Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12/14/2017 - Planning and Zoning CommissionCity of McHenry Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes December 14, 2017 Chairman Strach called the December 14, 2017 regularly scheduled meeting of the City of McHenry Planning and Zoning Commission to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were the following: Doherty, Meyer, Miller, Sobotta, Strach, Thacker and Walsh. Absent: None. Also in attendance were: Director of Economic Development Martin and Economic Development Coordinator Wolf. Approval of Minutes Motion by Miller, seconded by Doherty, to approve the November 15, 2017 regular meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting as presented: Voting Aye: Doherty, Miller, Meyer, Sobotta, Strach, Thacker, and Walsh. Voting Nay: None. Not Voting: None. Abstaining: None. Absent: None. Motion carried 7-0. Approval of Annual Meeting Schedule Motion by Walsh, seconded by Miller, to approve the 2018 regular meeting schedule of the Planning and Zoning Commission as amended: 2018 Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings JANUARY - 7:30 P.M. FEBRUARY - 7:30 P.M. MARCH - 7:30 P.M. 17 Wednesday 14 Wednesday 14 Wednesday APRIL - 7:30 P.M. MAY - 7:30 P.M. JUNE - 7:30 P.M. 11 Wednesday 16 Wednesday 20 Wednesday JULY - 7:30 P.M. AUGUST - 7:30 P.M. SEPTEMBER - 7:30 P.M. 18 Wednesday 15 Wednesday 19 Wednesday OCTOBER - 7:30 P.M. NOVEMBER - 7:30 P.M. DECEMBER - 7:30 P.M. 17 Wednesday 14 Wednesday 13 Thursday Voting Aye: Doherty, Miller, Meyer, Sobotta, Strach, Thacker, and Walsh. Voting Nay: None. Not Voting: None. Abstaining: None. Absent: None. Motion carried 7-0. Planning and Zoning Commission December 14, 2017 Page 2 Consideration of Various Amendments and Updates to the City of McHenry Comprehensive Plan and Development Policies and City of McHenry Future Land Use Map Director of Economic Development Martin stated staff worked with HR Green in having three maps prepared. The first is an Existing Land Use Map, which depicts the entire City of McHenry and all existing land uses. This map is not a zoning map and it is not a future land use map but simply a representation of what land uses currently exist in the City today. It also includes some very useful planning tools including: the existing and proposed bike trials (future paths); the Prairie Trail, schools, parks, healthcare facilities and other key land use features. The second map is the City of McHenry’s adopted future Land Use Map, which includes all current boundary agreements with their expiration dates. The Future Land Use Map was adopted by the City Council in 2005 and represents a portion of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Policy, which is also a pictorial policy document of the City Council’s desired future land use for a specific parcel or geographic area of the City. This is the map which the Commission is going to be analyzing closely in terms of whether the land uses should remain the same or change to something different and why. The third map represents the corporate limits of the City of McHenry with a 1.5 mile buffer area or ring around the corporate limits of the City. This 1.5 mile area represents the City’s extraterritorial planning area or the area which the City is permitted by law to plan for. The boundary agreements with their corresponding expiration dates are all on these maps. A public notice was sent to the Northwest Herald stating the City would be considering updates to its Future Land Use Map. Staff believes the best approach is suggesting the Commission consider the three maps, existing land use; existing future land use; and 1.5 mile extraterritorial jurisdictional/ boundary map and come up with a logical division of the City, into 3-4 sectors which can be discussed separately. Typically, a division can be best accomplished using roads, railroad tracks, river, and streams, as natural boundaries between each sector. Staff is proposing a two-step process for each sector. The first being to consider the major planning factors for each area (which will remain consistent from area to area) and the second is to transition from one area to the next. Director Martin explained from the land use and transportation there are many subcategories, however, the primary categories are land use and transportation and once these are discussed the subcategories can then be discussed in more detail including boundary agreements. It’s important to keep in mind the planning factors presented at the initial meeting, and if additional information is required, requested or desired by or during the Commission’s evaluation of a certain area of the City, such as soil conditions, future roadway plans or some other planning factors which may impact a decision about a future land use, staff can provide this information at a future meeting. Staff will advertise each meeting in the NW Herald but staff believes following the Commission’s review of the Future Land Use Map, the Commission should make a concerted effort to garner public input through various means including holding meetings at different locations, such as other public facilities, making additional efforts to gather input via the City’s website/Facebook pages and other forms of social media as well as using traditional forms of public feedback, such as surveying people, hanging the map at different locations, having an open house meeting at the library, etc. Planning and Zoning Commission December 14, 2017 Page 3 Staff believes the Future Land Use Map can be revised in a couple of months and a formal public hearing can be held after public input is sought/completed. Following, the revised Existing Land Use Map and Future Land Use Map, as well as the Consistency Policy can be presented to the full City Council for adoption; after which the Commission can begin to look at the text of the Comprehensive Plan and Development Policies (revised/adopted in 2008) and decide what chapters should be updated proceeding with that portion of the process as the next step. Commissioner Doherty asked how many years out the Commission should consider. Director Martin stated he wouldn’t suggest going out further than 20-30 years and it should be discussed how often the plans should be reconsidered during that time period as the economy changes. Commissioner Strach suggested a goal of revisiting the plan every five years or so in the future. Commissioner Miller agreed. Commissioner Sobotta inquired if the meetings were advertised on the City website. Director Martin stated they are on the website. Commissioner Sobotta suggested they could possibly be listed on the home page of the website to gain more public input. Commissioner Strach stated that the suggestion is to do that and more as we get closer to coming up with a strategy as a group. He also suggested looking at the downtown area as a separate section. Discussion ensued regarding downtown planning. Commissioner Strach presented a thought process/map of creating a City of McHenry downtown “loop” that will create a connected downtown through a pedestrian/bicycle path including all three current downtown sections and the Riverwalk and connecting them to McCullom Lake Road, Petersen Park and the bike path, Fort McHenry Park and back to Main Street and the Metra station. Future phases to this looping path could be added. He opined there would not be a lot of infrastructure needed to add to the planned path because it would utilize existing restrooms and parking areas. Commissioner Sobotta suggested using a rental bike system in this area as well. Director Martin stated the City has been working with Zagster bike rental systems and presented a map showing proposed bike stations throughout the city that could hopefully be paid for through corporate sponsorships. These stations are already proposed to be planned in the area being suggested in the proposed “loop”. Commissioner Miller thought it was a great idea and agreed most of the infrastructure is already in place. Commissioner Strach opined it would help draw more traffic into the downtown businesses as well. Interactive phone maps for the “loop” were suggested through sponsorship. Kick-off ideas were discussed using the river to draw people to the “loop” when it would be completed. Marketing ideas were discussed to call attention to the plan and draw people that live here to the “loop” and then bringing more people from out of town to our local area downtown “loop”. Commissioner Walsh opined this type of plan would potentially help local business-owners understand that we as a city are trying to present a plan that will help them to be successful. Discussion ensued regarding the fact that when people relocate they look at schools, parks, and other amenities such as shopping and recreational paths. The entire commission agreed the plan is good and inquired when it could begin for the downtown area “loop” to become a reality. Director Martin stated that is why we are doing this process and he could ask H.R. Green to put a formal map together on the future land use map that depicts the downtown “loop” plan. It was suggested the commission would then look at land uses abutting the “loop”. Planning and Zoning Commission December 14, 2017 Page 4 The railroad tracks would be the north/south divider on the maps and Route 120 will be used as the east/west divider of the maps with the downtown area as a separate area. Commissioner Meyer asked if we will be able to address any of the pockets of unincorporated land that are in the middle of the City regarding annexation. Director Martin stated it has not been a major point of discussion in the past but could be brought up if the commission feels it is necessary as a recommending body in this process of revising our comprehensive plan. Discussion ensued regarding use of the City roads and other infrastructure by the residents in those areas and how it impacts our maps and city residents that are within the city limits. Director Martin asked for discussion ideas to be brought to the next meeting. It was agreed to focus on the downtown area and land uses at that meeting. Staff Report The next Planning and Zoning meeting is scheduled for Wednesday January 17, 2018. Adjournment Motion by Meyer, seconded by Thacker, to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 p.m. Voting Aye: Doherty, Miller, Meyer, Sobotta, Strach, Thacker and Walsh. Voting Nay: None. Not Voting: None. Abstaining: None. Absent: None. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________________ Dorothy M. Wolf, Economic Development Coordinator