HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10/24/1994 - City Council SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 1994
A Special Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by
Mayor Cuda on Monday, October 24, 1994 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council
Chambers of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen
were present: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Absent: None. City
Staff in attendance were: City Clerk Althoff, City Administrator
Peterson, Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito, Director of Public
Works Batt. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkle arrived at 9:00
P.M. Absent: City Attorney McArdle, Chief of Police Joyce. Also
present was Allen L. Kracower of Allen L. Kracower and Associates.
i.� Mayor Cuda announced that the purpose of tonights special meeting was
to discuss and review planning issues in regards to the Pacini
development. At the suggestion of Alderman Lawson, the meeting was moved
into the Aldermen's Conference Room.
City Administrator Peterson noted that some of the Council had stated
their trepidation and unfamiliarity with the P.U.D. process. Mr.
Kracower will guide the Council through the P.U.D. process, resulting in
the creation, on paper, of a final concept reflecting the specific type
and style of development desired by the Council. City Administrator
Peterson stated that the Council should consider and determine whether
the results of this particular P.U.D. process shall apply only to the
Pacini development or to all subsequent P.U.D. projects.
Mr. Kracower briefly reviewed his professional background, noting his
25 years of experience dealing with between 75-100 municipalities, as
well as his current role as an expert witness on planning and
development. Some of the elements the Council need consider when
reviewing the Pacini development include:
(1) Traffic - where it goes and cost of improvements;
(2) Residential components;
(3) Landscaping;
(4) Signage;
(5) Internal pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns;
(6) Water/Sewer and storm sewer construction and cost;
(7) Wetlands.
Mr. Kracower then recommended the P.U.D. Ordinance state clearly all
the elements the developer needs to submit, when, and to whom.
Discussion then followed regarding the advisability of holding two public
hearings: one at the time of preliminary platting, and one at the time of
final platting. Many times the final plat is substantially different
than the one approved during preliminary platting. The greater amount of
information obtained during the preliminary platting stage, the higher
the comfort level for staff and Council.
Mr. Kracower briefly reviewed the specific aspects of the Pacini
project. Presently the conceptual plan shows senior citizen housing
(including a skilled care facility), a location of the Metra train
station, two neighborhood shopping centers, and some multi-family
housing. He suggested the Council consider specifying what building
materials are to be used in residential and commercial structures.
Alderman Bolger noted that the designated library site was no longer
accurate.
Discussion followed regarding potential uses for the site. Mr.
Kracower noted that it is the present stance of the Army Corps of
Engineers to prohibit the use of wetlands for detention areas. Mr.
Kracower stated his need for some clearly defined general policy
— decisions. He then presented several slide examples, good and bad, of
residential, multi-family housing and commercial development, as well as
sign and landscaping or green space development. Traffic considerations
were addressed and Mr. Kracower noted that it is difficult at best to
limit or plan traffic patterns around a specific development without
consideration of local and regional pass-through traffic. He stated that
the Pacini project; as it presently appears, is more of an urban
development with ai acceptable average density. It was noted that the
developer had purchea-d this property approximately 6 or 7 years ago.
Alderman Locke stater. the desire to see tasteful, yet unique and
different types of development.
October 24, 1994 Page 2
Discussion followed regarding the desired aesthetic quality of
residential and commercial structures. Referencing back to the Pacini "1
project, Mr. Kracower stated his feelings that the development was
basically a good one. He did, however, express some concern with the
developer's "locking" themselves into specific zoning areas with this
detailed of a plan so early in the process. Mr. Kracower explained even
though the City may now be dealing with only one developer, there may
many developers involved in the actual construction of the project.
Discussion then ensued regarding the importance of the train station
locating in this development, and multi-family homes. Mr. Kracower
explained that the multi-family homes were not necessarily tied to the
train station. He stated again the importance of the Council's
determination of defining who the community is, and what it wants to be
20 years from now. He suggested the Aldermen and Mayor make lists of all
the assets and deficits of the community, which in turn may help clarify
what look they want to project. This will also help in giving the
developer specific details of what is acceptable and what is not
acceptable. Contiguity and consistency will also be maintained if there
are more than one developer involved in the project.
Mr. Kracower noted that if it is the Council's desire they can
instruct developers to build only owner-occupied residences. Mayor Cuda
thanked Mr. Kracower for his presentation and instructed the Aldermen to
create their lists. Alderman Bogler stated that in partial response to
Mr. Kracower's letter, the City expects the developer of the Pacini
property to pay for all of the impacts, including road improvements, and
that this Council was very interested in the impact of this development
on the school and parks systems. It was determined to devote the
November 16, 1994 workshop meeting to the continuation of this issue.
NEW BUSINESS
Alderman Locke noted that the sidewalk located in front of the Cunat
Building at 5400 W. Elm Street was separating from the foundation.
Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito reported that Cunat Brothers was
already correcting the problem.
Mayor Cuda informed the Council that the reported gun discovered at
Valley View school was in fact a hunting knife and a handful of bullets.
The police responded to the situation, and the concerned party is being
dealt with responsibly. He also stated that Sean Hogan from the
Northwest Herald had informed him that a Motorola Senior Vice President
had stated it was the company's intent to remain at the McHenry location
for only five years. Upon being asked to comment, Cuda made the
statement that if this was the case, perhaps the concessions the City had
made for the building and site would not have even been considered.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Bates, seconded by Baird, to adjourn.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M.
CIT CLERK MAYOR