MINUTES OF THE PLAN COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING HELD August 21, 2008

The Plan Commission of the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, IL, held a meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2008. Chairman Pro Temp John Basso called the meeting to order at 7:47 p.m. answering to roll call were:  Paul Petan, Julie Kay, and Michael Sundermeier. Steve Manning, Economic Development Director and John Houseal, Village Planner, was also present. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Michael Sundermeier moved, seconded by Julie Kay, to approve the minutes of the June 26, 2008 regular meeting as presented.  Upon voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

OLD BUSINESS 

1. Consider amendments for updating the Comprehensive Plan.

The members of the Plan Commission continued their review and revision of the Comprehensive Plan.  John Houseal will be preparing an updated draft of the Comprehensive Plan and was in attendance to help facilitate the discussion which consisted of the following topics: 

1.       Results of the Palos Park Comprehensive Plan Update Resident Questionnaire in which approximately 50 residents participated.  The highlights of the questionnaire are as follows:   

• The primary advantages of living in Palos Park are lot size, environmental features and small town character.
• Residents would like development to include single family homes, restaurants and retail stores.
• The three most important issues facing the Village are protection of environmental areas and resources, control of development and strength of tax base, (need for economic development).
• Residents do not want development that includes: apartments, industry, condominiums, and senior housing.
• Palos Park’s number one strength is its woodsy environment.
• Palos Park’s weaknesses are, lack of retail sales tax, high taxes, ability to keep trees, lack of a charming downtown area, traffic and infrastructure.
• Residents responded that the most important things the Village should be working on over the next 10 years are retaining its uniqueness, roads and infrastructure improvements.  Not building sidewalks, street lights or fences.  Retention of large open yards.  Build a downtown around the train station.  Make it big, “green” offer lots of shopping, and restaurants that one can walk to.

 2.  Discussion about the western growth area, is the planning jurisdiction that extends 1.5 miles beyond the western most point of the Village which is currently Holy Family Villa.  Steve Manning and John Houseal surveyed this area for development potential.   

John Houseal presented a parcel map of this area. The area encompasses Bell Road and McCarthy Road and Equestrian Estates to Archer Road and 111th Street.     According to state law in Illinois a municipality has a right to plan 1 ˝ miles beyond its municipal boundaries.  A municipality cannot plan into another municipality but can plan into unincorporated areas.  In the past there has been interest in the northwest and southwest corners of McCarthy and Bell Road.  These parcels range in size from 7.5 to 8.5 acres.  Both properties are currently vacant and for sale. John Houseal said that there has been development interest for a bank, restaurant, and a two-story retail office commercial development.  This area is surrounded by residential properties and homes are currently on well and septic systems.  These sites are in our planning jurisdiction.  These sites would require extending utilities out to this area.   North of that area is Archer Road and Bell Road and Kingery Highway.  This area is mostly established residential with well and septic.  Lemont has annexed several of the buildings in this area.  There are only a few commercial uses existing including three golf courses, automobile repair, and a farm feed store.  The purpose of annexing land is to control development, and for a potential source of revenue, goods and services for the Village. 

John Basso asked how we would approach the owners about the two parcels for sale on McCarthy and Bell Road.  John Houseal said the issue was bringing utilities out to these parcels, which is very expensive.  It is more feasible to bring utilities out to these parcels now that we have annexed Holy Family Villa since the Village boundary is now closer to this area.  The Village has to consider what the boundary area will be considered for annexation.   Is it Bell Road?  What are the Plan Commission policies regarding annexation strategy?   The Comprehensive Plan should set a policy for annexation.   

3.  Should the Sansone Slough area next to Palos West School and the inquiry about developing that area be put into the updated Comprehensive Plan?   

John Houseal said that another area for the Plan Commission to consider for possible annexation is the Sansone Slough area at 131^st and Wolf by Palos West School Athletic Fields.  The Village has been in discussions with the school regarding improvement of the school facilities for recreational opportunities.  The Village has been interested in an educational trail system with perhaps a boardwalk on the pond.  The property owner has discussed development of the property around Sansone Slough.   Steve Manning stated that there is a lot of interesting things coming together on this 50 acre site.  It is environmentally sensitive, has wetlands, a water body, and standing trees next to a community facility.  The ComEd right-of-way bisects the area which could possibly become a bike path in the future.  The area fronts on 131^st Street so it has some non-resident development potential.  Steve Manning said that the Comprehensive Plan should reflect what is desirable to the Village for the area.  He recommended a bikeway in the ComEd right of way.   

4.  Highlights of the University of Illinois, Chicago graduate student presentations and planning ideas for development of the Village of Palos Park for a “green” environmentally friendly perspective on the commercial downtown development. 

John Houseal did a power point presentation which discussed the UIC graduate student conceptual presentations.  Ideas included: 

• A 3,000 square foot retail shops on the 80^th Avenue area. 
• Diverting 80^th Avenue to Southwest Highway and ending it by the bank to make the area larger so a large retail development on the west side of Southwest Highway can be built.
• Redirecting 80^th Avenue south of the Bank with the area of the railroad tracks over to Southwest Highway so a commercial development could be built.  This would include a 17,000 square foot retail building and additional 24,000 retail space.  This idea would incorporate a large area of residential and commercial property to create a larger commercial shopping center on the east side of Southwest Highway.
• The Cal Sag property leased through MWRD has to be for public use.  The students showed how a proposed museum/retail campus corridor along Cal Sag north of that road. 
• Rerouting 80^th Avenue so that it ends at the railroad tracks.  Area on the east side of Southwest Highway would be all commercial as well as the west side of Southwest Highway extending to 119^th Street.    All buildings totaling 175,000 square feet of retail would have green roofs with parking area behind the building.

John Houseal said that a draft of the Comprehensive Plan draft would be provided by the next meeting which includes, the introduction, the vision, goals and objectives, the land, transportation, bike plan and preliminary implementation. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Items for the September 18, 2008 Plan Commission meeting must be submitted by August 25, 2008. 

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE:  None   

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further discussion, Paul Petan moved, seconded by Michael Sundermeier, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.  Upon voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Minutes respectfully submitted, 

__________________________

Sally A. Kinney
Secretary to the Plan Commission