TOWN OF NORMAL PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2007, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING, CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
100 E. PHOENIX AVE., NORMAL, IL
Members Physically Present:
Ms. Moonan, Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, Mr. McBride and Ms. Hutchison
Members Absent:
Mr. Bartley
Others Present:
Mr. Mahrt, Corporation Counsel, Mr. Troemel, Director of Inspections, Ms. Davison, Town Planner, Mr. Hall, Public Works Director, Mr. Brown, Town Engineer and Ms. McHenry, Office Associate
Call to Order:
Chairperson Moonan called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present. She introduced and welcomed new member, Jill Hutchison.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of the March 8, 2007, meeting were approved as submitted.
Public Hearing:
- 07-04-05-PC: Dr. Koe’s Community Center, Franklin
Heights
Mr. Steve Ladage, Cornerstone Construction, 25 Quest Dr., Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan.
Ms. Davison reviewed the staff report.
Mr. Feid asked what the time frame for completion was. Mr. Ladage said that they expected to have construction documents completed by the end of the month. Mr. Boser asked if the construction completion date was still October 31, 2007. Mr. Ladage said that it was.
There was no one else to speak regarding the application.
Mr. Feid moved, seconded by Ms. Struck, to recommend approval of the application to Council.
Ayes: Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, Mr. McBride, Ms. Hutchison and Ms. Moonan
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
- 07-04-06-PC: Annexation agreement pertaining to the
68.87 +/- acres at the southeast corner of Kerrick Road and
Main Street.
Ms. Davison reviewed the staff report. She said that this is the first M-2 property to comply with the landscaping code. The Comprehensive Plan shows the property as residential and this was probably an oversight. The businesses to the south are commercial/industrial. Regional Planning has given the project a grade C. Staff recommends approval of the application.
Ms. Struck asked how the truck traffic would flow.
Mr. Dave Brown, Lewis, Yockey & Brown, 505 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Brown said that the trucks would come in the east entrance to the security building and go to the east around the building. The employees will go to the west to the employee parking lot. Ms. Struck asked how the trucks would exit from the rear of the building. Mr. Brown said that with Phase II, the trucks could go around the building. Ms. Struck asked how they would exit with Phase I. Mr. Brown said that there was room to turn around and they would exit the same way that they came in.
Chairperson Moonan asked if there were plans to use the Phase II building site for parking trucks. Mr. Brown said that they did not plan to. The area will be seeded.
Chairperson Moonan asked why only every other tree was to be planted on the east side of the building in Phase I. Mr. Brown said that he could not answer that question.
Mr. Feid asked about the easement. Mr. Brown said that there was a storm sewer from Nussbaum’s that they will reroute with the cooperation of the owner. Mr. Feid asked if this was a private easement. Mr. Brown said that it was. Mr. Feid asked about the water and sanitary sewer services. Mr. Brown said that there was water along Main St. that they would loop to Northtown Rd.
Mr. Feid asked about the annexation plat and a portion to the south not being in the Town. Mr. Brown said that the area was in the Town and there are other areas where the property is contiguous. Mr. Troemel said that the area was annexed into the Town.
Chairperson Moonan asked if the building could be made more attractive. Mr. Troemel said that the most appropriate zoning was M-2, which does not require site plan review. Ms. Davison said that Staff felt that the landscaping would soften the appearance of the building.
Mr. Feid asked Mr. Brown to continue explaining the sanitary sewer connection. Mr. Brown said that there were a couple of options. It could be taken around to Northtown Rd. to Eagle Rd. with a lift station or go along the east property line to Northtown Rd. Mr. Feid asked if it would be private. Mr. Brown said that it would be. Mr. Gene Brown said that there would be no other user to tap on and they have plenty of capacity if they want to pump.
Mr. Jim Whitmer, Johnston Contractors, 9 Heartland Dr., Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Whitmer said that the outside of the building is precast. They have looked at banding, something to make it look a little less like a box. The building in Phase I will be 500’ X 1000’. It is set 500’ off of Kerrick Rd. The Phase II building will be 350’ off of Main St. The owner wants something with a little character. Chairperson Moonan said that she was concerned with the appearance. Mr. Whitmer said that there will be colored banding and the building will be textured. Mr. Feid asked what the east and west elevations were. Mr. Whitmer said that they were plain with the required doors for egress. He said that the west wall would be such that it could be picked up and moved to the west end of Phase II. Mr. Troemel asked if there had been any thought to adding something to the east and west ends of the building. Mr. Whitmer said that it was part of the reason for phasing of the landscaping. To add landscaping along Main St., they took trees away from other areas.
Mr. William Wetzel, 115 W. Jefferson, Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Wetzel said that the building would be used for parts and the transportations of parts. There will initially be about 200 employees and with the addition of Phase II, there will be 600 to 650 employees. They will start with one shift and it could develop into two shifts. They are not expecting any non-business related parties on the premises.
Ms. Struck asked if they would be seeking public transportation to the site.
Mr. Dominick Percy, 903 S. Morrissey Ave., Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Percy said that public transportation is available at the present facility, but he does not know of any employees that use it. They do not intend to seek public transportation at this time.
Mr. Feid asked what the hours of operation were. Mr. Percy said that they would be 7:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m. When there is a second shift, those hours would be from 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Ms. Struck asked if there would be truck traffic for both shifts. Mr. Percy said that there would be some on the second shift, but it would be very limited, depending on customer requirements.
Ms. Struck asked if the zoning across Main Street was Office District. Chairperson Moonan said that it was.
Chairperson Moonan said that she would like to see the landscaping not be phased and more detail on the exterior of the building. Mr. Feid said that he would like to see detail on the texture and color of the banding.
There was no one else to speak regarding the application.
Mr. Feid moved, seconded by Ms. Hutchison, to recommend approval of M-2 zoning to the Council.
Ayes: Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, Mr. McBride, Ms. Hutchison and Ms. Moonan
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Mr. Feid moved, seconded by Mr. McBride, to recommend approval of the site plan to Council with the conditions that detail of the texture and color of the building exterior be provided and all of the landscaping on the east side of the building and berm be installed with Phase I.
Ayes: Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, Mr. McBride, Ms. Hutchison and Ms. Moonan
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Other Business:
Ms. Davison said that there would be a luncheon at Illinois Wesleyan University on April 13 regarding sustainable communities and all commissioners were invited.
Mr. Hall gave an update on the Eastside Corridor progress. He said that there would be more meetings on April 19 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Hall also said that they were working on the Stream Buffer Ordinance and the Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Boser moved, seconded by
Mr. Feid, to adjourn the meeting 6:00 p.m. Motion carried 6-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila McHenry
Office Associate