TOWN OF NORMAL PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING, CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
100 E. PHOENIX AVE., NORMAL, IL
Members Physically Present:
Ms. Moonan, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, and Mr. McBride
Members Absent:
Ms. Hutchison
Others Present:
Mr. Mahrt, Corporation Counsel, Mr. Troemel, Director of Inspections, Ms. Davison, Town Planner, 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.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of the May 10, 2007, meeting were approved as submitted.
Public Hearing:
- 07-06-09-PC: Amended Site Plan, Heartland Community College,
1500 W. Raab Rd.
Ms. Davison reviewed the staff report. She said that there is a waiver requested where code requires 8 trees, 4 of which must be shade trees, and 40 shrubs and/or ornamental grasses. Heartland proposes 16 ornamental trees and no shrubs or ornamental grasses. Staff does not recommend the waiver.
Mr. Don Adams, Farnsworth Group, 2709 McGraw Dr., Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Adams said that Mr. Bruce Maxey with BLDD and Mr. Rob Widmer from Heartland Community College were also present. He said that Millennium Drive would be improved with the parking lot improvement. There is a need for additional parking. It is a well landscaped campus with a lot of trees that are starting to mature. The proposed landscaping is in keeping with the existing landscaping.
Mr. Feid asked if there was an existing waiver for parking. Mr. Adams said that there was not. He said that Heartland monitors parking needs. Mr. Troemel said that originally when the campus was built, there was a waiver, but with the additional lots, it was brought to code.
Ms. Struck asked if the landscaping did not meet code, would they be coming back.
Mr. Bruce Maxey, 201 E. Grove, Bloomington, IL, was sworn in by Chairperson Moonan. Mr. Maxey said that the original planting of the trees was to mimic hedge rows and give a grid appearance to the campus. They are not comfortable with shrubs because of security reasons. There are cameras in the parking lot and shade trees will block the cameras’ view. They will meet the code east of Millennium Dr. There are also 600 additional trees in the campus greenspace.
Mr. Boser asked what trees were along Millennium Dr. Mr. Maxey said that there were sugar maples, with ash trees along the quad, linden trees along Raab and tulip trees.
Chairperson Moonan said that she did not like the waiver and felt that they needed shade trees. Mr. Maxey said that the parking lots had cameras and the shade trees would block the view.
Ms. Struck said that she felt that safety was the overriding issue, but we want it to look as good as possible. She asked if there could be a compromise with something low growing.
Chairperson Moonan asked how the shade trees blocked the cameras. Mr. Maxey said that they are on the light poles at about 20’ and they continually pan the parking lot.
Ms. Davison said that to meet code, they only need 4 shade trees. Mr. Bartley asked if there could be some type of shrubbery that would not cause a safety issue.
Mr. Maxey said that they would work with staff to come up with a compromise. Ms. Davison said that there could possibly not be a need for a waiver.
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 without the requested waiver and recommendation for the applicant to work with staff regarding an acceptable landscaping plan.
Ayes: Mr. Bartley, Mr. Boser, Mr. Feid, Ms. Struck, Mr. McBride and Ms. Moonan
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Other Business:
The Community Design Standards ordinance was reviewed.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, Mr. Bartley moved, seconded
by Mr. Boser, to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila McHenry
Office Associate