Industrial & Commercial Development Commission

1 APPROVED 2 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 3 INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 4 5 Village Hall Terrace Room 6 September 23, 2014 7 8 Members Present: Chairman Patrick Lederer, David Gottlieb, Richard Rushkewicz, Dick Leopold, Brian Lee, 9 Thomas Washburn, Mark Freeman, Curt Wilens and Larry Herskovitz. 10 11 Members Absent: Tensely Garris, Jill Narens 12 13 Staff Present: David Schoon, Mike Strong, Chief Mark Nolan, Kevin Frangiamore, Tim Smeltzer and 14 Colleen Brunner. 15 16 Review of Minutes: 17 On a motion made and seconded, the minutes from the August 26, 2014 ICDC meeting were approved with 18 the following change, New Business- Chamber food packing event was August 28, 2014. 19 20 Public Comment- Hear from the Audience-None 21 22 Community Planning & Economic Development Coordinator Report 23 Schoon provided updates regarding; 1) NorthShore 770 is doing site work and has permits for Phase A & B and 24 residential units. The underground storage work has also commenced. The demolition of the Zengeler 25 property will follow; 2) the Village is assisting to facilitate the land swap between 430 Dundee Marathon 26 Station and the Rehab Inst. They received a state grant to pull the underground storage tanks; 3) Lifetime 27 Fitness is interested in one-third of the 1000 Skokie property. Staff has instructed them they need to develop 28 the entire site; 4) Plan Commission held a public hearing relating to the proposed cell tower at 2705 Techny 29 last week. The neighbors are generally in favor of it due to poor cell reception. The Plan Commission asked for 30 more information relating to its ability to withstand combined ice & winds; 5) 60 Revere is requesting a 31 rezoning change from I1 to O2. The neighbors are opposed as they feel there will be increased traffic and 32 activity at the site; 6) Dunkin Donuts at 2775 Dundee has resubmitted plans. It will be discussed at the Plan 33 Commission meeting on October 21, 2014; 7) On August 12, 2014 the Board referred the location of a medical 34 marijuana dispensary to the O4 district (Skokie Blvd.) by special permit to the Planning and Zoning Committee. 35 They will discuss at the October 14, 2014 Board meeting; 8) J. Alexander’s restaurant has sent an opposition 36 letter to the Village concerning the proposed memory care unit at 100 Pointe. They have concerns about 37 parking, traffic cutting through their parking lot and the synergy of the project; 9) The County Zoning Board of 38 Appeals did recommend approval of the Mission Hills development. It will go to the County Board October 8, 39 2014; 10) the EDC Committee will meet four times per year; 11) Willow/Waukegan intersection pavement is 40 scheduled to be completed at the end of the month. 41 42 Discussion Regarding Fire Inspections 43 The ICDC Commission had asked for Fire Department staff to attend a meeting to discuss the procedures they 44 follow with regards to regular inspections. Many ICDC members are business owners in Northbrook and have 45 had some experiences with the inspection process that they wanted to talk with the Fire Department about. 46 47 Kevin Frangiamore, Fire Prevention Officer, stated there are 3200 inspectable properties in Northbrook that 48 they end up seeing once every two years. The Village follows the National Codes. The Fire Department is 49 willing to work with business owners when they need to correct a violation. Matters of life safety, such as  ICDC Meeting Minutes September 23, 2014 1 blocked exits do require immediate correction. Warehouse storage height must always be 18” below sprinkler 2 systems and 24” where sprinklers do not exist. He explained that on the back of the inspection report is listed 3 the top 10 issues the fire department is concerned with. There are two part-time and one full-time inspectors 4 on staff. They have been utilizing the Fire Department companies to assist with property inspections. This gives 5 them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a property before going out on a call by identifying 6 hazards, where panels are located, etc. If a serious hazard exists they would then notify the Fire Prevention 7 Bureau to follow up on. 8 9 After some discussion, Commission members thought it would be beneficial if the department could put 10 together a flyer to help owners understand what is expected of them. As they come to each inspection, if they 11 could supply a history of previous inspections it would be helpful. Frangiamore thought his department could 12 work towards achieving these requests. Member Freeman did feel the department needs to work on 13 partnering with the owners instead of initially coming off threatening and heavy handed. Some codes are 14 expected to change in November and if anything is significant Frangiamore could get these changes to the 15 Chamber of Commerce to publicize. Chairman Lederer urged the fire staff to attend a Chamber event to 16 educate the business community. 17 18 Discussion Regarding Business Survey 19 The Commission continued its discussion regarding conducting a business survey. They decided that they each 20 would follow a list of questions and meet in person with three business owners to complete the survey, rather 21 than an online or mail survey. The Commission will continue its discussion of the survey content at its next 22 meeting. 23 24 Members did show interest in the Village writing a quarterly email newsletter to the business community. 25 26 Old Business - None 27 28 New Business- 29 The Chamber of Commerce annual auction is October 27 at the Renaissance Hotel. 30 31 Adjourn - 32 On motion made and seconded, the joint meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m. 33 34 Respectfully Submitted – Colleen Brunner