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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/2005 P&Z minutes 33-05 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION CASE NO. PZ-33-05 Hearing Date: September 22, 2005 PROPERTY ADDRESS: 900 Business Center Drive PETITIONERlPROPERTY OWNER: International Gymnastics / Eugene Klein PUBLICATION DATE: September 7,2005 PIN #: 03-35-104-007-0000 REQUEST: Conditional Use (Vocational Schoo1- Gymnastics School) MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Arlene Juracek Joseph Donnelly Leo F10ros Mar1ys Haaland Ronald Roberts Richard Rogers Keith Youngquist MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jill Baty, Planning Intern Judith Connolly, AICP, Senior Planner Bill Cooney, AICP, Director, Community Development Ellen Divita, Deputy Director, Community Development INTERESTED PARTIES: Eugene Klein, Lori Catrintza, Alex Kotliar, Nata1ya Kuchinskaya Chairperson Arlene Juracek called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Richard Rogers moved to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2005 meeting and Ronald Roberts seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5- 0; Mar1ys Haaland and Chairperson Juracek abstained from the vote. At 7:33 pm, Chair Juracek introduced Case No. PZ-33-05, a request for a Conditional Use permit to operate a gymnastics school in the II Limited Industrial District. She said that the Village Board's decision was final for the request. Judy Connolly, Senior Planner, summarized the case. She said that the Subject Property is located on the north side of Business Center Drive, in the Kensington Business Center, and includes an office/former manufacturing building with related improvements. The Subject Property is zoned II Limited Industrial and is bordered by the II district on all sides. The Petitioner proposes to modify a portion of the 43,000 sq. ft. building and operate a gymnastics school. However, the Zoning Ordinance requires Conditional Use approval for a vocational school and a gymnastics school is classified as a vocational school. As part of the Conditional Use application, the Petitioner submitted a floor plan that indicates the general layout of the gymnastics school. It will include areas specified for floor exercises, tumbling pits, and equipment. In addition, there will be three offices and a Parents Room. A four (4) foot wood fence will separate the exercise areas and is intended to minimize conflicts with students practicing from people walking through the gym. The Petitioner has provided a general description of the school's programs, the staffs qualifications, and information on how the school will operate: there will be 3 teachers and a maximum of 30 students at one time. The school will be open from 9am to 9pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 3 pm Saturday. Most parents will drop the student off and pick them up later when their program is complete. .' ",-"-.,."."..., '~'=~^'''''''''''''~'--''<;"=~''''''''''~''''''''''''''''''''''~''==~''''''''=-='~''''-''''''=''''~';'.==~=""'='-!~""",~,""""""""'-.=,.,~.;!..",=~=-,_...,,,,~- Arlene Jurcek, Acting Chair Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting September 22, 2005 PZ-33-05 Page 2 However, there is a room available if they opt to stay at the school and watch their child. Only classes and practices will be held on-site; competitions or performance events will be held off-site. The building includes one other tenant, Cingu1ar/AT&T Wireless Service Center. The 29,008 sq. ft. facility has 10 parking spaces allocated to them as part of their lease; the Petitioner would have 47 spaces allocated to them as part of their lease. The leasing agent stated additional spaces could be made available to the Petitioner subject to AT&T's approval. The table in the Staff Report summarizes the square footage for the types of use and corresponding parking requirement. There are 12 'extra' parking spaces. The building was constructed in 1981 and currently includes fire sprinklers. However, the fire alarm and sprinkler systems will have to be modified because the proposed gymnastics school is a change in use from the previous tenant and there are different code requirements for a gymnastics school. In addition, the Fire Department requires the Petitioner to submit an egress study with their Building permit application. Also, the Petitioner must clarify where the spectator viewing area will be if events will be held on-site. While these are Building permit issues to be addressed as part of the permit process, these requirements are included as part of the Staff Report in an effort to ensure the Petitioner is aware of the requirements and submits a complete Building permit application. Ms. Connolly summarized the standards for Conditional Uses. She said that other departments reviewed the Petitioner's proposal and did not object to the use or find that it would have an adverse impact on the adjacent tenants or properties. The proposed school, as described in the Petitioner's application, would have minimal impact on the adjacent properties. She said that it is important that the enrollment levels cannot increase to an amount that would exceed the Village's parking requirement. Therefore, the Petitioner will be required to limit enrollment. Per the proposed lease, there are 47 parking spaces allocated to the school. Based on the information submitted by the Petitioner, it is reasonable to expect 1 teacher per 10 students; therefore the maximum enrollment cannot exceed 44 students and 5 teachers. Ms. Connolly said that the proposed gymnastics school meets the Conditional Use standards listed in the Zoning Ordinance subject to complying with specific conditions. She said that Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Commission approve the following motion: "To approve a Conditional Use permit for a gymnastics school at 900 Business Center Drive, Case No. PZ-33-05 subject to the following conditions: 1) No more than 44 students and 5 teachers attend the facility at one time unless other parking arrangements have been agreed upon with the property owner and approved by Village Staff; 2) The Petitioner submits an egress study as part of the Building permit application and modifies the tenant space in accordance to all applicable building and fire codes for a new assembly occupancy." Ms. Connolly concluded her presentation and stated that the case is Village Board final. The Commissioners did not have any questions for Staff, so the Petitioner was asked to address the Commission. Eugene Klein, 5440 N. Cumberland, Chicago, IL, was sworn in. He stated that he was the attorney for the Petitioner, Nata1ya Kuchinskaya. Mr. Klein went into great detail about Ms. Kuchinskaya's credentials and experience as a coach, an instructor, and former Olympian. He reviewed the classes that would be offered at the International Gymnastics School and other programs that would be offered. He said that they reviewed the conditions of approva11isted in the Staff Report and agreed to follow them. He asked whether the Commissioners had any questions. Arlene Jurcel<, Acting Chair Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting September 22, 2005 PZ-33-05 Page 3 Leo Floros asked whether gymnastics is offered at the area high schools. Mr. Klein said he was not sure, but that the programs offered at the International Gymnastics School would be supplemental to any competitive programs. He said that Ms. Kuchinskaya's goal in opening the school is to teach children, but not necessarily for competitions. Ronald Roberts said that gymnastics is offered at Prospect High School, but the International Gymnastics School is a great facility to have in Mount Prospect. Chairperson Juracek asked whether the proposed fence intended to separate activities would pose a safety hazard if someone ran into it or fell on it. Mr. Kotliar, a representative of the International Gymnastics School, was sworn in. Through Mr. Klein's translation, it was learned that the fence would not be a tall fence and that it is intended to keep parents out of the practice areas. He said there would be padding over and around the fence. He compared it to a corral-type fence and described it as not a solid, sturdy fence, but more like a space delineator. Ms. Juracek said that based on the Petitioner's experience in the field of gymnastics and knowledge of the sport, she was satisfied that that the fence would not pose a safety hazard. Keith Youngquist asked whether the school could be rented out for birthday parties or similar events. The Petitioner said yes, but that the school was intended for the instruction of gymnastics. There was discussion if the site could accommodate the parties and whether additional parking would be needed to comply with the Village's zoning regulations. The Petitioner stated that they would comply with the Village's parking regulations if they were to make the school available for non-school/teaching events. Chairperson Juracek asked if anyone in the audience wanted to address the Commission. Since no one wanted to address the Commission, she closed the public hearing at 7:55pm. Richard Rogers said the gymnastics school would benefit the community and that Ms. Kuchinskaya's credentials would help make it a success. He said he was glad to see this type of use in the Village. Richard Rogers made a motion to approve a Conditional Use permit for a gymnastics school at 900 Business Center Drive, Case No. PZ-33-05 subject to the following conditions: 1) No more than 44 students and 5 teachers attend the facility at one time unless other parking arrangements have been agreed upon with the property owner and approved by Village Staff; 2) The Petitioner submits an egress study as part of the Building permit application and modifies the tenant space in accordance to all applicable building and fire codes for a new assembly occupancy. Joseph Donnelly seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: AYES: Donnelly, F10ros, Haaland, Roberts, Rogers, Youngquist, and Juracek NAYS: None Motion was approved 7-0. The case will go to Village Board for their consideration After hearing three more cases, Joseph Donnelly made a motion to adjourn at 9 pm, seconded by Ronald Roberts. The motion was approved by a voice vote and the meeting was adjourned. Judith M. Connolly, AICP, Senior Planner /kd C:\Documcnts and Scuings\kdcwis\Local Scttings\Tcmporary Internet Filcs\OLK2\PZ-33-05 (900 Business Center Drive CU . Gym School).doc -~'~'""'~;-""""""''''~'''-''''.~'''''''''-~~''-'''='''''''~.~'''''''''''.'>'""",y"",~;,cC"""""""""""~'"""""""'^""""=r"",=,......,,.c=,,=~"""""""-~"".""'~'__'-"""_____________~___~