HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 5/28/1998 - Community Development Committee �
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
May 20, 1998
Mem�ers Present : Chairman Alderman McClatchey, Alderman
Bolger, Alderman Murgatroyd arrived at
6 : 53 p.m.
Others Present : City Clerk Althoff, City Administrator
Lobaito, Alderman Glab, Director of
Community Development Napolitano, Roger
Gerstad and -----of Gerstad Builders
Comn.unity Development Chairman Alderman McClatchey called
the meeting to order at 6 :40 p.m. He noted this meeting' s agenda
included two items, a variance request by Gerstad Builders for an
increase in the residential access drive maximum permitted width
and a sign variance by Gerstad Builders for the Route 120 and
Crystal Lake Road location.
VARIANCE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE IN TIiE RESIDENTIAL ACCESS DRIVE
MAXIMUM PERMITTED WIDTH
Director Napolitano informed the committee council, at the May 6,
`. 1998 regularly scheduled meeting directed the Community
Development committee to review this variance request by Gerstad
Builders and make a recommendation to full council . Gerstad
Builders has requested the City consider changing the Municipal
Code requirements to permit wider driveway access for three and
four car garages . The maximum driveway width permitted for
residential use on a public street is currently twenty (20) feet .
Gerstad Builders has suggested council consider and approve an
additional five feet of driveway width at the sidewalk for each
garage bay above two.
Director Napolitano provided visual examples of driveway widths
for existing developments within the City of McHenry. He noted
driveways in excess of twenty (20) feet have been constructed for
condominium units on Thornwood, Oakwood and Royal Drives . These
units wer-e, however, constructed prior to the current driveway
width limitations . Director Napolitano suggested the committee
consider approving Gerstad Builders variance request limiting the
variance to Pine Street .
Some discussion followed. Mr. Gerstad noted the difficulty in
manuvering cars within this limited area. City Administrator
Lobaito noted the committee should also consider aesthetics,
storm wat:er runoff and maintenance. Maintenance, particularly
snowplow:_ng, would be an on-site problem for the property owners .
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Community Development Committee
� May 20, 1998
Page Two
In response to Chairman McClatchey' s inquiry regarding additional
requests ��f this nature, Mr. Gerstad informed the committee no
other developments of this type have been constructed. He stated
the commi�tee should consider amending the Municipal Code with
regard to this issue.
Alderman Glab stated his concerns with aesthetics noting an
increase in permitted concrete per unit was not acceptable .
Aldeman McClatchey stated his willingness to support the variance
for this one street affecting 11 driveways, however he was not
prepared t:o recommend an amendment to the Municipal Code.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by McClatchey, to recommend to full
council ttie granting of a variance to Gerstad Builders permitting
an additional five (5) feet of driveway at the sidewalk, per
additiona�� garage bay above two, for the Timber Trails
Development limited to only those units located on Pine Street .
Voting Aye : Bolger, McClatchey
Voting Nay: None
Absent : Murgatroyd
Motion carries .
�- GERSTAD SIGN VARIANCE REQUEST FOR ROUTE 120 AND CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD
LOCATION
Director Napolitano informed the committee Council, at their May
6, 1998 regularly scheduled meeting, requested the Community
Development Committee review the legality of Gerstad Builder' s
sign located at the Route 120 and Crystal Lake Road intersection.
Director Napolitano explained this sign was discussed at meetings
in March and April in conjunction with a request by Gerstad to
permit an off-site temporary sign for the Boone Creek
Subdivision. Mr. Gerstad' s request for an off-site sign was
denied. Council did not however address this existing sign and
during the week of May 3rd the sign copy was changed to advertise
the Boon Creek Subdivision as opposed to the Trails of Winding
Creek.
This Route 120/Crystal Lake Road sign was permitted under the
terms of the original Backhaus/Brackmann annexation agreement but
was to be removed within six months of the agreements expiration.
Although the agreement expired in 1992, it is Mr. Gerstad' s
contention the amended agreement approved in 1992 extended the
terms of the original annexation agreement until 2006 . Mr.
Gerstad did obtain a sign permit for this location in 1989 for
one year.
� Alderman Murgatroyd arrived at 6 : 53 p.m.
Community Development Committee Minutes
� May 20, 1998
Page Three
Alderman slab noted other developers, including Olde Mill Ponds
and Winds�r, have been granted off-site sign locations . He
suggested this location be permitted or, at Mr. Gerstad' s
discretio�, removed and permit the Bull Valley and Crystal Lake
Road location. Mr. Gerstad indicated this might be acceptable
depending upon the terms of the variance . He also stated the
Route 120/Crystal Lake Road sign is owned by the Winding Creek
Development, not Boone Creek. He opined these signs were two
separate .issues . Some further discussion occurred. Mr. Gerstad
stated his willingness to downsize the proposed sign for the Bull
Valley Ro;�d and Crystal Lake Road location to 8'x8' and an 11'
height anci to remove the sign at Route 120 and Crystal Lake Road
by June o:= 1999 . Alderman Bolger supported this suggestion.
Further d:iscussion followed. It was the consensus of the
committee to direct staff to provide further information to the
committee, specifically the parameters of other McHenry County
municipalities with regard to permitted signage, specifically
off-site variances .
City Administrator Lobaito stated the committee' s recommendation
regarding the Pine Street driveway width variance would be
presented for full council action at the regularly scheduled June
�. 3rd meeting.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by Murgatroyd to adjourn at 7 : 10 p.m.
Voting Aye : Bolger, McClatchey, Murgatroyd
Voting Nay: None
Absent : None
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7 : 10 p.m.
Respectfu�.�y� sub�itted,
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