HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 9/8/1997 - Zoning Board of Appeals ZON I NG BOARD OF APPEALS
SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
CITY OF MCHENRY
�.
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )
MCHENRY SCHOOL DISTRICT 15 FOR A ) Z-431
FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ) MCHENRY SCHOOL DISTRICT 15
PURSUANT TO THE ZONING ) 1007 N GREEN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF )
MCHENRY, MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS ) CONDITIONAL USE
REPORT OF THE
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO THE
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF MCHENRY, ILLINOIS
A hearin€; on the above-captioned petition was held on September 8, 1997. Chairman
Semrow <:alled the hearing to order at 7:30 p.m. The following persons were in attendance:
1 . Zoning Board Members: George Cadotte, Paula Ekstrom, John Howell, Chuck Lovett,
Harry Semrow. Jon Meyer arrived at 7:35 p.m. Absent: Randy Christensen.
2. Attorney for Zoning Board: Kelly Cahill.
3. Recording Secretary: Kathleen M. Kunzer
`- 4. City Planner: Phillip Maggio.
5. Petitioner: McHenry School District 15 represented by Jeff O'Connell, Assistant
Superintendent, and Robert Ungaro, Operations Manager, 1011 North Green Street,
M�Henry, Illinois 60050.
6. Attorney for Petitioners: None.
7. City Council Members: None.
8. Court Reporter: None.
9. Objectors: None.
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
Notice of this hearing was published in the Northwest Herald on August 13, 1997. Publisher's
Certificate of Publication is on file with regard to this matter in the City Clerk's Office. Notices
were mailed to all abutting property owners and the subject property was posted with a sign
as required by City ordinance. Affidavit of compliance with regard to notification requirements
is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
`- LOCATION OF THE SUBIECT PROPERTY
The subject property is located at 1007 North Green Street, McHenry, Illinois, 60050.
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SUMMARY
The Petitioner is requesting that a Conditional Use Permit be granted to allow the operation
�-- of an Edu��ational Institution on the premises.
TESTIMONY
Chairman Semrow swore in the following witnesses for the Petitioner:
1) Jeff O'Connell, Assistant Superintendent, 1011 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL
60050;
2) Robert Ungaro, Operations Manager, 1011 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050.
O'Connell informed the Board School District 15 owns the property which is the subject of
this Petition. The Petition is a request to be able to use this property for additional office space
for School District 15 Administrative staff. The property which contains a house and garage
is situated in a residentially zoned district and is adjacent to the existing Administrative Offices
of the District. Due to increase in staff, it is necessary to expand facilities. School District 15
is seeking the support of the Board to recommend to the City Council that a Conditional Use
Permit be granted to allow the Educational Institution on the premises.
Jon Meyer arrived at 7:35 p.m.
QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Ekstrom a5ked if the District would make use of the garage. Ungaro said the garage is used
to store lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.
`- Cadotte asked how many employees would be working on the entire complex. O'Connell said
there would be 20-23 employees working in the Administrative Offices. Semrow asked how
many employees would be based in the house on 1007 North Green Street if the Conditional
Use Permit is granted. O'Connell said 4-6 employees would work out of that facility.
However, during most of the workday, these employees would be out in the district and not
in this office. Semrow asked the size of the house which will be renovated to accommodate
the additional staff. O'Connell said it is 850 square feet. Semrow asked if there were any
plans to expand this structure. O'Connell said there are none.
Lovett asked if the house is built on a slab or if there is a basement. Ungaro said it is a cement
slab. Lovett asked the hours of operation. O'Connell said the hours for the renovated house
would be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday. However, there would continue to
be some evening meetings, committee meetings, etc. in the main administrative facility, as
there are at the present time.
Meyer expressed concern regarding environmental impact on abutting residential neighbors
to the west of the School District property. O'Connell explained the parking lot is adjacent
to property owners to the west and the conditional use permit has already been granted for
that portion of the property.
Lovett asked for an explanation as to the reduced traffic impact on the neighborhood due to
the fact th�it the lot is located along Green Street. Maggio said the traffic would not be as great
�— as if the property were located entirely within a residential district with no collector streets in
the area. tiowever, because Green Street already has such a high volume of traffic, the impact
from granting this conditional use would be minimal.
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ZBA-District 15
9/8/9 7
Cadotte asked if the house would be painted and maintained. O'Connell said it would be
networked in with the rest of the School District systems. Ungaro said it would be maintained,
`— painted, etc.
Howell asked if there were long-term plans as far as needs for the Administrative Staff.
O'Connell said the District has hired a demographer who is assessing growth of students,
faculty and administrative needs, as well as space requirements. Howell asked if the School
District foresees an Administrative Office expansion at the current site or would they need to
move to an alternative location. O'Connell said that because the District owns the land, they
would prefer to remain at the present location. Discussion followed regarding future needs
for Administrative Offices and parking requirements. There are currently 29 parking spaces
on the property: 26 spaces on the main facility property; 3 spaces on the lot which is the
subject of this petition.
Meyer noted there could be a setback problem with the Thennes property immediately to the
south of this property.
Semrow went over the Approval Criteria for Conditional Uses as stated in the Petition.
Semrow asked if there would be outside lighting on the premises. O'Connell said there would
not be.
CLOSING STATEMENT BY PETITIONERS
O'Connell asked the Board to consider recommending to the City Council that the request for
a Conditional Use Permit for an Educational Institution be granted so that the Administrative
�' Offices could be expanded into the house located at 1007 North Green Street. The District
could then utilize this property to the best of their ability.
Chairman Semrow said, "there being nothing further before this Board with regard to the
Petition, the Board will consider the Petition at this time unless there is a motion to recess by
a member of the Board. There being no motion to recess, the Chair will entertain a motion
with regard to the Petition."
DELIBERATION AND RECOMMENDATION
Motion by Lovett, seconded by Meyer to recommend to the City Council that
the Petitioner's request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow the operation of an
Educational Institution on the subject premises be granted; and that Table 31, the
Approval Criteria for Conditional Uses, pages 357-358 of the Zoning Ordinance have
been met.
Voting Aye: Cadotte, Ekstrom, Howell, Lovett, Meyer, Semrow.
Voting Nay: None.
Not Voting: None.
Abstaining: None.
Absent: Christensen.
�-' Motion carried 6-0.
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ADIOURNMENT
Motion by Lovett, seconded by Meyer to adjourn.
L
Voting Aye: Cadotte, Ekstrom, Howell, Lovett, Meyer, Semrow.
Voting Nay: None.
Not Voting: None.
Abstaining: None.
Absent: Christensen.
Motion carried 6-0. This hearing was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
�
Harry Se ow, Chairman
Zoning Board of Appeals
c: Zoning Board of Appeals Members (7), Plan Commission Members (7), City
Administrator, Planner, PW Administration, City Engineers, Aldermen Reference Copy,
Petitioner, B & Z Zoning File, Landmark Commission Chairman, Northwest Herald, Star
Newspaper, City Clerk File Copy.
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Z-431
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