Plan Commission

APPROVED on 3/20/2025 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes Date: March 6, 2025 Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Council Chambers PLAN COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Luke - Chair Jeff Burman, Vice-Chair, Scott Berman, Erica Crohn-Minchella, and Ross Mathee PLAN COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Cindy Franklin, Talia Gevaryahu, Vijai Gupta, and Sigalle Shpayer STAFF PRESENT: Tyler Kobylski, Asst Corp. Counsel, Johanna Nyden, Comm Dev Director, Kate Portillo, Planning Manager, Jose Acosta, Planning Coordinator, and Marlene Bargamian, Admin Asst. (I) CALL TO ORDER A quorum being present, Chair Luke called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. (II) APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2025 meeting was made by Commissioner Scott Berman and seconded by Commissioner Erica Minchella. Ayes: Unanimous voice vote. The motion passes. (III) NEW BUSINESS a. Case 2025-03P: Site Plan Approval: 5701 Oakton Street, 7700 Gross Point Road, and 7720 Gross Point Road Community High School District No. 219 (Trustees of Schools, Township 41 North, Range 13, East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois) requests site plan approval for a 4-lot planned development at 5701 Oakton Street, in an R2 Single-Family zoning district, and at 7700 Gross Point Road and 7720 Gross Point Road, in an M1 Office Assembly Industry zoning district, in order to construct a 2- story building that will serve as the new location of Niles Central High School and a # 625188 Plan Commission meeting minutes March 6, 2025  APPROVED on 3/20/2025 3-story building addition at Niles West High School, along with reconfigured surface parking, new stormwater detention, and a new signalized intersection at Gross Point Road, relief from §82-7(12) to provide directional signs that exceed 4 square feet and have a maximum dimension greater than 38 inches in one direction, relief from §82-26(a) to allow the installation of directional signs in a residential zoning district, relief from §118-218(b)(4) to allow existing office parking less than 1 parking space per 300 square feet of net floor area, relief from §118-233(b) to not provide a landscape plan addressing all requirements of the Zoning Chapter, and relief from §118-233(e) to not provide 1 parking lot tree for every 15 parking spaces within the interior of the parking area, and any other relief that may be discovered during the review of this case. PINs: 10-29-208-027-0000, 10-29-208-028-0000, 10-29-208-029-0000, and 10-29-210-012-0000 Corporation Counsel, Tyler Kobylski, determined that notice was proper and correct. Jose Acosta, Planning Coordinator, requested that the staff report be accepted into the record as written. He stated that staff is supportive of the request for additions to the District 219 campus including the 4 items of relief. He displayed the site plan, Findings of Fact, and recommended conditions. The 2-story building is new construction for the Niles Central High School (an alternative education use) on the southeast side while the 3-story addition will be on the northeast side of Niles West school building. The proposal includes reconfigured surface parking, new stormwater detention, and a new traffic signal on Gross Point Road. It was discovered during the review of this case that IDOT owns the parking lot on the northeast corner. However, it is included in the site plan approval request. The petitioner and IDOT are in communication and a formal agreement is being drawn up for the use of this lot. The improvements made will positively impact traffic congestion and vehicular and pedestrian safety at the school and in the neighborhood. As part of the new traffic signal, a new walkway is proposed from Gross Point Road to Oakton Street to provide pedestrian access to the new Niles Central High School. Also, as part of this project, a condition will be added that the unimproved driveway portion of Austin Avenue which serves the football stadium on the west side of the campus will be paved to Village standards when the resurfacing of Austin Avenue takes place. Items of relief include: - Install directional signs in a residential district. # 625188 Plan Commission meeting minutes March 6, 2025  APPROVED on 3/20/2025 - Allow directional signs to be in excess of 4 sq. ft and be greater than 38” in one direction. - Waive the requirement of 1 parking lot tree for every 15 parking spaces. - Waive landscaping between the property line and the continuous curbing adjacent to street frontages in parking lots. Scott Berman inquired if a separate approval is needed from IDOT regarding the parking lot that they own. Community Development Director, Johanna Nyden answered that the parking lot has long been part of the site and is considered part of the application. Ken Florey, attorney from Robbins Schwartz and Athi Toufexis, architect of Studio GC representing the school showed a power point slide show of their proposal. They added that the student body is not increasing. The educational services of Niles Central are for Niles West & Niles North students only – no out of district enrollees. They also mentioned that the no landscaping within the school lots is a safety protocol so people cannot hide. Scott Berman asked about the stormwater detention and the decrease in parking spaces. Jim Vreeland, Asst. Superintendent for Business answered that the stormwater detention is all underground. The net decrease in parking lot spaces is due to the repurposing of the space that Drivers-Ed and bus parking utilized. Ross Mathee wanted confirmation that the School Board has approved the project. He also inquired where the school administrative office will be located. Mr. Florey stated that the administration and business offices will still be on-site locating in the main school building addition. (IV) RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTING A motion was made to approve as presented the recommendations of staff for site plan approval to construct a 2-story building which will serve as the new location of Niles Central High School and a 3-story building addition at Niles West High School, along with reconfigured surface parking, new stormwater detention, and a new signalization intersection at Gross Point Road. Motion: J. Burman Second: E. Minchella Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 A motion was made to accept the following 4 items of relief: - Provide directional signs in a residential district. # 625188 Plan Commission meeting minutes March 6, 2025  APPROVED on 3/20/2025 - To allow directional signs to exceed 4 sq. ft and 38 inches in one direction. - To waive the requirement of 1 parking lot tree within the interior of the parking area for every 15 parking spaces. - To waive the requirement for landscaping between the property line and the continuous curbing adjacent to the street frontages in parking lots. Motion: S. Berman Second: J. Burman Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 (V) PULIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. (VI) ITEMS FOR COMMUNICATION None (VII) ADJOURNMENT Chair Luke adjourned the meeting at 8:08 PM. Respectfully submitted, Marlene Bargamian, Administrative Asst. # 625188 Plan Commission meeting minutes March 6, 2025