Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 10, 1990 COW Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 ` Page 1 Mayor VanDeVoorde called the meeting to order at 6 :05 p.m. , ' in the Council Conference Room. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Absent : None . Discussion with John Mullins regarding future development priorities in the South Grove project . Mr. Mullins stated that as elected officials the Council must consider what they expect of the site and what do they feel the community expects of the site. The City must find the right developer at the right time and give them a sense they can j make some money. Tenant opportunities must be identified and the South Grove site should be defined as part of the downtown. Mayor VanDeVoorde stated he had been through this process and the original concept was to purchase 27 acres and have this site developed a industrial/commercial site. The Council did not vision this site as residential, but one of the most viable bids received did include some portion of residences . The Mayor stated he would not consider any low income housing for the site and this statement was repeated by Councilwomen vlan and Shales . Councilwoman Popple stated the development should be sensitive to the assets of the river and bike path. Councilwoman Shales stated there would be nothing wrong with light industry in a parkland setting. j Councilwoman Moylan stated commercial nodes and mid-rise quality residences could be acceptable, but not just residential. Councilman Walters stated he thought it was realistic to look at the retain space aspect . Mr. Mullins stated there is a need to focus the community back into the downtown area, and that one thing that is missing is a movie theater. Mr. Mullins cited a successful development in Dallas , consisting of a movie , restaurants , nightclub and a small scale shopping mall concept . Councilwoman Popple stated we need something unique to draw the people down there. Something that will create excitement , attracting the local residents as well as residents from other communities . It must be something that has not been tr,JcP,:11, before. AIL _A AN I Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 Page 2 Councilman Walters pointed out the need for open space so that the river can be viewed. Councilwoman Popple stated that the developer should be appraised that this Council is committed to this project and is willing to become partners with the developer to rid the blight , improve the traffic and any other problems within this area. Councilman Gilliam stated that he had heard most of this before, but he did agree with the Council comments . Larry Rice stated that Mr. Mullins will be here for 4 or 5 months , and we should have a planner on hand to move ahead. A major decision will deal with how far back from the river should be developed as open space, because this could effect the placement of Grove Avenue. Councilman Fox stated the Fox River Task Force is trying to development a Urban River Plan that would deal with this issue. Mr. Mullins stated the transportation issue is important and must be tied into the area, and he hoped to be able to give the Council more specifics on the project down the road. Resolution in support of LacDuFlambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Economic Development Project . The staff recommendation requested that the Council approve the subject Resolution at tonight ' s Council Meeting, supporting the efforts of the LacDuFlambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to acquire a property within Elgin and construct a major conference hotel and bingo center. Jerry Maulson, TribalGoverning Manager stated the Tribe is considering the purchase of commercial property within the City for the purpose of building a complete conference hotel. The hotel would be in the 300 room size range, with full banquet facilities . As a part of the conference hotel, a bingo facility would be operated. No other gambling would be involved. Tour groups from beyond Illinois borders can be expected to come to the facility on a regular basis . Because the property would be legally held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior, it would be tax exempt . It is understood the facility would pay an in-lieu-of tax of some amount , and would be subject to City amusement tax and hotel tax. Mr. Maulson stated the bingo operation is conducted 5 days per week and last year their operation grossed 2 1/2 million dollars. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 Page 3 Petition 78-89 - Woodbridge North. Staff reported the following unresolved issues relative to this project : The Petition proposed that the centerline radius on some of the minor streets be reduced from the required 200 foot centerline radius to a minimum of a 50 foot centerline radius . A listing of curves and radii are shown on the attached Woodbridge North Preliminary Plat . The Petition is proposing curb line sidewalks and a bike/pedestrian pathway system to serve private streets in the R-4 District portion of the development . In some cases the curb line sidewalks are along both sides of the private streets , and in other cases along only one side. No sidewalks are proposed round the terminus of cul-de-sacs or around motor courts . This is a departure from subdivision ordinance regulations and city policy requiring sidewalks along both sides of all streets . Curb line sidewalks and a pathway system were permitted in lieu of sidewalks separated from the street by a treebank, in the recently approved Highland Springs Planned Unit Development . 1 Council agreed this matter should be continued until staff can meet with the developer and bring the project back with their recommendation. Petition 77-89 - Woodbridge South The remaining unresolved issue regarding the proposed project is a difference of interpretation regarding the definition of an "L" intersection and a curve. The petitioner asserts that the streets containing curve radii less than the required 200 foot radius are "L" intersections . The Engineering Department asserts that the proposed curves are not "L" intersections and require a variation to the Subdivision Regulations . Council agreed this matter should be continued until staff can meet with the developer and bring the project back with their recommendation. Consideration of accepting easements from Continental Bakery and Motel 8 for utilities in old Airport Road. The City Council vacated the old right-of-way of Airport Road as part of the development of the Airport property. An easement was retained for all of the utilities in the old right-of- way with the exception of the Continental Bakery and Motel 8 properties . Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 Page 4 Staff is recommending the Council approve the subject easements . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales for staff to prepare the necessary resolution for the recording of the subject easements . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a change in the restricted parking portion of the Elgin Municipal Code . Installation of four hour parking at the bike path parking lot on National Street . The Planning Department has requested the installation of a 4 hour limit from 8 :00 a.m. , to 5 : 00 p.m. , Monday through Friday at the subject lot . Currently commuters are using the lot , parking up to ten hours daily. The lot was initially intended for use by people using the bike path. The parking restriction would eliminate use of the lot by commuters . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve this parking restriction. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None . Consideration of installation of a stop sign at Grand Blvd. , and Linden Avenue. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the installation of a stop sign on the west leg of Linden Avenue at Grand Blvd. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None . Consideration of installation of yield signs at the intersection of Forest Drive and Preston Avenue . Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to authorize the installation of two yield signs on Preston Avenue at Forest Avenue. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a request from the Transportation Department to change the designated snow routes because of a change in bus routes by PACE . Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the installation of snow route signs associated with the expanded bus routes . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. • r Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 Page 5 Consideration of a report regarding annexation of surrounded areas . Council was provided with a report identifying and describing unincorporated areas surrounded by city limits . The proposed 1990 budget for the Planning Department includes $4 , 500 for professional services required to produce annexation plats for surrounded areas . This amount should be adequate to fund the number of forcible annexations that could be incorporated into the 1990 work program. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales for staff to proceed to pursue forcible annexation consistent with this report . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a request from the Fox River Trolley Museum regarding electrical service boxes . This request provides that the City give the Museum the electrical service boxes at the Woodruff & Edwards Foundry. The Museum indicates that it maintains liability and worker' s compensation insurance coverage. These electrical boxes have no value to the City and would be destroyed as part of the demolition on this site and staff recommends approval of this request . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None . Consideration of schedule for Council participation in the Elgin Expo. Friday 6 :00 to 7 : 30 p.m. Bob Gilliam 7 : 30 to 9 : 00 p.m. George VanDeVoorde Saturday 10 :00 to 12 : 15 p.m. John Walters 12 : 15 to 2 : 30 p.m. Dan Fox 2 : 30 to 4 :45 p.m. Sue Moylan Sunday 11:00 to 1: 15 p.m. Cheryl Popple 1: 15 to 3 : 30 p.m. Marlene Shales Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve the subject schedule. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. ° t e Committee of the Whole Meeting January 10 , 1990 Page 6 Adjournment Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to adjourn the Committee of the Whole Meeting to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel, litigation and property acquisition. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. The meeting adjourned at 8 :50 p.m. Marie Yearma , City Clerk I i