Laserfiche WebLink
Regular Planning CommissionMeeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, September 2, 2015 <br />Page 27 <br />the essence from a business perspective; and opined that this discussion had included or <br />1327 <br />sought little input from the business community to-date.Ms. Vogel referenced a recent <br />1328 <br />publication by the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce in which it was found that <br />1329 <br />there was one business for every three homes, but sheopined she was not hearing input <br />1330 <br />in that proportion, suggesting a narrow viewpoint.Ms. Vogel noted that some of these <br />1331 <br />issues affected their business personally, and reminded the Commission that while there <br />1332 <br />may be a difference in taxpayers, the businessescontributed to a community in a variety <br />1333 <br />of ways beyond its tax base. <br />1334 <br />Ms. Vogel stated that the zoning issue was huge, and referenced the first meeting their <br />1335 <br />firm had held before purchasing their business located at immediately north and east of <br />1336 <br />the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Terrace Drive, at which only four residents were <br />1337 <br />present, with their most important request and concern being that their firm mow the <br />1338 <br />lawn.Since then, Ms. Vogel noted that they had been criticized for not doing their due <br />1339 <br />diligence, and having invested considerable money in their firm to address environmental <br />1340 <br />issues and concerns in response to the adjacent residential neighborhood, remained <br />1341 <br />interested in moving forward.Ms. Vogel noted the differences in their firm’s much less <br />1342 <br />intense use than the previous user (Aramark), with only six employees working at this <br />1343 <br />site, yet still being unable to move in completely due to phasing and financing issues due <br />1344 <br />to various delays in the process. <br />1345 <br />Ms. Vogel asked that the Commission consider business issues related to financing <br />1346 <br />partner requirements, equity in their building and equipment, and the position it placed a <br />1347 <br />business in if they intended to make any P use subject to CU, requiring business to delay <br />1348 <br />activities for another 90-120 days in that process.Ms. Vogel noted that this could result in <br />1349 <br />losinga business to another community; and asked that they give fair consideration to <br />1350 <br />the timeliness of their decision-making. <br />1351 <br />Chair Boguszewski and Member Murphy sought clarification, provided by Mr. Lloyd, that <br />1352 <br />the Vogel property had originally been zoned HDR, and proposed for CMU-1, and thus <br />1353 <br />requiring an IU at this time; with any proposed zoning change allowing approval <br />1354 <br />remaining as is. <br />1355 <br />Mr. Lloyd further clarified that the IU approval was predicated on an understanding that <br />1356 <br />the businesses use was limited production/processing, and was a CU in the proposed <br />1357 <br />CMU-1 zoning district, if approved.At that time, Mr. Lloyd advised that Vogel Mechanical <br />1358 <br />could apply for a CU as a P use versus their current limited term IU that they were <br />1359 <br />currently operating under for their property. <br />1360 <br />Lacy Kapaun, 1840 County Road C-2 West <br />1361 <br />Ms. Kapaunstated that she was generally in agreement with the various zoning sections, <br />1362 <br />with the exception of the height restriction, opining that it was too high in areas along <br />1363 <br />Fairview Avenue unless in a CMU-1 designated area where 35’ would be acceptable. <br />1364 <br />Ms. Kapaunstated that her other issue was in not knowing the results of the Twin Lakes <br />1365 <br />Parkway extension and what may develop as a result or how much traffic it may <br />1366 <br />generate.Other than those many unknowns at this time, Ms. Kapam stated that the other <br />1367 <br />provisions appeared to be reasonable, beyond knowing how much traffic would be <br />1368 <br />produced with various uses.Therefore, Ms. Kapam asked for more restrictions in CMU-3 <br />1369 <br />along Fairview Avenue, since that was a major concern for her; and further expressed <br />1370 <br />her agreement with the comments and issues brought forward tonight by Ms. McCormick. <br />1371 <br />Kathleen Erickson, 1790 Centennial Drive <br />1372 <br />Ms. Erickson spoke to the process itself, opining that the reason more residents didn’t <br />1373 <br />participate was because the language involved in most discussions within City Hall was <br />1374 <br />too intimidating for the average citizen.As an example, Ms. Erickson referenced the first <br />1375 <br />mailed noticethe neighborhood had received for the public hearing to consider the IU for <br />1376 <br />the former Aramark building, admitting she had no idea what that meant beyond <br />1377 <br />understanding it was a short-term use.Without being an attorney or developer, Ms. <br />1378 <br />Erickson noted that residents were unaware of what was actually happening, and in her <br />1379 <br /> <br />