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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 03/02/1994 - City Council REGULAR MEETING March 2, 1994 The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda on Wednesday, March 2, 1994 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council ' Room of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Absent: None. City ,Staff in attendance: City Clerk Gilpin, City Attorney McArdle, City Administrator Peterson, Director of Public Works Batt, Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito, Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel, Chief of Police Joyce. Absent: None. PRESENTATION OF CHECK FROM McHENRY AREA JAYCEES Representatives of the McHenry Area Jaycees presented a check for $2,500 to Project Playground coordinators Debbie Heisler and Debbie Glick for the Fort McHenry project. In attendance were Jaycees President Kevin Kutz; Community Development Vice President Nikki Sacks; Project Chairman Nancy Christiansen; and members Randy Christensen and Deborah Sanson. The check for $2,500 was presented for the purchase of the Haunted Maze portion of the playground project. They felt this would be appropriate because the Jaycees are noted for their annual Haunted House fundraiser which is held at the Knox Park Barn. They pledged their commitment to help construct the Haunted Maze portion and assist in construction of the entire project. The coordinators and the Mayor expressed their gratitude to the Jaycees for their generous donation and their continued support toward projects in the City of McHenry. TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION During the ten minute public input session, Todd Claver of 3219 W. Beach Drive, McHenry Shores, asked the Council to consider developing a monotony code, since he was concerned with houses being built in McHenry Shores which now appear to be all the same models. He was informed that the Building, Zoning, Planning & Development Committee would be meeting March 22, 1994 at 7:30 P.M. to discuss this, and other issues. He was invited to attend. Also speaking during the ten minute public input session was Sam Diamond of 6803 W. Bull Valley Road. He addressed the Council as a businessman and real estate owner in McHenry, not as an attorney. He was present to speak on the proposed Pacini project on the corner of Route 31 and Bull Valley Road. He strongly urged the Council to get the train station relocated to near Bull Valley Road and get as much land as possible for commuter parking. He felt the Council should seize the opportunity, promote this project and get it done in any way possible. `-- CONSENT AGENDA i Mayor Cuda announced that approval of the annual Tag Day Schedule for nationally known organizations should be added to the Consent Agenda list. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Lawson, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: (1) February 9, 1994 Regular City Council meeting minutes; (2) February 14, 1994 Special City Council meeting minutes; (3) February 16, 1994 Regular City Council meeting minutes; (4) Tuition reimbursement request - Officer W. Brogan, Chem/Phys 433 - Natural Environment and Business Decisions, $270.00; (5) Payment No. 1 to Mann Bros. in the amount of $93,894.46 for Non-Motorized Boat Launch at South Riverfront Park; (6) Approval of Local and National Tag Days Schedule; Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST Attorney Tom Cowlin addressed the Council on behalf of Mirbat Kahn who is contract purchaser of 4705 W. Elm Street. Mr. .:ahn wishes to construct a Car-X franchise auto repair shop at that site. March 2, 1994 Page 2 Motion by Bolger, seconded by Baird, to concur with the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation and pass an ordinance granting a conditional 'IN use to 4705 W. Elm Street for use of said property as a muffler shop, subject to the following conditions: (1) The owners or operators of the property shall not permit any vehicles under their custody or control to be stored on the property outside of the building for more than 3 consecutive days; (2) Concrete curbing shall be used on the perimeter of the property on the west and east property lines, and on the south side of the proposed landscape area at the north property line; (3) The owners shall work closely with the City to alleviate potential drainage problems as a result of the proposed facility. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. At the Zoning Board hearing, mention was made of lighting a City alley to the rear of the property. City Administrator Peterson said that the City has a standard procedure for these type requests. A survey of area residents is made to determine if a light is needed. If the survey shows that it is necessary, Commonwealth Edison is notified and a City street light could be placed in that area. PROPOSED RELOCATION OF GARY LANG CAR DEALERSHIPS Attorney Dan Curran, representing Gary Lang, requested Council consideration for relocating the Gary Lang car dealerships to an 11-acre parcel in the McHenry Corporate Center. The proposed 11-acre site has 875 feet of frontage on Route 31, with a depth of 550-650 feet. The proposed building was shown on photos and sketches presented to the Council for review. The proposed building contains 35,000-40,000 square feet, and incorporates an automall, high quality dealership concept. Also appearing to answer questions of the Council were Scott Dixon of the McHenry Corporate Center, and Phil Johnson, who drafted drawings and plans for the proposed dealership. Gary Lang was before the Council to get approval of the concept of relocating all of his dealerships to the automall in . the McHenry Corporate Center. If approved by the Council, Lang would continue the process to permit the dealership in the McHenry Corporate Center, including an amendment to the annexation agreement permitting the proposed use and allowing for one additional access to Route 31. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Locke, to approve the concept of relocating Gary Lang dealerships to an automall in the McHenry Corporate Center, as presented. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. PROPOSED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT BY LOUIS AND MARK PACINI The proposed planned unit development is located at the northwest corner of Bull Valley Road and Route 31. It is a 240-acre parcel, commonly known as the Pacini property. Gregg Gabel, a land planner and engineer, presented detailed drawings and plans of the property proposed to be called Bull Ridge Crossing. A site map of the property, proposed uses, and the anticipated financial impacts to the various taxing districts were reviewed on Friday, February 25, 1994 at the Ad Hoc Committee on Development. Gabel explained in detail all of the various aspects of the development plan which included a retirement community, condos and townhouses, relocation of the train station from Main Street -� to the property along with a 877-car parking lot, 1 million square feet of commercial space, an office building, bowling alley, motel, open space and a 60-90 acre regional detention area. March 2, 1994 Page 3 Lengthy discussion ensued between the Aldermen, the Mayor, and the developer. `-' Motion by Bolger, seconded by Locke, to call for a recess at 9:25 P.M. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. The meeting reconvened at 9:42 P.M. with everyone still in attendance. Aldermen Bates, Baird, and Lawson indicated they wanted to meet with the developer to present their suggestions for the proposed development. It was decided to have the developer appear at the April 6, 1994 Regular City Council meeting to confer with the Aldermen on the proposed development before sending it to a P.U.D Committee for review as is required by City ordinances. EXCHANGE OF LAND BETWEEN CITY OF McHENRY AND GRANITE BUILDERS At a previous meeting, the City agreed to exchange real estate with Granite Builders due to the partial construction of a home foundation on the City's walkway located in Green Valley Subdivision, Lot 30. It is necessary to hold a public hearing on this exchange prior to any action taking place. Motion by Locke, seconded by Bates, to schedule a public hearing on Wednesday, March 16, 1994 to consider the exchange of real estate parcels between the City of McHenry and Granite Builders. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR WHISPERING OAKS DRAINAGE DITCH The Parks and Recreation Committee considered a request from the Director of Parks and Recreation to authorize engineering services to design a stormwater piping system to enclose a drainage ditch on the west side of Front Royal Drive in Whispering Oaks Park. The ditch is a maintenance and appearance problem for the park. A proposal from Smith Engineering to design the enclosure of this ditch, and also to estimate the probable cost of construction, was presented to the Aldermen. �. Motion by Baird, seconded by Lawson, to approve the Engineering Services Agreement with Smith Engineering in the amount of $1,025.00 to design a stormwater piping system to enclose a drainage ditch in Whispering Oaks Park and to obtain an engineer's estimated cost of construction and come back to the Council for approval before putting the project out to bid. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. USE OF VISA CREDIT CARD FOR PARK RECREATION PROGRAMS The Parks and Recreation Department has contacted other park departments and found that the use of credit cards to pay for recreation programs has increased revenues to departments which utilize this option. It was the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Committee to institute this credit card program for the summer recreation season. Motion by Baird, seconded by Lawson, to authorize the use of Visa �,. credit cards through the McHenry State Bank for use in the Parks and Recreation Summer program registration; to rent the equipment on a trial basis for this initial summer registration program, and to authorize the execution of an agreement with the McHenry State Bank to utilize the Visa program. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. March 2, 1994 Page 4 MAYOR - STATEMENT AND REPORTS The Mayor reported that attorney Tom Rupp had notified him that the Busch-Knox annexation agreement will be presented to the Council for ..� further consideration some time after the middle of March. The Mayor also announced that he had received a resignation letter from Wayne Dixon, who was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. COMMITTEE REPORTS Alderman Bolger, Chairman of the Public Works Committee, reported on a Public Works Committee meeting held recently. One of the questions was from Baxter & Woodman as to what size they should design the sewer main in the Backhaus development near Curran Road. Motion by Baird, seconded by Lawson, to instruct Baxter & Woodman to design the sewer capacity on the Backhaus property at its ultimate future capacity. Voting Aye: Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: Bolger. Absent: None. Motion carried. Alderman Bates, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, reported that a Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, 1994 at 7:30 P.M. to meet with Roger Gerstad concerning retention areas on the Backhaus property. Alderman Locke, Chairman of the Finance Committee, reported that Finance Committee meetings would be held on Wednesday, March 9, 1994 and Thursday, March 10, 1994 at 7:00 P.M. to discuss the 1994-95 Budget. STAFF REPORTS Director of Public Works Batt reported that Dean Barchard, an employee with the Sewer Division, had resigned. Batt asked for permission to advertise for a replacement. He was instructed to do so. City Administrator Peterson requested that he be permitted to present bills for payment at the second meeting of the month even though it might be a workshop meeting. He was given permission to do so. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Locke, seconded by Lawson, to go into Executive Session at .� 10:23 P.M. to discuss personnel and land acquisition. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. Alderman Lawson left the Executive Session meeting at 11:45 P.M. Motion by Locke, seconded by Bolger, to go back into Open Session at 12:10 A.M. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Lawson. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Bates, seconded by Locke, to adjourn. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Lawson. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 12:10 A.M. X�"'L CITY CLERK MAYOR