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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 01/22/1990 - City CouncilSPECIAL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1990 8:35 P.M. A Special Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Busse on Monday, January 22, 1990 at 8:35 P.M. at City Hall. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Donahue, Teta, Smith, McClatchey, Patterson, Serritella. Lieder arrived at 8:50 P.M. Absent: Donahue. City staff in attendance were Attorney Narusis, Clerk Gilpin, Park Director Merkel, Building & Zoning Officer Halik. Also in attendance representing the Fritsch Trust were Jack Fritsch, Dan Mackin, Jim Finch, John Cottingham, Bill Sayers; Land Planners Alan Kracower, Bruce Allison, Steve Gulgrin and Golf Course Designer Bob Lohman. Mayor Busse announced that it had been several months since the Council had met with the Fritsch people to discuss annexation of their property at the southeast corner of Bull Valley and Crystal Lake Road comprising approximatley 475 acres. In recent months, the Mayor and Park Director Merkel had been meeting with Jack Fritsch and Alan Kracower concerning development of the subdivision with a Golf Course theme on the property. The purpose of the meeting tonight was to give the Council an update on the property since a couple of new uses had been introduced in the annexation request. Alan Kracower gave an update on the project by saying that many months ago they made a concept presentation to the Council- which contained approximately 1,200 residential units with industrial on the east portion of the property. The City Council and staff were not over anxious to have 1,200 residential units on that site. The petitioners then tried to develop a project that would be economically feasible to them and still create a development that would be of interest to the people who live in and around the City. They recognized that golf courses were becoming more popular and would be an asset to the City. They decided to develop a plan with housing in the center wrapped around with a golf course along the parameter of the property. When they asked the City if it would be interested in owning a golf course, there seemed to be an interest in it, Kracower said. He presented a concept plan detailing the street layout and the golf course layout, single family and multi -family housing locations. Approximately 78 acres, which was originally planned for industrial on.the east side of the tracks, was not being planned at all at this time. The 400 acres west of the railroad tracks is the area that was detailed on the concept plan. Of the 400 acres, all was residential except a 10 acre parcel on the southeast corner of Bull Valley and Crystal Lake Road. The acreage was laid out as follows: 181 acres for single family homes; 26 acres for multi -family (townhouses); 168 acres for golf course; 36 acres for wetlands; 10 acres for a bypass road. Total number of housing units would be 559 single family homes and 133 townhouses (5 units per acre). It would be a five year project with home values ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 plus. Lot sizes would range from 9,000 to 15,000 with an average of 10,000 square feet. Kracower said he felt this plan would be an asset to the City and would make a developer comfortable in designing a quality project. The concensus of the Aldermen seemed to be very favorable for the project. Busse pointed out that several items need to be addressed: The south portion of the property in question was not in McHenry's facility planning area and that would have to be addressed with the State. Also over half of the proposed subdivision was in the Crystal Lake elementary school district. Officials will have to meet with the County School Representatives to address this question. Also no specific developer has been hired to do the project and the Council would need to know who the developer would be. Fritsch also noted that it would be up to the City to give some indication to the petitioners on how to zone the 78 acres east of the tracks. It was decided to have petitioners redraft the annexation agreement and put down on paper the concepts and the presentations made tonight so that negotiations could begin again. Mayor Busse called for a recess at 9:45 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 10:01 P.M. with all Aldermen in attendance except McClatchey and Donahue. Monday, January 22, 1990 Page 2 Discussion was held on the issue on the passage of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of Revenue Bonds to be purchase by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to finance the expansion of the South Wastewater Treatment Plan by 10,000 P.E. The bond issue was in the amount of $5,050,000. Busse noted that it should be made known that passage of the ordinance, upon computation of the various debt service coverages could require an adjustment in our water and sewer rates. By passing the resolution, it was not commi ti ng the City to a rate increase but if a projection of additional cost warrants it, it may require an adjustment in rates. The Bonds will be payable out of the revenues of the system. The benefit of the passage of this ordinance with sale to the I.E.P.A. is that the interest cost would be one-half of the usual interest rate. The Bond amount is based on a worst case scenario prepared by the engineers which is $5,050,000. When it comes time to go for the bond issue, if there is $1,000,000 available in the Capital Development Fund we may only have to go with a $4,000,000 bond issue. If the bids would come in lower than $5,000,000, the bond issue could also be lowered at that time. Right now it was important that an application be submitted to the State as soon as possible. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Patterson, to pass an ordinance as presented and make application for a bond issue from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $5,050,000 for expansion of the South Wastewater Treatment Plant; to pass the two related resolutions as presented and to select Schiff, Harden and Waite as Bond Attorneys for this bond issue. Voting_ Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Teta, Smith, Patterson, Serritella. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, McClatchey. Motion carried. Motion by Smith, seconded by Patterson, to adjourn. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Teta, Smith, Patterson, Serritella. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, McClatchey. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M.