11/24/1986 Pubic HearingROLL CALL:
133.
MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN
THE ELEANOR ROHRBACH MEMORIAL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, DES PLAINES CIVIC CENTER,
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1986
CALL TO ORDER: The public hearing held in pursuant to legal notice
for the purpose of designating an expansion of a
redevelopment project area, approving a redevelopment
plan and redevelopment project, under the Tax Increment
Allocation Redevelopment Act was called to order by
Mayor John E. Seitz at 8:10 P.M. in the Eleanor
Rohrbach Memorial Council Chambers, Des Plaines Civic
Center.
Roll Call indicated the following aldermen present:
Muehlenbeck, Kopios, Volberding, Bonk, Wetter, Schneck,
Kisslinger, Adams, Hardiman, Gebert, Sarlo, Addante,
Hervas, Zanca. Aldermen Martin and Chiropolos were
absent.
Mayor Seitz announced the purpose of the hearing and then introduced
Donald F. Eslick, Vice President - Kane, McKenna & Associates, Inc.,
208 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604, City's Economic Development
Commission's financial consultant; and Jack Klaus, Executive Director -
Economic Development Commission, who made a presentation.
Considerable discussion followed the presentation. Mr. Robert Von
Schwedler, President - River Court Condominium Association, 603 S. River
Road, asked that the letter he sent to all City officials be made part
of the minutes (see attached).
It was decided by all concerned that this public hearing would be con-
tinued on Monday, November 24, 1986 at 7:30 P.M. in Room 102, to give
residents further opportunity for input.
Entered and continued at 9:16 P.M.
MINUTES OF THE RECONVENED PUBLIC HEARING
HELD IN THE ELEANOR ROHRBACH MEMORIAL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, DES PLAINES CIVIC
CENTER, MONDAY NOVEMBER 24, 1986, AT
7:40 P.M.
Present were: Aldermen Muehlenbeck, Kopios, Volberding, Bonk, Wetter,
Gebert, Sarlo, Zanca. Also present were Jack Klaus, Executive Director,
Economic Development Commission, Donald F. Eslick, Vice President -
Kane, McKenna & Associates, Inc., and Administrative Officer Wildenberg.
Mayor Seitz gave a brief review of the TIF Project and then introduced
Jack Klaus and Donald F. Eslick. Mr. Eslick advised that all reference
to general obligation bonds will be removed from the Redevelopment Plan
(Page 29). He suggested that Page 18 - Acquisition and Clearance be
amended to clearly indicate that only commercial properties would be
considered for acquisition. Alderman Kopios recommended that the last
sentence of the first paragraph read, "The City may determine at a
later date that to meet redevelopment objectives it will be necessary
to acquire additional properties, commercially zoned (C -2, C -4) at time
of plan adoption, in the Redevelopment Project Area."
Considerable discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of being
in or out of the TIF District. Alderman Kopios advised that there were
several property owners on the border of the TIF District who would like
to be excluded, namely 556 Graceland Avenue, 1662, 1670, 1671, 1678 and
1691 Mill Street. After further discussion, property owners at 1671
and 1678 Mill Street agreed to remain in the TIF District.
Mr. Eslick asked if any further changes were anticipated as the project
is on a very tight time frame. It was the consensus that there would be
no further changes after this meeting
Mr. Eslick reviewed the procedure that would now have to take place:
redraw TIF boundaries; recalculate equalized assessed valuation of
District; publish new boundaries in newspapers, notify all taxing
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bodies; and prepare ordinance that must be adopted at the City Council
meeting to be held Monday, December 15, 1986 or a special meeting of
the City Council would have to be held before the deadline of December
31, 1986.
Mayor Seitz asked for any further input. There being none, Mayor Seitz
adjourned the meeting at 9:00 P.M.
e
onna McAllister, CMC - CITY CLERK
/CITY CLERK
MAYOR JOHN
DPEDC JOHN
CITY COUNCI
DEAR SIRS:
D. MCALLISTER
SEITZ
KLAUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
L MEMBERS
RIVER COURT CONDOMINIUM
603 S. RIVER ROAD
DES PLAINES, IL. 60016
11/17/86
THE OWNERS AT THE RIVER COURT CONDOMINIUM, 603 S.RIVER
ROAD, APRRECIATE BEING INFORMED OF THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
FOR THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AS
PER THAT NOTICE, THE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION HAS RAISED A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS AND HAS DEVELOPED THIS STATEMENT FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AT THE HEARING AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
WE WRITE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE OVERALL TAX
INCREMENT REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPT AND COMMEND THE CITY FOR SUCH A
MASSIVE PROJECT. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS
UNDERTAKING AND THE NEED FOR LONG RANGE PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WE BELIEVE A PROFESSIONAL
FULL -TIME CITY PLANNER SHOULD ^EMPLOYED. WE ALSO EXPRESS OUR
CONCERN FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF SPECIFICATIONS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT, OPEN SPACE
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, AND DENSITY CONTROL.
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT 603 RIVER
ROAD, WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY MUST FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE
FOLLOWING ISSUES AND INCOPORATE THEM IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
1. FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT /GREENBELT AREA.
THE RECENT DISASTEROUS FLOODING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE
DES PLAINES RIVER VALLEY EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR DES PLAINES TO
HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE GREEN BELT AREA RESTRICTING CONSTRUCTION
THAT COULD EXACERBATE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
MUST INCOPORATE STRICT GUIDELINES THAT RESTRICT FLOOD PLAIN
CONSTRUCTION AND PRESERVE OPEN SPACE /GREEN BELT LAND NEEDED FOR
RUN -OFF ABSORPTION AND FLOOD DAMAGE CONTROL.
THE PLAN MUST REQUIRE STORM DRAINAGE STUDIES DESIGNED TO
HELP PREVENT THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY BACKED -UP SEWERS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE STUDIES NEED TO PRECEDE ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION.
EXISTING STUDIES SHOULD BE PUBLISHED AS APPENDICES TO THE
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITTED WITHOUT STORM
DRAINAGE STUDIES AND GREENBELTS COULD CAUSE THE CITY TO INCUR
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LIABILITY IN THE EVENT OF FLOOD DAMAGE TO EXISTING PROPERTY
CAUSED BY NEW CONSTRUCTION.
2. DENSITY
THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN NEEDS SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONTROL OF
POPULATION DENSITY AS IT IMPACTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE
CITY. A PROLIFERATION OF HIGH DENSITY CONDOMINIUM BUILDINGS,
FOR EXAMPLE, WITHOUT COMMENSURATE OPEN SPACE WILL NOT BE IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROPERTY OWNERS.
PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF LIFE BY AVOIDING CONGESTION AND BY FLOODING. THE
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ANTICIPATES " A COMPLETE RANGE OF STORES
AND SERVICES" AND OTHER BUSINESS AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT. SUCH DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT ATTRACT NEW PROPERTY
BUYERS AND COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC UNLESS CONGESTION IS AVOIDED,
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND OPEN SPACE ARE EXPANDED.
IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY MOVE TO
AMEND, INCLUDE , AND OTHERWISE CHANGE THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
SINCE CITY HALL'S BUSINESS HOURS HAVE MADE INFORMATION
RELATIVELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY FACILITATE PUBLIC
EXAMINATION OF THE PLAN BY PLACING ON FILE AT THE DES PLAINES
PUBLIC LIBRARY A COPY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS, SPECIAL
STUDIES INCLUDING DRAWINGS, STORM SEWER AND FINANCIAL STUDIES,
AND ALSO THE STATUTES THAT GOVERN THE CITY'S PLAN. WE ALSO
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY PLACE FUTURE PLANS AS THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE WITH THE LIBRARY SO THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE LIBRARY'S EXPANDED HOURS AND STUDY FACILITIES. THIS SHOULD
REDUCE ROUTINE INQUIRIES OF CITY OFFICIALS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC
ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND ATTENTION TO OUR STATEMENT
AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR WRITTEN RESPONSE TO OUR CONCERNS. WE
WILL WELCOME THE OPPORTUNTY FOR INPUT AT THE HEARING•AND IN THE
FUTURE.
SIN RELY,
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ROBERT VON SCHWEDLER, PRESIDENT
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