North Egypt News

Village of Minooka Planning & Zoning Commission met June 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

1. CALL TO ORDER

Meeting was called to order by Chairman Dan Friant at 6:00 PM

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

Present: Chairman Dan Friant, Commissioners DeDe Clennon, Casey McCollom, Mark Skwarczynski, Bob White, and Dan Wittenkeller

Absent: Commissioners Bob Wilson

Also Present: Mayor Ric Offerman, Community Development Officer Jeff Lind, Village Attorneys Mike Santschi, Haley Peters and Deputy Clerk Jessica Harvey

4. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

Commission noted to correct Commissioner Clennon as absent and to include engineering discussion on final plat to state no significant items needed to be addressed and minor typo to be corrected. Motion was made by Commissioner McCollom to approve the May 9, 2023 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes as corrected.

Commissioner White seconds.

Ayes: Clennon, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White, Wittenkeller

Nays: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Wilson Motion carried.

5. BRIEFING ON VILLAGE UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS

Community Development Officer Lind stated the submittal deadline for the July Planning and Zoning meeting is fast approaching and at this time nothing has been received. There may not be a July meeting. Staff is engaged in very preliminary discussions with another hotel.

6. OLD BUSINESS

Commission asked for an update on Chipotle. Community Development Officer Lind responded Chipotle plans have been submitted and are being reviewed. The Holiday Inn Express location has been planted with corn. Commission noted the tenant must be notified by November 1st by certified mail if developers anticipate building next year.

7. NEW BUSINESS

A. Public Hearing and Consideration of Case 2023-4 requesting a variance to decrease the front yard setback from 50 feet to 26 feet 8 inches (Poor Clares)

Motion was made by Commissioner Wittenkeller to open the Public Hearing. Commissioner Skwarczynski seconds.

Motion carried with all ayes. Public Hearing opened at 6:10 PM.

Notices of Public Hearing were mailed to 7 property owners located within two hundred and fifty feet of the subject property. Public Notice was published on May 17, 2023 in the Morris Herald News and on May 18, 2023 in the Joliet Herald News and Kendall County Record.

Chairman Friant asked if there were any petitioners or interested persons wishing to testify. Representative of petitioners and interested persons were sworn in by Chairman Friant during the Public Hearing.

Community Development Officer Lind provided an overview that Petitioner, Maria Benedicta Murphy PCC Abbess, Poor Clares of Joliet, is requesting a variance on building setback. Property is located at 6200 E. Minooka Road, PIN # 03-03-100-007 and 03-03-100-009 is currently zoned R2. Petitioner is proposing to add two 2-bedroom guest cottages with sidewalk for off-site visitors who may periodically stay at the property with placement on the west side of the parking lot. Concerns were expressed about the floodplain of Aux Sable Creek so the revised layout that was provided with the May 9, 2023 application shows the south cottage effectively in-line with the existing south face of the building to the east. This change would place the south face of the new south cottage 26'-8" from the proposed 60' Right of Way along Minooka Road. Existing Right of Way across Poor Clares is 40'. The Village has requested a 60' dedication for all other properties, anticipating that one day the roadway will need to be widened. Staff recommends that any variance be conditional on the additional 20' Right of Way dedication to get to a total of 60'.

Representatives of the petitioner expressed that the monastery community is growing and more families are visiting. Marcos Diaz reviewed with the Commission aerial imagery of the property and flood plain lines expressing the reason for request is to avoid potential flooding, cost impact, to match existing house set back and to avoid backfill. Commission inquired if petitioner would be receptive to granting the Village the Right of Way addition at this time. He responded that the petitioner is concerned with noise levels affecting their way of living and what they are trying to accomplish on site but expressed if it had to be done it has to be done. Commission noted that even with the additional lane, the new bridge to the West of property was built to a max of 5 lanes. Commission would like Village Board to consider sound barriers if expansion is needed. Petitioner plans to plant trees to help alleviate some noise.

Chairman Friant asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners or public.

No questions from the Commissioners or public were received. Chairman Friant asked Commissioners if they had enough information to make a decision or if there would be a motion to continue the public hearing.

Motion was made by Commissioner White to close the Public Hearing.

Commissioner Clennon seconds.

Motion carried with all ayes. Public Hearing closed at 6:41 PM.

Based on the evidence presented and the reasons set forth in the Planning and Zoning Meeting, Commissioner White motioned to recommend to the Village Board the approval of Case 2023-4 requesting a variance to decrease the front yard setback from 50 feet to 26 feet 8 inches (Poor Clares) contingent upon the additional 20 feet of Right of Way dedication to get to a total of 60 feet, pending legal, final engineering, and site plan review. Planning & Zoning

Commissioner Wittenkeller seconds.

Ayes: Clennon, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White, Wittenkeller

Nays: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Wilson Motion carried.

8. AS APPROPRIATE

Community Development Officer Lind reviewed with the Commission the Comprehensive Plan expressing Poor Clares is tucked away in a nice location. It is just west of a commercial area and east of a residential area separated by the Aux Sable. Staff do not anticipate an additional interstate exit along 1-80 between Brisbin and Ridge Road but that would be something determined by IDOT. Petitioners are invited to attend the Committee of the Whole Meeting on June 21, 2023 and the Village Board Meeting on June 27, 2023.

9. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment was received.

10. ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made by Commissioner McCollom to adjourn the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Commissioner White seconds.

Motion carried with all ayes. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.

https://minooka.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023.06.13-Planning-and-Zoning-Meeting-Minutes.pdf