Planning and Zoning Board

VILLAGE OF NILES 1000 Civic Center Drive www.vniles.com Final Approved Meeting Minutes Monday, November 2, 2020 7:00 PM Village Hall Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Thomas Kanelos Members Susan DeBartolo Morgan Dubiel, Vice Chairman Ted Karabatsos Terrence McConville Barbara Nakanishi Robert Schulter, Secretary Charles Ostman, Community Development Director Planning and Zoning Board Final Approved Meeting Minutes November 2, 2020 __________________________________________________________ ____________ This Electronic Meeting is open to the public and the public may submit public comment in advance. Public comments will be accepted by email and phone call beforehand. Members of the public who would like to make a comment during the hearing via Zoom may sign up using the online form at www.vniles.com/november2speak. Public comments received by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting will be read at the beginning of the meeting. Any comments received during the meeting will be held until the end of the meeting. Public comments should be emailed to nbb@vniles.com and contain: name; address (optional); city; phone (optional); and the agenda item you would like to comment on. Members of the public with no access to email may leave a message at 847-588-8077. Statement read by Chairman Thomas Kanelos: Due to the ongoing Covid-19 corona virus pandemic and the Governor’s statewide stay-at-home order suspending certain open meeting acts requirements, this meeting will be conducted remotely. The Commissioners and Staff participating in tonight’s meeting are all in different locations in accordance with social distancing guidelines. It is important that the cases scheduled tonight be heard to continue critical Village business which will enable ongoing construction, development, protection of property values and the promotion of the Village’s economic vitality. Any individual desiring to listen and/or participate in this meeting through the electronic meeting platform known as Zoom has been provided that opportunity by the Community Development Department in advance of the meeting. Finally, members of the public had the opportunity to submit written comments in advance of the meeting. These methods of public participation have been publicized on the Village website, through notices required for each case including newspaper publication and on the agenda for tonight’s meeting. And finally, since we are using Zoom for tonight’s meeting, we anticipate there could be some problems as we move through the agenda. When it is time for speakers, either petitioners or members of the public to speak, you will be unmuted. Staff will call all speakers by name and speakers will be able to raise your hand through Zoom to help us facilitate unmuting. After you speak, you will be muted again. Please note there may be a slight delay between being unmuted and being able to begin speaking. A reminder: all speakers are asked to present their comments in a respectful and courteous manner, as you always do. If inappropriate language or comments are expressed during this meeting by the public or any other speaking person, we will mute that speaker and end their participation. Thank you. CALL TO ORDER The Niles Planning and Zoning Board was called to order at 7:01 P.M. Page 2 of 5 Planning and Zoning Board Final Approved Meeting Minutes November 2, 2020 __________________________________________________________ ____________ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ROLL CALL All rose for the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: 7 Chairman Thomas Kanelos, Commissioners Ted Karabatsos, Susan DeBartolo, Robert Schulter, Barbara Nakanishi, Terrence McConville, Morgan Dubiel Also present was Assistant Director of Community Development Richard Wlodarski, Planner I Nathan Bruemmer and Village Attorney Danielle Grcic. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Kanelos asked if there were any additions, clarifications, or corrections to the minutes of October 5, 2020. There were none. He entertained a motion. Commissioner DeBartolo moved to approve the minutes of October 5, 2020. Seconded by Commissioner McConville, on roll call the vote was: AYES: 7 DeBartolo, Schulter, Nakanishi, McConville, Dubiel, Karabatsos, Kanelos NAYS: 0 There being seven (7) affirmative votes the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT The public can ask questions or comment after the Board has heard the petitioners’ testimony following each case. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. 20-ZP-20, 7740 N Milwaukee Ave A request for a Special Use Permit to allow ‘Animal and Pet Sales’ (doing business as Birdman’s Parrots) at 7740 Milwaukee Ave, Niles, Illinois 60714, as required by the Village of Niles Zoning Ordinance Section 8.2(A). Nathan Bruemmer, Planner I, presented this case. A legal notice was published in The Bugle on October 15, 2020. Notices were mailed out to all Page 3 of 5 Planning and Zoning Board Final Approved Meeting Minutes November 2, 2020 __________________________________________________________ ____________ property owners within 250’ on October 14, 2020. An onsite sign was placed on the property on October 16, 2020. The agenda was posted online on the Village of Niles website and is posted in the lobby of the Village Hall. The applicant owns Birdman’s Parrots which is currently located at 7752 N Milwaukee Ave. He is proposing to relocate to 7740 N Milwaukee Ave. so he can have a bigger space. The 7740 space is in the same strip mall as his current location; he is simply moving 4 storefronts south. The applicant previously received a Special Use Permit to establish the 7752 N Milwaukee Ave location in June, 2019. The property is zoned C-3 and per Section 8.2 of the Zoning Code, animal and pet sales do require a Special Use Permit. There are no parking concerns at the property. This fulfills goal #1 of the 2030 Comp Plan which is to support a well-functioning and commercial retail shopping area. Chairman Kanelos asked if there were any questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Dubiel said he is surprised this is in front of the Board. It is literally the same plat, the same owner, same landlord and they are just moving a few doors down. He feels this is something they might want to review as it does not seem pro-growth. Mr. Bruemmer said it is understood and noted. However, he confirmed with Charles Ostman, Director of Community Development, this is how it had to be done. It was tied to this address when the ordinance was made. Chairman Kanelos said he too has no objection to this. But in the list of requirements for receiving Special Use Permits, these are not really yes or no answers. Not all cases are as easy as this one. He called for the petitioner. Elias Namroud, petitioner, 9203 Washington Road, Morton Grove, IL 60053 was sworn in at this Zoom meeting. He had nothing else to add to what has already been said. He wants to move four stores down to a bigger space and that is it. Chairman Kanelos asked if there were any questions from the Commissioners. There were none. He also asked if there had been any complaints regarding this store since it has been open. Have there been any citations or problems because of the animals? Mr. Bruemmer said none of the departments had any issues. There have been no problems with animals. There are no public comments either. Chairman Kanelos entertained a motion. Page 4 of 5 Planning and Zoning Board Final Approved Meeting Minutes November 2, 2020 __________________________________________________________ ____________ Commissioner Dubiel moved to approve item 20-ZP-20, a request for a Special Use Permit to allow ‘Animal and Pet Sales’ (doing business as Birdman’s Parrots) at 7740 Milwaukee Ave, Niles, Illinois 60714, as required by the Village of Niles Zoning Ordinance Section 8.2(A). It meets the requirements of that section. Seconded by Commissioner DeBartolo, on roll call the vote was: AYES: 7 Dubiel, Karabatsos, DeBartolo, Schulter, Nakanishi, McConville, Kanelos NAYS: 0 There being seven (7) affirmative votes the motion carried. Chairman Kanelos stated this Board is a recommending Board to the Board of Trustees who can either confirm or negate this recommendation. It will be necessary for the petitioner to contact Mr. Ostman and ask to be placed on the Board of Trustees agenda. The petitioner will then be notified of the date and anyone in the audience who would like to be informed of the Board of Trustees date should leave their name and address with the recording secretary. DISCUSSIONS ADJOURNMENT Chairman Kanelos entertained a motion to adjourn. Commissioner DeBartolo moved to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Dubiel, on roll call the vote was: AYES: 7 DeBartolo, Schulter, Nakanishi, McConville, Dubiel, Karabatsos, Kanelos NAYS: 0 There being seven (7) affirmative votes the motion carried The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Kathleen Janessa, Recording Secretary Page 5 of 5