Building & Zoning Committee

“Where People Count” Community Development 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles, Illinois 60714 Telephone (847) 588-8040 ● Fax (847) 588-8050 ● TDD (847) 588-8059 December 4, 2014 Building and Zoning committee meeting John Jekot - Trustee Rich Wlodarski - Community Development Assistant Director Bruce Sylvester - Senior Planner Tom Kanelos - Chairman Planning and Zoning Chuck Ostman - Community Development Director Ross Klicker – Economic Development Coordinator Hadley Skeffington-Voss – Assistant Village Manager Joe Annunzio – Village Attorney Steve Lenet – LCT Design John Jekot called the meeting to order at 8:00 am and called for a vote to approve the minutes of October 9, 2014, they were unanimously approved. Bruce Sylvester gave an update on where we are today in the rewrite of the zoning and subdivision ordinances. Mr. Sylvester stated that the Village’s consultants—Camiros—had provided draft language over the summer and that the Community Development Department had completed our review of that draft and provided our feedback and comments to Camiros, who will incorporate that feedback into a second draft. The second draft will then be presented to the Plan Commission and the general public for additional input and comment. Mr. Sylvester also gave a brief overview of the intent for this morning’s meeting—to discuss Mayor Przybylo’s recommendation to contract with Mr. Steve Lenet to provide professional review of the draft zoning and subdivision ordinance before it is released to the public. Andrew Przybylo then spoke as to why he felt a second set of eyes were needed to take a look at the draft of the new zoning code to this point. He has known Steve Lenet for many years and has worked with his firm before and this new zoning code is very important to the village of Niles in moving forward over the next 20 to 30 years. Mayor Przybylo stated that we do not want to get it wrong and this was the main reason for discussion—to consider hiring Mr. Lenet’s firm—LCT Design—to take a look at the work Camiros has done up to this point in the process. www.vniles.com Bruce Sylvester suggested a discussion with the committee about when might be a good time in this process to have LCT Design look at the draft language—should it be immediately or should we wait until the second draft is complete? Steve Lenet then spoke and gave some of his thoughts on a good direction to go moving forward and also spoke about a unified development ordinance—or UDO—being a consideration. A UDO combines zoning and subdivision ordinances and incorporates sign, fence, and design regulations all in one place. He also gave some thought of his concerns with what he has seen so far in the rewrite. Louella Preston suggested that we go with Steve Lenet’s suggestions and to change the direction of the rewrite of the zoning code. Ross Klicker explained that when the Village distributed requests for proposals—we did not seek proposals for a UDO but rather the Village’s sought proposals for updated zoning and subdivision language. Bruce Sylvester stated that the Village wishes to maintain sign and fence regulations in the building code and not in the zoning code. Andrew Przybylo spoke and was very firm on not wanting to complicate the process but rather just wanting to make sure that this new zoning ordinance was as good as we could make it. Mayor Przybylo also asked the question concerning adding some additional time to the length of the project. Tom Kanelos spoke and suggested that a few more months for the size and importance of this project should not be a factor and that the amount of money that was talked about was minimal under the circumstances and was in favor of having LCT Design take a look at the zoning code rewrite. There was then discussion of how to bring LCT Design on board and at what point to have them review what was completed now or after the second draft. It was voted on by the committee to have LCT Design submit a proposed contract for phase 1 and also include a phase 2 and if the contract required Village Board action it would be brought to the Village Board at the January meeting. Bruce Sylvester stated that he would send the digital versions of the draft documents to Mr. Lenet for his review. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.