. The petitioners, John Bell-Starbucks
Store Development Manager of the Midwest,Michael Alesia-Attorney for Biesterfield Partners,
Mario Gullo- Property Owner, and David Miller, P.E.-Senior Vice President of Sam Swartz
Engineering, were sworn in and asked to present their case.
Mr. Alesia stated that Mr. Bell, Starbucks Store Development Manager, is requesting a variation
to permit eight (8) stacking spaces in the drive through lane. Mr. Alesia noted that the Village
Ordinance requires twelve(12) stacking spaces; however no driveways or vehicular site
circulation would be impacted by the variance request. He stated that the centralized location of .
the proposed Starbucks will help attract business to Elk Grove Village.
Mr. Bell stated that his hardship for the variance request was the current site constraints. He
stated that the new design of the drive through would help make ingress and egress from the site
more convenient and feasible for customers. He noted that based upon a traffic study conducted
by Sam Swartz Engineering, eight(8) stacking spaces would be ample for the site. He mentioned
that the modifications to the existing drive through curb/island would allow for easy access to the
drive through lane and it would also help with vehicular circulation around the site. He stated
that the variance request would have no adverse effects on the health, safety, or welfare of the
public.
Mr. Miller stated that a traffic study of three(3) different Starbucks was conducted to examine
the maximum number of vehicles within the drive through lane from the peak hours of 6:30 a,m.-
9:30 a.m. The three (3) Starbucks analyzed have similar site configurations and are located in the
northwest suburbs (South Elgin, Hoffman Estates, and Lake Zurich). Based upon the data
submitted, an average of not more than seven (7) cars were stacked within the drive through
lanes between 6:30 a.m.-930 a.m. at the three (3) different store locations.
Mr. Kaplan opened the meeting to questions from the hoard.
Mr. Dohrer stated that due to the constraints of the site, he felt the proposed design would help
with the functionality of the building and parking lot. He asked Mr. Bell how the Starbucks,
currently located within the Dominicks in the Elk Grove Village Town Center, would impact this
site.
Mr. Bell stated that the Starbucks located within the Dominicks is a licensed store used for a
captive market. The intent of the Starbucks located within Dominicks is to cater to customers of
Dominicks and should have no impact on the outlet building.
Mr. Zimiel asked if the traffic study provided was a one(1) time survey and if so, what day of
the week the study was conducted.
Mr. Miller stated that the traffic study was a one(1) time study and it was conducted on a
Wednesday.
Mr. Zinnel asked the petitioner where the traffic count statistics of the surrounding roadways
came from.
Mr. Bell stated that the traffic count statistics were from a third party agency (ESRI).
Mr. Meister asked the petitioner what the average time it was for a customer to enter, order, and
leave the drive through.
Mr. Bell stated that the average time was dependent on the amount of stacked vehicles. He stated
that if eight(8) cars were stacked in the drive through, the eighth (8°i) car would take
approximately eight (8) minutes to enter, order, and leave the drive through, the seventh (71") car
would take approximately seven (7) minutes, and so on.
Mr. Meister noted that the eighth(8°i) stacking space was not located within the drive through
lane and asked how this eighth car impacts the driving aisles at the site.
Mr. Bell stated that based upon the traffic analysis, rarely eight(8) cars will be stacked within
the drive tin-ough lane and adequate space is provided for cars to maneuver around the eighth
(8") car to proceed into the parking lot. He also noted that the stacking will not inhibit the
functionally of the adjacent parking lot and the entrance to the site along the west of the property
can be utilized by customers.
Mr. Meister asked how the design of placing the menu board at approximately the fifth (5°i) car
in the drive through lane helps with the stacking of the vehicles.
Mr. Bell stated that based upon continual analysis of Starbucks stores, placing the menu board at
the fifth (5°i) car helps with the functionally of the drive through and the placement of the menu
board will not adversely impact the stacking of vehicles.
Mr. Kaplan then asked if there was anyone from the public who would like to speak. No one in
attendance had any objections or statements.
A motion to grant a variation to permit eight (8) stacking spaces at the drive through lane was
made by Mr. Dohrer and seconded by Mr. Colgan. Upon voting (AYES —Kaplan, Bookler,
Meister, Childress, Carlson, and Zinnel) the motion to grant the variance passed
unanimously. Mr. Kaplan advised the petitioner, Mr. Bell, to contact the Village Clerk and
attend the subsequent Village Board Meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
ared Polon
Plan Review Supervisor, Community Development
C: Chairman and Members Zoning Boards of Appeals,Mayor and Board of Trustees,
Village Clerk, Village Attorney, Village Manager, Deputy Village Manager, Assistant to
the Village Manager, Director of Community Development,Director of Public Works,
Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief(2), hrspectional Services Supervisor, Chairman and
Members of Plan Commission