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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/27/2005 COW agenda COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA Meeting Location: Mount Prospect Village Hall 50 South Emerson Street Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, September 27,2005 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: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2005 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE-SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IV. CIRCULAR DRIVEWAYS Requests for circular driveways have increased, most recently in conjunction with property owners either tearing down an existing home and building a larger home or building a significant addition. Since 1996, there have been nine Conditional Uses granted for circular driveways though others do exist in the Village, that were likely built before the Village required Conditional Use approval. Historically, the requests that were approved by the Board have been primarily for properties where there was a safety issue that the circular driveway resolved. At their August meeting the Planning & Zoning Commission discussed circular driveways and held consensus that the 1) requests are trending to be for aesthetic reasons, rather than safety, 2) requests will increase, 3) neighborhood character is created through open space, construction materials, and landscaping - not outside parking of vehicles, 4) lot width is an important consideration and, 5) standards to use when reviewing these requests would be desired. Similar to unenclosed porches, circular driveways may not be critical to the Subject Property but the design is integral to the aesthetics of the home. Staff will be on hand to present lot configuration scenarios that illustrate the impact of circular driveways and help identify where they would be appropriate and to facilitate discussion of whether new standards for approving circular driveways should be used when reviewing requests. NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO A TTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFFICE A T 50 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, 847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064. V. OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURES The Village adopted lighting regulations in 2000 to address concerns relating to lighting levels. These regulations have been successfully applied to several recent developments. Mount Prospect's regulations are in keeping with, if not ahead, of other communities' regulations. While our current regulations have been effective, several Trustees have requested that Staff investigate furthering these regulations to require fully recessed/shielded fixtures to reduce glare. International Dark-Sky Association, a non profit organization with a primary goal of stopping the adverse environmental impacts of light pollution, defines glare as intense and blinding light that never helps visibility. Consequently, it can suddenly and significantly impact a driver's ability to see the road, or a pedestrian crossing the street. Or glare can simply be an annoyance when it affects an adjacent property owner. That is why it is important that one see the effect, not the source of light. The Zoning Ordinance's lighting regulations were written in accordance with industry standards and designed to minimize glare where ever possible, yet ensure there is sufficient lighting to complete a task. Light fixtures have since been modified and are continuing to be improved in an effort to create the most economical, energy efficient lights that minimize light pollution. Staff will be on hand to present research on various lighting applications including full cut off fixtures, flat and dropped lens lights, recessed bulbs, wall packs, and task focused lights. VI. RESIDENTIAL PARKING REGULATIONS - DOWNTOWN DISTRICT As the Village continues to implement its Strategic Plan for Downtown Redevelopment, Staff was asked to confirm whether the parking ratio of 1.4 parking spaces per residential dwelling unit continues to be appropriate for future mixed-use developments. The adequacy of this parking ratio was brought into question after the Village received several complaints from purchasers of condominiums in the Village Centre development. Mount Prospect is fortunate to have a 383 space municipal parking deck centrally located in its downtown. Currently, free parking, up to 4 hours, is available. Valet service has been offered at peak times. Overnight parking is currently not allowed, although Staff is currently reviewing a plan to allow short-term, overnight guest parking. The intent has been for street surface spaces to provide short-term parking and long-term parking to occur in the municipal parking deck. While it appears that additional parking would be used if it is provided, additional parking increases the cost of a development, which is then passed on to the purchaser. Also, the parking requires more land, which is not readily available downtown. Staff believes the current parking regulations are adequate for downtown Mount Prospect because the train is in such close proximity to the developments, downtown developments are designed for people that rely less on automobiles, there is a 383 space municipal parking deck, and additional spaces for future developments could be required through Conditional Use of Planned Unit Developments. Staff will be on hand to facilitate discussion and answer questions. VII. FERAL AND STRAY CAT CONTROL During the last several years residents have requested the Village impound stray and feral cats. The problems experienced by these residents are noise, feces in flower beds and gardens, odor from the feces and spraying, and killing of birds, particularly songbirds. Suggestions from residents to remedy this problem include licensing cats to fund animal control; returning to past policies where the Village lent traps to capture stray and feral cats and the Village paid for impoundment; and a trap, neuter, and release program such as Rolling Meadows has adopted. As the Village Board considers this matter it would be appropriate to update the Village's Animal Control regulations so the code is consistent with State and County regulations. These updates would include modifications to language, definitions, and rabies vaccination requirement for cats. After the Village Board considers this subject and makes their recommendations the animal code would be amended as requested and a draft ordinance prepared for further review. Staff will be on hand to discuss the various options and the resources required for each. VIII. PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE NUISANCE ABATEMENT Because of the large amount of residential construction and the violations related to vacant building and property maintenance over the past several years, Staff has reviewed current department polices and Village Code that oversee residential construction and property maintenance. Stronger and swifter control of property maintenance on construction sites is needed because of the frequency of complaints and the amount of time it takes to receive a court order to allow the Village to abate a nuisance. Staff is proposing strengthening measures in order to reinforce current code and policy for residential construction and property maintenance. These measures will protect the neighborhood character and strengthen Mount Prospect's commitment to maintaining safety and respect for neighbors during construction and development activities. Staff will be on hand to discuss this proposal. IX. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT X. ANY OTHER BUSINESS XI. ADJOURNMENT CLOSED SESSION LITIGATION 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (11). "Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting."