MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING
HELD BY THE PLAN COMMISSION
September 25, 2007

The Plan Commission of the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, IL, held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, beginning at 7:30 p.m. to consider a request from Palos Community Hospital for a temporary special use for off-street parking, including access to and from said off-street parking at 123rd Place, on vacant property currently zoned R-1-A One Family Dwelling District. This meeting was rescheduled from September 20, 2007 due to lack of a quorum.

Present were: John Basso, Julie Kay, Paul Petan, Michael Sundermeier, Michael Wall and Chairman Ralph Jones. Craig Eyer, Director of Building and Zoning, was also present.

Chairman Jones introduced new Plan Commission members Paul Petan and Michael Wall. Secretary Kathy Stanek stated that it was not necessary to republish the legal notice for the public hearing because the September 25th date was clearly stated as the date the rescheduled public hearing would be held, that the same agenda as September 20th would be followed and that notice of the rescheduled meeting was posted at the Village Hall and sent to local newspapers more than 48 hours prior to September 25th. She also stated that all persons who had been at the September 20, 2007 Plan Commission meeting had been called and informed of the rescheduled public hearing.

Thomas Courtney, attorney for Palos Hospital, introduced Tim Brosnan, VP of Planning and Development for Palos Hospital, Marty Baron, VP of Facilities for Palos Hospital and Ron Christian, Pepper Construction. Mr. Courtney explained that the hospital is constructing a parking structure and power plant on their property and will use the Palos Park lots for parking of private vehicles belonging to workers, 6 construction trailers and storage of topsoil during construction. Mr. Brosnan further stated that there will be no construction vehicles using the lots or driveway (construction traffic will use 80th Ave. driveway). Workers will be using the 123rd Place driveway between 6:30 and 7:00 am to enter and around 3:30 pm to leave. Areas will be enclosed with chain link fence with a locking gate and silt fence will be installed to protect trees that will not be removed. The contractor will restore the lots with seed and replace trees that must be removed. There are no plans to develop these lots at this time.

Chairman Ralph Jones said the Village appreciates the revision to the plan in order to move the trailers out from under the drip line of the trees and marking the placement of silt fence. He said using 123rd Place for ingress/egress poses a problem; how many vehicles are expected to use the driveway? Mr. Christian said about 75. Mr. Jones asked why the plan was changed to access 123rd Place instead of McCarthy Rd.? Mr. Brosnan explained that the Village preferred using McCarthy Rd. but getting IDOT permits would take too long. Earlier construction projects used McCarthy Rd., but now there is a guardrail in that area. Existing hospital driveways are especially congested early in the morning with out-patient and employee traffic, which led them to request a driveway from 123rd Place.

Mr. Jones noted that the proposed driveway and parking area will be gravel and there will only be enough width to allow one car at a time in the driveway; would the hospital consider a 3-month trial period for the use of the lots in order to determine if there is a detrimental impact on local traffic? Mr. Brosnan agreed, adding that only right turns will be permitted in the afternoon, keeping traffic off most of 123rd Place. Mr. Jones asked if there is any way workers can park on hospital property without using the 2 lots? Mr. Brosnan said they looked at this and it is not possible.

Mr. Jones asked if trees would be replaced inch-for-inch? Mr. Brosnan replied that an arborist has identified all trees on the entire hospital property and they have always been vigilant in keeping as many trees as possible.

John Basso stated that he does not like having any mass parking near residential homes. Mr. Christian said the easternmost vacant lot offers a buffer for the next home.

Paul Petan said he is concerned about the amount of dust arising from activity on the gravel as well as track marks on the street; will there be portable toilets? Mr. Christian said Village ordinances require cleaning streets every day (they already sweep 80th Ave. daily) and there will be portable toilets on the site. Mr. Jones suggested using washed gravel. Mr. Christian said they will roll the gravel to compact it. Mr. Baron added that the fence around the site will be 6 ft. high, gate will be locked but no security lighting; purpose of fencing is to prevent further encroachment on the vacant lots and for security and safety. Mr. Basso asked that the fencing be painted black to minimize visual impact.

Michael Sundermeier asked if existing driveways could be widened? Mr. Jones added that there is a lot of congestion on 80th Ave. due to the stoplight. Mr. Baron said the existing driveways cannot be widened.

Michael Wall noted that the use of the lots is for staging purposes; where will construction material be delivered? Mr. Courtney said no material will be delivered at this site. Mr. Wall asked about one-way use of proposed driveway and who will direct traffic? Mr. Christian said traffic will be inbound in the morning and outbound in the afternoon; contractor will direct traffic and turning. Mr. Jones commended the contractor on his reputation for site control and workers.

Jerry Sweeney, 7817 123rd Pl., asked the Plan Commission to prevent the contractor from using this site; there is a great deal of school bus traffic at the intersection of McCarthy Rd. and 123rd Pl. at the same hours that workers would be entering and leaving the site. He added that he already has difficulty getting out of his driveway when school children are getting picked up and dropped off; school buses stop on McCarthy Rd. loading and unloading children. Mr. Jones noted that the special use will be for a limited time.

Bob Heiderscheidt, 7818 123rd Pl., said he is building a new house 2 doors east of the vacant lots; there are already long delays if turning south on McCarthy Rd.; this use will cause many delays to local residents and make the streets very dirty.

Mr. Courtney suggested two alternatives: 1) label entrance to driveway only during restricted hours; 2) permit inbound traffic only; traffic to exit onto hospital’s south driveway. He noted that the topography of the lots slopes down toward the hospital and will partially mask view of trailers. Mr. Jones asked why the hospital’s existing driveway couldn’t be used both morning and afternoon? Mr. Brosnan said morning traffic on that driveway is very heavy already.

Julie Kay asked if the east lot will only be used to stockpile soil? Mr. Christian said yes.

Mr. Sweeney asked if anyone has requested use of the Village Courtyard parking lot for the workers; shuttle workers to the site. Mr. Christian replied that the owner of this property would probably not want to do this and it is too far from the site.

Thomas Hahn, 7833 123rd Pl., asked if a traffic study had been done on the hospital’s south driveway? there should be one. What is the time frame for restoration? does not want to see fill brought in. Mr. Jones stated that the Village arborist will review the tree replacement plans. Mr. Hahn also asked if there will be a letter of credit for restoration? Mr. Christian said they can provide the security for the restoration.

Clint Clay, 7810 123rd Pl., said he did not want to see the lots used for parking or staging.

Mr. Courtney suggested that the Plan Commission consider the special use for the property separately from access to 123rd Pl., since there were many comments against access from 123rd Pl. The hospital is concerned that the issue of access might delay approval. There was no further discussion.

At 8:32 p.m. John Basso moved, seconded by Julie Kay, to adjourn the public hearing. Upon roll call

Minutes respectfully submitted,
__________________________

Kathryn Stanek
Secretary to the Plan Commission

MINUTES OF THE PLAN COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 25, 2007

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Julie Kay moved, seconded by Michael Sundermeier, to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2007 regular meeting. Upon voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

1.Request for temporary special use zoning and ingress/egress to 123rd Place-Palos Community Hospital

Following the public hearing on this request, Chairman Jones suggested that the recommendation be made as two separate motions, based upon the request of the petitioner’s attorney.

a) Julie Kay moved, seconded by Paul Petan, to recommend to the Village Council to approve the request by Palos Community Hospital to grant temporary (2 years from the date of approval) special use designation for property located on the north side of 123rd Place east of McCarthy Rd. (P.I.N.s 23-25-301-009 and 036) for a parking area for non-construction vehicles, trailers and storage of topsoil (to be hydroseeded), with the following requirements:

1)install black chain link fencing on the site;

2)provide a letter of credit in an amount sufficient to cover cost of restoration (amount to be provided by the hospital’s contractor).

Upon roll call vote, the motion carried 4 yes (Kay, Jones, Petan, Wall), 2 no (Basso Sundermeier).

b) Michael Wall moved, seconded by Michael Sundermeier, to recommend to the Village Council to deny the request of Palos Community Hospital to provide ingress/egress for construction employees from 123rd Place.

Upon roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Chairman Jones stated that these recommendations will be on the Village Council agenda October 8, 2007.

2. Request for Final Plat of Subdivision – 2 lots at 11001 W. 123rd St. - Robert Hansen

Chairman Jones recused himself from this item, indicating a possible conflict of interest. John Basso was appointed acting-chairman for this item on the agenda. Mr. Basso stated that the submittals meet Village code requirements. Mr. Wall asked about the circular driveway that continues across both lots? Mr. Hansen said he likes the look of the driveway but can separate the 2 legs of the driveway if the buyer of the unimproved lot desires this, otherwise he will allow access to both lots. Craig Eyer stated that all issues brought up by staff have been satisfied.

There being no further discussion, Julie Kay moved, seconded by Michael Sundermeier, to recommend to the Village Council to approve the request of Robert Hansen for Final Plat of Subdivision of property located at 11001 W. 123rd St. into 2 lots, each consisting of more than 1 acre.

Upon roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Basso stated that this recommendation will be on the Village Council agenda October 8, 2007.

NEW BUSINESS

1.Consider steps for updating 1999 Comprehensive Plan

Ralph Jones resumed the Chair for this item. He explained that the Comprehensive Plan is a legal document used by the Village for many purposes; it is updated regularly to reflect changes in existing conditions and planning for the future.

Craig Eyer stated that the Village Administrator and staff had met with the Village Planner, John Houseal, to discuss what should be included in the update, i.e. the 2004 Strategic Plan, the 2007 Commercial Areas Master Plan, vision statements, implementation, and other categories that were part of the 1999 plan. New requirements include telecommunications and housing. The Comprehensive Plan update should designate a character for the community to maintain. He added that the Comprehensive Plan is a document that the Council and staff use in day-to-day decision making.

Mr. Jones added that we may want to include statements about street vacations, tree preservation and LEED certification for new construction. He asked the secretary to provide copies of the current Village zoning map to Plan Commission members. John Houseal will attend the October 18, 2007 Plan Commission meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT None

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.Submittals for the Oct. 18, 2007 Plan Commission meeting must be received by Sept. 27, 2007.

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, John Basso moved, seconded by Julie Kay, to adjourn the special meeting at 9:00 p.m. Upon voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Minutes respectfully submitted by:

_________________________________
Kathryn Stanek
Secretary to the Plan Commission