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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/14/2005 COW agenda COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA Meeting Location: Mount Prospect Village Hall 50 South Emerson Street Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, June 14,2005 7:00 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL Mayor Irvana K. Wilks Trustee Timothy Corcoran Trustee Richard Lohrstorfer Trustee Paul Hoefert Trustee Michaele Skowron Trustee John Korn Trustee Michael Zadel II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF: MARCH 22, 2005 APRIL 26, 2005 MAY 24, 2005 III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IV. TIF SUB AREA #1 REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS With the June 14, 2005 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Village Board will begin a focused and earnest review of redevelopment opportunities in TIF Sub Area #1. This area is bounded by the Residences Condominium Development on the north, Route 83 on the east, Northwest Highway on the south and Wille Street on the west. This is the last of the target areas identified in the original TIF redevelopment study. DLK Civic Design was retained to develop various redevelopment scenarios for the area with an emphasis on saving buildings of historic or architectural significance to Mount Prospect. A series of options progressing from smaller scale redevelopment to more comprehensive efforts were identified. In the interim, Mayor Wilks and staff met with many of the property and business owners in the Sub Area to begin discussions regarding the Village's plans and to solicit their input. It is anticipated that the Village Board will make final decisions regarding the nature and scope of redevelopment in this Area over the next three to six months in consultation with property and business owners. DLK and staff will be on hand to answer questions and facilitate discussion. The property and business owners, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, have been invited to attend the meeting. NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO A TTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODA TION TO PARTICIPA TE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 50 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, 847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064. V. UTILIZATION OF A-FRAME SIGNS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT The Downtown Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce have requested that the Village allow downtown businesses the use offreestanding sidewalk signs. Recognizing that businesses in the B5 and B5C zoning classifications (downtown) do not always have the same opportunity for signage as businesses in other zoning classes, staff felt the request merited research and consideration by the Village Board. Businesses located in the B5 and B5C districts have less opportunity for signage than is found elsewhere in the Village. Unlike commercial properties in an auto-oriented shopping center where buildings are set back from the road, downtown stores are close to the street and the development scale caters to pedestrians. In downtown Mount Prospect, there is not always room for a freestanding ground sign as the code requires placement of these to be at least five (5) feet from the property line. Wall signs are allowed downtown but such signage is not always visible from a traveling car or by a pedestrian standing directly underneath the sign. Hanging perpendicular signs, which could help remedy the situation, are allowed downtown, but only in a small area (Village Code 7.335: Special Area of Control, Exhibit 1). Both the Village's Comprehensive Plan and the Downtown TIF District Strategic Plan support the use of special signage in the downtown district. The issue of permitting sidewalk signs in the B5 and B5C Districts is more complex than it may seem at first blush. First, few communities allow these signs so little knowledge exists in the Chicago area as to liability and effectiveness. Second, the request from the business community includes the caveat that sidewalk signs be permitted away from the building, which contradicts the planning philosophy that sidewalk signs communicate best with pedestrians. Staff is prepared to present its research and facilitate discussion regarding this topic. The Downtown Merchants and Chamber will be in attendance. VI. VILLAGE HALL ENTRANCE ENHANCEMENTS Since the opening of Village Hall last August, the Board and Administration have received numerous compliments on the architecture, landscaping and interior design of the building and grounds. One exception is the repeated comment that the "main entrance" off of Emerson Street is hard to identify from the curb. In response to that consistent theme, the Board directed staff to work with DLK, the building's original architect, to come up with some concepts to enhance the visibility of the main entrance. DLK is prepared to present and discuss their recommendations. VII. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT VIII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS IX. ADJOURNMENT CLOSED SESSION PROPERTY ACQUISITION 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5). "The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body."