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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPacket - 01/27/2009 - Community Development Committee COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA January 27, 2009 7:00 P.M. Alderman's Conference Room TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: 1. Public Input (3 minute limitation) 2. Discussion on north Richmond Road (Illinois Route 31) 3. Discussion on Core Downtown Sub-Area Plan 4. Other Business COMMITTEE SUPPLEMENT TO: Community Development Committee FROM: Douglas Martin, Deputy City Administrator FOR: January 27, 2009 Regular Community Development Committee Meeting RE: Illinois 120/31 Intersection Improvement Project and its impact on existing homes along Richmond Road STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: To discuss and formulate alternatives for future development along the residential portion of the Richmond Road corridor. In 2011 the intersection of Illinois Route 120 and Illinois Route 31 (Richmond Road) is scheduled to be improved. Along with the improvement is the planned widening of Richmond Road north to Washington Street to match the existing cross section leading to the City's major retail corridor. An open house was held in December of last year and many of the residents who live along Richmond Road in this area are concerned with the impact on their home values and future of their properties. Specifically the question was asked: if the road is widened to five lanes does this remain a viable single-family residential area? Many impacted residents expressed that they would like the option of rezoning their properties to something other than single-family residential. With the exception of one or two properties, all of the properties are currently zoned RS-4, High-Density Single-Family Residential District. Should they be rezoned to multi-family residential or other classification which would make them more marketable to potential buyers? A couple of the homeowners at the open house indicated that they were interested in rezoning their properties for mixed or office uses. It should be noted that some of these homes are rental properties but there are still several owner- occupied homes. Should this area be included in the Core Downtown Sub-Area? Staff s opinion is that this is getting a little too far north to be considered part of the downtown. Another issue which is very germane to this discussion is the fact that this area is part of old McHenry and there are residents who would like the area to remain a viable neighborhood and maintain the single-family residential zoning status. With the road project moving forward staff thought it would be advantageous to discuss this issue with the Community Development Committee. COMMITTEE SUPPLEMENT TO: Community Development Committee FROM: Douglas Martin, Deputy City Administrator FOR: January 27, 2009, Community Development Committee Meeting RE: City of McHenry Core Downtown Sub-Area Plan STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To direct staff to update the future land use map based on discussions with the Committee and continue writing chapters of the Core Downtown Sub-Area Plan. Background At the November Community Development Committee Meeting the Committee reviewed a potential vision statement, as well as discussed future land uses for the portion of the Core Downtown Sub-Area south of Illinois Route 120. Proposed Vision Statement and Introduction to Plan Staff has put together a revised vision statement based on discussions at the last meeting. Historic downtown McHenry connects the community to its small town roots. Providing a wide variety of community-oriented businesses downtown blends retail, professional services, civic and residential uses into an unique and dynamic neighborhood that attracts people of all ages. Planning Areas As previously stated staff has divided the Core Downtown Sub-Area into three planning areas and would like to begin by reviewing the first two of these areas which lie south of Illinois Route 120. Staff will bring a large map exhibit to the meeting summarizing the Committee's comments at the November meeting. Planning Area One is west of Green Street and Planning Area Two is east of Green Street. Planning Area Three is located north of Illinois Route 120 and staff would like to begin discussing future land uses in this area. As a reminder, when discussing future land use planning in a downtown setting, physical and nonphysical linkages should be considered in addition to logical land use separation points, areas of public parking, usable public spaces, as well as streetscape and other physical design elements. Proposed Chapters of the Core Downtown Sub-Area Plan Staff has begun writing the Core Downtown Sub-Area Plan. The following are chapters that staff is proposing: Introduction, The Evolution of Downtown, Core Downtown Vision, The Planning Process, Land Use Pattern and Development Needs, Streetscape Improvements, Circulation and Implementation Roles. Riverside Elm Street/Route 120 Greet Street What brings you to the downtown? Dentist II Shopping Shopping Lunch&Wine store Work IIIII Work II Work IIIIII Insurance Laundry F— What places/stores do you go to when in the downtown? Restaurants II All of them II Trendsetters II Wind Hill III None Some other Nuts Fox Hole Restaurants Bank II Bimbos II Stuc's White River Junction Little Chef 11 Benjamin Moore Resale-Pink Door After the Fox Antique Shops Thai Restaurant Corkscrew Point Resale Shops Bookstore II Shop-n-go II Bakery Trading Post Stores/Shops Tres Bell Bakery III Church Barkery III Wonder Bread Joey T's What do you think could be improved in the area? More independent local stores II Parking II Traffic l't Generation New Clothes Traffic II More independent local stores II S. Riverside homes are dilapidated Venice connection to Green Street Snow Removal The crosswalk button on Riverside or Riverside Drive Parking Drive is not working. Add Italian Theme on Venice timers onto crosswalks Needs an old style Hardware Store like in Chicago Sidewalks/Streetscape II Parking III Snow removal Traffic Downtown Newsletter Connect the 3 downtowns City Newsletter Online Riverside drainage Better Press coverage Snow removal II More Ads in the paper Improve Historic Facades II Improve Historic Fagades Needs a draw Too much Resale More events Better Press coverage Uniform business hours Short& Long term goals for area Where are you from? McHenry 11111111 McHenry IIII McHenry Johnsburg II Woodstock Crystal Lake II South Elgin Roselle Wauconda