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Minutes - 01/18/1999 - Plan Commissionr VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES January 18, 1999 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:28 p.m MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: A quorum was present. H. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Stelios Aktipis Members Surendra Goel Samuel Girgis George Mueller David Pequet Anthony Tappin Stephen Allen Village Engineer Dale Durfey Director of Community Development Thomas Hawk Member Girgis moved, seconded by Member Goel, to waive the reading of the December 14, 1998, Plan Commission Meeting minutes and to approve them as amended VOICE VOTE: All in favor. Motion passed W. E.M. ENTERPRISES - OFFICE PARK OF HINSDALE - 3821 YORK ROAD - FLOOD PLAIN SPECIAL USE WITH VARIATION - A PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTED TWO (2) FEET BELOW THE 100 -YEAR FLOOD =1 1=11Ar1nA1 Tom Heuer, Heuer and Associates, reviewed the proposal. All aspects of the parking lot conform to Village Code. The parking lot has been screened with landscape shrubbery and trees as specified by Ordinance including appropriate height and density. The lot is situated so that it would not be very visible from any public space within Oak Brook It is about 300 feet east of York Road and is not a prominent feature. It also loins other parking lots and commercial properties. It is nestled within commercial properties so it is consistent with land use in the area. Chairman Aktipis advised everyone that the Plan Commission will only be considering the issue whether this request should receive a Certificate of Appropriateness within the Graue Mill /Gateway area PLAN COMMISSION Minutes January 18, 1998 Member Tappin questioned the percentage of vegetation that will be evergreen. Heuer responded that the shrubbery is deciduous not evergreen and are of the honeysuckle species. They will be densely planted and will grow to about five to six foot height. There is also common huckleberry that grows to about thirty foot height. They did not consider evergreens to be appropriate for this setting. It is not separating residential from properties and is not a prominent feature. Considering the appearance of the forest preserve and all that around Salt Creek, people see more commonly grasses and native plantings, rather than manicured evergreens. Tom Hawk, Director of Community Development, noted that the Ordinance calls for primarily 4- foot tall evergreen shrubs. Carol Heerwagen, General Manager, Office Park of Hinsdale, said that their objective in this area was to make it look native and not have a trimmed evergreen effect to fit in with the surrounding area. Member Tappin requested that evergreens be added to the plan because the Code says that the screening will be equally effective in all seasons Heuer was agreeable to add some evergreens to the plan. Member Girgis noted that the area is landlocked and not visible from York Road. The only people that see it are those that park in the medical building. He tried to view the spot when he was in the building and it is very inconspicuous and low. Chairman Aktipis said that Ordinance provides for both evergreens and other types of plantings. He suggested to the Members that the petitioner agrees to blend some evergreens into the planting Member Tappin questioned the lighting in the lot. Heuer said that the lighting conforms to the requirements of the Village It is shoebox style lighting mounted 25 -foot height on slender square steel poles The style tends to be unobtrusive and tends to blend in. Placement of lights was to maximize the distribution of the lighting in the space It tends to spread the lighting source more onto the ground than in the air Member Goel asked Tom Hawk who has the jurisdiction for emergency services, since the only access into the parking lot is from Hinsdale Hawk responded that it falls within the Oak Brook jurisdiction However, given the location, typically, Oak Brook and Hinsdale do cooperate very heavily. The primary responsibility, would be with Oak Brook. He would not anticipate a large problem from a parking lot of this small size. Member Girgis questioned, if they could access the lot from Sav -Way, and was advised they could not. No one in the audience spoke in support of or in opposition to the proposal Tom Hawk said that there is not a great deal of guidance for parking lot issues in the Historic Gateway Area in the Ordinance. The language is limited and the proposed plan appears to meet what is there with the added evergreen plantings Member Goel questioned the letter in the file from DuPage County. Tom Hawk reviewed the events through the Zoning Board of Appeals PLAN COMMISSION Minutes January 18, 1998 t I `� 2 Member Tappin moved, seconded by Member Goel, to recommend approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness subject to the following conditions: 1. Evergreen plantings to be added to the landscape 2. Final Engineering approval. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes: 6 - Girgis, Nays: 0 - None. Absent: 1 - Allen. Motion Carried. Goel, Mueller, Pequet, Tappin and Aktipis IV, VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK - 1999 PAVING AND WATER MAIN PROJECT - YORKSHIRE WOODS SUBDIVISION RIGHT OF WAY - FLOOD PLAIN SPECIAL USE Dale Durfey, Village Engineer reviewed the Villages request for Flood Plain Special Use in the Yorkshire Wood Subdivision. The roads in the area vary from 16 to 22 feet, edge to edge. The residents would like to add a concrete shoulder like in the Ginger Creek Subdivision. There also would be a uniform 20 -foot width of the pavement. It will require, pavement widening, installation of concrete shoulders and ditching. Some parts of the Subdivision are in the flood plain. By Ordinance we are required to compensate for the fill at 1 5 times the amount. The engineers have accomplished that and there are pre -final plans in the office now. They are meeting of the Ordinance for compensatory storage. In the file the standards for the eleven factors for flood plain special use have been answered. Tom Hawk, said that the Village is following the same procedure as if this were a private request with the oversight of outside professional engineers. Dale Durfey said that most reviews are handled by the Village consultant Earth Tech. Member Mueller questioned how the Village decides who gets the concrete shoulders Durfey stated that the Village Board, in its 10 -year roadway maintenance plan will put them in upon request of the homeowners. Ginger Creek was the first, this will be the second and Woodside Estates has also made a request. Member Mueller questioned how deep the ditches will be and if they will create any problems. Durfey said the maximum ditch is about 21/2 feet and most ditches are from 1 1/2 to 2 foot range from the edge of shoulder Member Mueller asked if there was any safety hazard. Durfey noted that it is fairly common around the Village to have ditches at that depth. Member Tappin questioned who will maintain the ditches Durfey said the homeowners will John Harrington, 29 Yorkshire Woods, was concerned with some very large evergreen trees in front of his home. They are significant in size and are approximately 25 -30 years old and about 75 feet tall. He said that he has been told they are in the way. Hawk said that the Village historically tries to save trees when it is feasible, but it depends upon their location Durfey said that this has been discussed at two previous meetings If possible they would make a field change, at this point, there are some significant trees being removed for the project. One problem is the 1.5 times compensatory storage There are trees throughout the subdivision. There is always the potential of saving one residents trees and not anothers. PLAN COMMISSION Minutes January 18, 1998 3 Lynn Gresens, 16 Yorkshire Woods, said that by not having the road as wide, would that have an impact on having his trees. Durfey said that her trees are not being removed, but it will not effect some of the other ones. Don Thompson, 57 Yorkshire Woods, asked how much compensatory storage was required by raising the elevation of the road. Dale stated that all fill requires compensatory storage at a rate of 1.5 to 1. The resident did not understand why compensatory storage cannot be taken from the sewers. Durfey indicated that sewer pipe size would have to be very large to accomplish this. Durfey said that the flood maps may change. Once the area is remapped and they include the quarry, he expects the flood plain to go down, which will help the area in the flood plain, so it may not be an issue in the future. Thompson asked how much lower, Durfey answered about one foot. Member Pequet asked if the Village has explored grinding down 2 -4 inches and then replace it Durfey said that it would be more expensive and noted that there are multiple ways to do the project, but to change it at this late date will take it out of this years schedule. Member Pequet noted that it takes 50 years to grow a tree versus one year of delayed engineering. Durfey said that they have experienced quite a few water main breaks. John Harrington said that he does not want the road project stopped, but he believes all options should be looked at Don Thompson said that they want the shoulders installed because they do not have sidewalks. They will finally have a place to walk on. They presently have narrow roads and soft shoulders. Hawk said that during the Ginger Creek proposal, they wanted to retain the rural cross section streets, but wanted to address the need for safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, etc Gravel shoulders are not appropriate. A two -foot concrete pavement along each side is level, maintainable, and a smooth service that is good for walking or bicycling. It also has the advantage of being a different color so that it is clearly seen and the cars tend to stay off it. Chairman Aktipis asked Durfey if these are issues discussed in the meetings with the homeowners Durfey responded that they have, but the question becomes compensatory storage. A pipe does not have much volume in it for compensatory storage, much less than an open ditch and they need the storage volume It is strictly a calculation issue. Chairman Aktipis asked what time the Quarry change to the flood plain elevation will be in place Durfey said that the County has been saying they will remap Salt Creek in two years, but they've been saying that for the past five. Durfey noted that the proposed water main will be placed under the roadway Member Pequet asked how many trees are going to be removed Durfey responded in the dozens range A lot of trees are within the right of way. Chairman Aktipis said there is no perfect solution and suggested tabling the matter for further review. Several Members were in agreement PLAN COMMISSION Minutes January 18, 1998 1�?f 4 Durfey said that would negate the Village Board's placing this out for bid and opening bids at a reasonable time of the year. They will be behind and it will affect the bid prices. Hawk asked if the Homeowners Association is aware of the plan and Durfey responded that they are aware of the plan and have been notified of the availability to review plans. Chairman Aktipis asked the residents if they would feel more comfortable delaying things for another month. One resident said that he does not want the streets stopped. They have been waiting for this for a long, long time. Hawk noted that between now and the Board of Trustees meeting, they may be able to resolve some issues. Ronald Gresens, 16 Yorkshire Woods, said that after waiting for a couple of years for this project to get under way it would be a mistake to delay things. They are not speaking for the majority of the homeowners. There will never be 100% agreement with everyone. Consideration needs to be taken of the overall picture. Chairman Aktipis said that the Board could give preliminary approval to the project and leave some of those issues to be resolved when the Board makes their final decision. All Members were in agreement. Member Mueller moved, seconded by Member Girgis, that the petitioner has met the standards necessary to grant a flood plain special use and to recommend for approval the request as submitted, subject to final engineering approval and staff to continue to work to find solutions to the citizens raised questions ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes: 6- Nays 0 - Absent- 1 - Motion Carried V. ADJOURNMENT Girgis, Goel, Mueller, Pequet, Tappin and Aktipis None. Allen. Member Pequet moved, seconded by Member Tappin to adjourn VOICE VOTE All in Favor Motion carried Meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p m. Thomas R Hawk, Secretary �7 Date Approved PLAN COMMISSION Minutes January 18, 1998 IV---- 5