Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 04/26/1999 - City Council SPECIAL MEETING APRIL 26, 1999 A Special Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 26, 1999 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Absent: None. City Staff in attendance were: City Administrator Lobaito, City Clerk Althoff, Director of Community Development Napolitano. Absent: Director of Public Works Batt, Director of Parkd and Recreation Merkel, Acting Chief of Police Erkenswick, City Attorney McArdle. Mayor Cuda called the Public Hearing to present and review the Comprehensive Plan Update Draft completed by Planning Resources of Wheeling, Illinois, to order at 7:05 p.m. Owner and Principal Pete Pointner and Gary Overbay of CivilTech Engineering were in attendance. BACKGROUND Mayor Cuda explained CivilTech Engineering was hired by Planning Resources as the McHenry City Council and Staff had expressed a desire to address transportation concerns during the Comprehensive Plan Update process. Mayor Cuda noted an Open House had been conducted from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to this evening's Public Hearing. The Comprehensive Plan Update presented this evening for Public and Council review is yet subject to revision and amendment as suggested by the Public and directed by Council. Mr. Pointner noted he and the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, made up of advisory board representatives, community leaders, Staff and Council representatives, had been meeting monthly since June of 1998 to develop the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update currently before Council and the general Public this evening. In response to several inquiries placed before him during the Open House, Mr. Pointner explained the planning area encompasses the surrounding one and one-half miles outside the City's corporate limits as permitted by State Statute. The Update Draft addresses the preferred land use for most of the land located within the one and one-half miles not already incorporated within another municipality. He explained a Comprehensive Plan is not a rigid standard, but a developmental guideline. The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is to shape and guide the type, intensity, rate and quality of growth. The Plan is a general and long-range view of a desired land use pattern. It is not zoning. Zoning is regulatory. Developmental policies addressing: ■ Growth management and annexation; ■ Residential, industrial and commercial development; ■ Public Open Space and parks; ■ Transportation; and ■ Community appearance; are incorporated into Chapter 3 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update. In addition, interviews were conducted with large land owners whose properties lie within the City of McHenry's planning jurisdiction. The final chapter, Chapter 4, of the Comprehensive Plan addresses plan implementation as well as its subsequent amendment, potentially within five years, Mr. Pointner noted there are two significant aspects to the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update: ■ Developmental Policy including: ■ Preservation and enhancement of the community's character; ■ Preservation, expansion and connection of environmental open space corridors and parks; ■ Maintenance and preservation of the historic character of the three distinct downtown areas; ■ Preservation and maintenance stands of trees; ■ Introduce landscaping and sidewalks into designated areas of the community; and Page 2 April 26, 1999 ■ Upgrade commercial arterial roadways. ■ Balanced Land Uses including: ■ Development of area commercial centers reducing commercial strip development; ■ Establishment of annexation priorities; ■ Development of retention and recruitment programs. DETAILED STUDY OF FOUR MAJOR AREAS Finally, four sub-areas were selected for a more detailed study. A future land use plan for each of the sub-areas has been enlarged and included in the Comprehensive Plan Update Draft. The four sub-areas include: ■ Main Street: The overall goal here is to revitalize the area by expanding and enhancing its commuter station and service, its restaurants and commercial businesses, while respecting and complementing the historic character and nearby residential areas; ■ State Route 31 North Gateway: The overall goal here is to create an attractive and distinctive entry into the City of McHenry from the north through landscaping setbacks, control of curb cuts, distinctive building design, and restrained signage. It is recommended the large land parcels be developed as a unified planned development. ■ State Route 12 East Gateway: The overall goal here is create another attractive distinctive entry into the City of McHenry from the east. The land uses here should relate to recreational, tourism, resort, and entertainment potentials of the City and region in general. Development, again, should be as a unified planned development. ■ Bull Valley Corridor: The overall goal here is to identify land uses, corridor design standards, and access criteria which will guide development, ensuring the expansion of the City of McHenry's economic and employment base, maintaining the integrity of residential neighborhoods, discouraging cut- through traffic, development of a potential new commuter rail station, and enhancing the environmental and aesthetic character of the corridor. CivilTech Engineering Traffic Consultant, Gary Overbay, reported the transportation portion of the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update focused on three areas: ■ The network of arterial roadways; ■ Public transportation; and ■ Bikeways. ROADWAY NETWORK The bulk of their study concentrated on the City of McHenry's roadway network. Mr. Overbay provided definitions of the following roadway classifications: ■ Primary Arterials - Routes servicing the primary centers of activity within a city. These roadways display intercity continuity, regional importance, and are used to travel from one town to another. Examples: State Route 31 , State Route 120, Bull Valley Road, Crystal Lake Road. ■ Secondary Arterials - Routes which interconnect and augment the primary roadway. They accommodate travel across town and are used to gain land access; ■ Collector Streets - Routes used to gain access to the arterial system, facilitating efficient movement which may penetrate residential neighborhoods. ■ Local Streets - Routes which take vehicles to their final destination, provide direct access to abutting lands, and provide connections to the higher street classifications. Page 5 April 26, 1999 Naomi Rasmussen of 312 Huntington Drive addressed Council. She requested City Staff make a stronger effort to inform the general public about these meetings. City Administrator Lobaito responded, noting an additional two week period will be permitted for Public Comment. A Comprehensive Plan Update response handout was made available to all attendees. The handout would also be available for distribution over the next two weeks at various City offices in the Municipal Building. Alderman McClatchey complimented Mr. Pointner and Mr. Overbay on their professionalism and efforts on the City of McHenry's behalf. Alderman Bolger expressed some concern with the thirty percent open space requirement. He opined this requirement would in all likelihood drive up the price of single family homes. He also recommended future planning for the construction of FAP 420 should focus on the connection to the north toward Wisconsin. He cited the apparent roadway location delays experienced in Lake County for his reasoning. Rob Fry of 513 S. Brookwood Trail addressed Council. He opined the proposed Update Comprehensive Plan Draft was a good plan with tight, well thought out standards. He supported the commitment to open space preservation. He requested consideration be given to requiring specific architectural standards and design. In conclusion, Mr. Fry stated existing development must due their fair share and make an attempt when possible to adopt and implement these higher community standards. He encouraged Staff to eliminate existing noncompliant properties. Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Glab, to close the Public Hearing at 8:30 p.m. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. Mayor Cuda stated a two-week comment period would remain in place. He encouraged the General Public to obtain response sheets or contact Director of Community Development Napolitano with their recommendations. ADJOURNMENT Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Glab, to adjourn the meeting at 8:31 p.m. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8.31 p.m. .A MAYOR CITY CLERK