CITY OF WARRENVILLE
PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting
Held on Thursday, April 23, 2015
At the Warrenville City Hall
28W701 Stafford Place
I.
OPENING CEREMONIES
A.
Call to Order
Plan Commission Chairman John Davis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
B.
II.
Roll Call
PC Present: John Davis, Tim Cosgrove, Brad Hays, Joe Rossi, Robert Pepple,
PC Excused: Michael Harrington, Suzanne Battista, Roland Laurin
PC Absent: Al Thompson
ZBA Present: John Davis, Tim Cosgrove, Brad Hays, Joe Rossi
ZBA Excused: Suzanne Battista, Roland Laurin
ZBA Absent: Al Thompson
Also Present: Community Development Dir. Ron Mentzer, Planner Ginny
McIntosh, Recording Secretary Marie Lupo
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Minutes of the April 9, 2015, PC/ZBA regular meeting.
COM. COSGROVE MOVED, SECONDED BY COM. PEPPLE, TO APPROVE THE
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 9, 2015, REGULAR MEETING. MOTION ADOPTED
UNANIMOUSLY VIA VOICE VOTE.
IV.
PUBLIC HEARING
A.
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare
4455 Weaver Parkway
Project #2015-0100
Located south of I-88, west of Mill Street, north of Diehl Road, on the east side of
Weaver Parkway
Request for approval of Site Specific Amendment/Exception to the Cantera
Development Control Regulations and Warrenville Sign Ordinance to increase the
height and size of wall signs allowed in Office Park Use Area, and to allow wall
signs to be installed on a building frontage where public access is not provided.
The approval of this request would allow Northwestern Memorial Healthcare to
replace the existing two non-illuminated wall signs on the west and south
elevations of the Proton Center (south building) with two new illuminated wall
signs reflecting the new ownership of the facility.
For the benefit of the audience, Ch. Davis provided a brief introduction to the request and
explained the public hearing process that would ensue. The Applicant submitted proof of lawful
notice in the form of certified mail return receipts to Recording Secretary Lupo.
COM. COSGROVE MOVED, SECONDED BY COM. PEPPLE, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING. MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE.
Minutes of April 23, 2015, Regular PC/ZBA Meeting
Page 2 of 5
Melody Burke of County Court Reporters, Inc. duly administered an oath to Northwestern’s
Brand Manager Nichole Volk, who addressed the Commission and set forth the reasons for the
Proton Center’s signage alteration request, primarily of which is daytime and nighttime
identification for its many out-of-town patients who travel to Cantera for treatment.
Northwestern seeks to create a campus atmosphere uniting the Proton Center, Cancer Center and
Keystone Building with consistent signage on timers that illuminate from dusk through midnight.
Com. Cosgrove commented on the south side signage’s lack of visibility from Weaver Parkway
due to trees. Ms. Volk replied since it is already existing in such location they are simply
changing the name. Scott Ladendorf of Accurate Repro stated the existing signage measured 127
square feet. Northwestern Medicine’s Construction Team member Tom Jacobs confirmed such
size.
Com. Cosgrove inquired whether the Northwestern’s parent company is a not-for-profit
organization, i.e., not requiring payment of real estate taxes; Ms. Volk replied in the affirmative.
There were no questions or comments posed from the audience.
For specific details of this public hearing presentation and discussion, please refer to the court
recorder’s transcript, which is available for viewing in the City of Warrenville’s Community
Development Department, 3S258 Manning Avenue, Warrenville, Illinois 60555.
COM. COSGROVE MOVED, SECONDED BY COM. HAYS, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING. MOTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY VIA VOICE VOTE.
COM. COSGROVE MOVED, SECONDED BY COM. HAYS, THAT THE PLAN
COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED SITE
SPECIFIC AMENDMENT/EXCEPTION/DETERMINATION FROM THE CANTERA DCRS
AND WARRENVILLE SIGN ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE APPLICANT
TO REPLACE TWO EXISTING WALL SIGNS ON THE CHICAGO PROTON CENTER,
LOCATED AT 4455 WEAVER PARKWAY, WITH THE NEW SIGNS ILLUSTRATED ON
THE SIGN DRAWINGS PREPARED BY ACCURATE REPRO, INC., DATED APRIL 3,
2015, AND ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT A TO THE STAFF REPORTED DATED APRIL 21,
2015.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
Aye:
Davis, Cosgrove, Hays, Rossi, Pepple
Nay:
None
Absent:
Battista, Laurin, Thompson, Harrington
MOTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
V.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.
DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals
Zoning Petition Z15-017
Minutes of April 23, 2015, Regular PC/ZBA Meeting
Page 3 of 5
Owner: John & Randa Duncan
Address: 28W411 Gary’s Mill Road, Winfield, IL 60190
Consideration of variation request from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec.
37-701.4 to (i) reduce west side yard setback from 20 feet to 10 feet, and (ii)
reduce east corner yard setback from 40 feet to 10 feet for a new house.
Ch. Davis summarized the petition as a request for corner side-yard relief on a parcel that will be
combined with an adjacent parcel (see petition below) and developed with a new home. Ch.
Davis provided his opinion that he is not in agreement with this variance request nor the
following one, because the house has yet to be designed and can be done in a way that conforms
to the lot’s restrictions. The Commission concurred.
B.
DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals
Zoning Petition Z15-018
Owner: John & Randa Duncan
Address: 28W421 Gary’s Mill Road, Winfield, IL 60190
Consideration of variation request from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec.
37-701.4 to (i) reduce west side yard setback from 20 feet to 19 feet, and (ii)
reduce east side yard setback from 20 feet to 15 feet for a new house.
(See prior request’s comments.)
C.
DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals
Zoning Petition Z15-018 Lamar
Owner: Diehl Road Properties, LLC, Dave Kaknes, Manager
Address: 31W524 Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563
Consideration of the following requests:
1. Conditional use from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1102.2 and
37-1103 #9 to allow an LED sign face to replace existing static sign face on
east face of existing sign structure;
2. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1103 #C.2a to
reduce duration time from five minutes to ten seconds between images;
3. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1103 #C.1 to allow
LED sign within 500 feet of toll way;
4. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1103 #A.13 to
reduce distance from ROW from 67.2 feet to 24 feet from north ROW;
5. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1103 #A.13 to
reduce distance from 67.2 feet to 32 feet, 3 inches from west ROW;
6. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1103 #A.14 to
allow increase in height from 20 feet to 56 feet; and
7. Variation from DuPage County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 37-1105 #4B to
increase square footage to 672 square feet on both panels.
Ch. Davis was not in favor of this request based on the shortened interval and distraction caused
by the LED lights. Com. Cosgrove and Com. Hays did not have an issue with the proposal
because it reduced light pollution by removing up-lighting, and signage would utilize the same
Minutes of April 23, 2015, Regular PC/ZBA Meeting
Page 4 of 5
pole but be raised to compensate for the Eola Road Bridge blocking visibility from the toll way.
Dir. Mentzer shared his research on large LED-type billboard signs. The Illinois Coalition for
Responsible Outdoor Lighting (ICROL) has standards that address properly adjusting signage
lighting from daylight to nighttime hours. He suggested approval of the request with the
recommendation the petitioner comply with the guidelines set forth by ICROL. The ZBA
concurred. Although not a ZBA member, Com. Pepple commented the Commission should be
less lenient toward an outdoor advertising company having a sign in conformance with current
ordinances with a request to make it larger, closer, higher, brighter and more distracting-especially because it is contrary to community aesthetics. In his opinion, the request is abusive of
the grandfathering clause.
Dir. Mentzer stated in order to receive federal highway funding, billboards companies are
allowed to erect billboards within a certain distance of interstate highways, but they must comply
with local regulations. The City generally prohibits off-site advertising. The State’s regulations
do not preempt the City’s right to regulate height, size, and area of signs. If the subject sign were
within City limits, it would not meet our Sign Ordinance requirements. Dir. Mentzer shared his
opinion the Commission should keep such signage in context, i.e., a location in Cantera would
not be acceptable, but the mixture of industrial uses and absence of a residential component
along Eola Road does not concern him.
Com. Cosgrove recommended the ZBA suggest the petitioner comply with ICROL guidelines
and signage should be limited in size to that of the existing LED west panel. The ZBA
concurred.
VI.
CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
No comments.
VII.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
No report.
VIII.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Dir. Mentzer reported the City Council approved the redevelopment agreement with David
Weekley Homes (DWH) at its April 6, 2015, meeting, which provides authorization to proceed
with its due diligence period to work on design plans, survey work and soil investigation (for
structural purposes). DWH will submit a revised concept plan in a May 21, 2015, PC/ZBA
Courtesy Review. Com. Pepple inquired whether the submission will include options for ranchstyle housing; Dir. Mentzer replied DWH would likely accommodate the request with first-floor
master suites. Although the initial site plan proposed 37 detached homes, staff feels a more
reasonable estimate would be 32 homes consisting of two types: (i) traditional style housing
modeled after DWH’s Celebration subdivision in Florida, ranging from $400,000-450,000; and
(ii) young professional-type housing, with first floor garages and great room space, second floor
kitchen/living area, and third floor bedrooms, beginning at $350,000. DWH’s goal is to break
ground this year. They have hired V3 Engineering, which is the company that oversaw
Minutes of April 23, 2015, Regular PC/ZBA Meeting
Page 5 of 5
remediation on said property for the City. Their chief request was to prorate payment for the
property when individual permits are pulled. They are encouraged by the success of M/I Homes’
Herrick Woods subdivision and hope to build three to four units per month.
Dir. Mentzer reported DuPage County is working through issues arising from the acquisition of
the foreclosed Player’s Dairy building. The Warrenville Road Bridge is scheduled to be closed
for construction at the end of May 2015.
At its April 6, 2015, meeting, the City Council approved the Strategic and Economic
Development Plans, which serve as valuable guidance documents for the Commission. Copies
will be distributed with the next meeting packet.
On April 23, 2015, City staff attended a City of Aurora Plan Commission public hearing
regarding revised preliminary PUD plans for the last phase of Duke Realty’s (Duke) Butterfield
East Development (west of Route 59, south and west of Briggs and Estes) with a large
warehouse distribution facility (approved seven years ago). Duke is committed to satisfying
transitional yard buffering requirements the City and Aurora worked out with a former developer
in 2001. Duke is attempting to secure governmental approvals for this area so they can begin
construction by June. Aurora has authorized Duke to begin initial grading work on this project
the week of April 27th. Duke is no longer proposing to extend the new Duke Parkway industrial
collector street out to Route 59 due to unreasonable requests from IDOT, such as dual left-hand
turn lanes north and south of Ferry Road. Duke has obtained an emergency fire access drive
easement from the four Warrenville private property owners that own the existing shared access
driveway at the southwest corner of Briggs and Estes.
Developer D.R. Horton is attempting to obtain a contract extension from the Anderson property
owner. D.R. Horton appears receptive to addressing input received from City staff, the PC/ZBA
and economic development representatives, and are encouraged to move forward with their
townhome proposal.
IX.
PLANNER’S REPORT
Pl. McIntosh reported she is working on completion of the Warrenville Road Bridge detour map.
Rec. Secretary Lupo reported receipt of an application for vacation of right-of-way from
Attorney Judd Lofchie on behalf of property owners Abul and Ayesha Molla, for the former fire
station property on Butterfield Road, just east of Route 59.
X.
ADJOURNMENT
COM. COSGROVE MOVED, SECONDED BY COM. HAYS, TO ADJOURN THE
MEETING AT 8:00 P.M.
MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE.
Approved: _________ 2015
_________________________________
Marie Lupo, Recording Secretary