Planning and Zoning Board

SUMMARY NOTES OF ZONING WORKSHOP No. 1 OF THE PLAN COMMISSION AND ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VILLAGE OF NILES COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS APRIL 13 , 2015 The Zoning Workshop of the Niles Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals was called to order at 6:20 P.M. Present with Chairman Thomas Kanelos was Vice-Chairman Karen Dimond. Also present were Commissioners Angelo Troiani, Barbara Nakanishi, Robert Schulter and Morgan Dubiel. Charles Ostman, Director of Community Development, Rich Wlodarski, Assistant Director of Community Development, and Bruce Sylvester, Senior Planner, were also in attendance. Also present were Arista Strungy and Christopher Jennette from the consulting firm of Camiros, Ltd. Present also was Village Attorney Joseph Annunzio. Chairman Kanelos asked Senior Planner Bruce Sylvester for an introduction for the workshop. Bruce Sylvester provided background on the process to rewrite and update the Village’s zoning and subdivision ordinances, noting that the current regulations have been in place since the 1960s and that newer rules and regulations can encourage and foster economic development and investments. Mr. Sylvester noted that the recently-adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan includes as one of its highest priorities the adoption of new/updated zoning and subdivision regulations. Mr. Sylvester explained tha the Community Development Department began the process to rewrite these important rules with a Request for Proposals process that resulted in many qualified consulting firms proposing to assist the Village with this effort and with the Village selecting the firm of Camiros, Ltd. Mr. Sylvester explained that the process to date has been an intensive drafting process between the consultants and Camiros, Ltd. and staff in the Community Development Department which resulted in the draft document that was being discussed this evening. Going forward, Mr. Sylvester explained that after the Plan Commission reviewed this draft and provided feedback and comments at 2 workshos in April—including tonight’s workshop—the draft would then be presented to the broader community in a Community Open House scheduled for June 11th from early afternoon through the evening. Publicity for that Open House will include press releases, information on the Village’s web- site, communications through the Chamber of Commerce directly to the business community, and an article in the Village’s newsletter. Following that Community Open House, the draft will then be finalized before being presented again to the Plan Commission for a vote at a formal Public Hearing at the end of the summer. Mr. Sylvester then introduced Ms. Arista Strungy and Mr. Christopher Jennette from Camiros, Ltd. to provide an overview of the draft new rules. Ms. Arista Strungys then presented an hour-long overview of the draft new zoning and subdivision regulations. Following Ms. Strungy’s presentation, Mr. Christopher Jennette provided an overview and explanation of the draft Milwaukee Avenue Land Use Plan. Both Ms. Strungys and Mr. Jennette Page 1 of 2  SUMMARY NOTES OF ZONING WORKSHOP No. 1 OF THE PLAN COMMISSION AND ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VILLAGE OF NILES COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS APRIL 13 , 2015 empahasized that the two draft documents—the new zoning and subdivision ordinances and the draft land-use plan for Milwaukee Avenue—are linked to each other and complement each other. Following these presenations, there was a question and answer period that lasted until 8:30. Questions included how the proposed rules would affect the size, bulk, and design of single-family homes; what would be the effect of landscaping requirements upon businesses—both for sign visibility and fjor costs for landscape installations; whether allowances could be made for landlords with properties in the proposed new commercial zoning districts that include minimum retail-amounts, such as allowing non-retail uses if 2 years elapse without a retail tenant being found; what plans are being made for land-uses north of Dempster Street; and what—if any—types of design review will be included in the new zoning regulations. The Plan Commission adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m., noting that the 2nd scheduled workshop will be held in two weeks, on Monday evening, April 27th, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Hall Council Chambers. Respectfully submitted, Bruce Sylvester, Senior Planner. Page 2 of 2