04/14/2014Case #14 -011 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Texl Amendments
April 14, 2014
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M
DES PLAINES
ILLINOIS
DES PLAINES PLAN COMRfIISSION HEFTING
APRIL 14, 2.014
MINUTES
The Des Plaines Plan Commission Meeting held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 14, 2014, at
7 p.m., in Room 102, City Council Chambers, of the Des Plaines Civic Center.
PLAN COMMISSION
PRESENT: Bar, Lane, Niemotka, Yi
ABSENT Perez
ALSO PRESENT: Scott Mangum, Senior Planner/Community & Economic Development
Gale Cerabona, Recording Secretary
Chairman Niemotka called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Roll call was conducted.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A motion was made by Commissioner Lane, seconded by Chairman Niemotka, to approve the meeting
minutes of March 31, 2014, as presented.
AYES: Lane, Niemotka
NAYES: None
ABSTAIN: Yi
.._= MOTION CARRIED 2.0 =__
Conmussioner Bar arrived at 7:03 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Address: Citywide Case Number: 14 -011 -TA
Petitioner: City of Des Plaines, Community and Economic Development Department, 1420 Miner Street,
Des Plaines, IL 60016
This is a City -initiated petition for Text Amendments to the City of Des Plaines 1998 Zoning Ordinance, as
amended, concerning various code changes related to the anticipated adoption of the 2012 Building Code
and Amendments to the City Code and repeal of related existing portions of the City Code. Items addressed
by this update include antennas, parking regulations, and billboard lighting standards. The proposed
Case #14 -011 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
April 14, 2014
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amendments may include revisions to the following portions of the Zoning Ordinance: Accessory,
Temporary, and Specific Use Regulations (Article 8), Specifications for Off Street Parking Areas (Article
9), Billboard Sign Regulations (Articlell) and associated amendments to Definitions in Article 13.
Chairman Niemotka asked Staff to summarize the staff report.
Petitioner: City of Des Plaines, Community and Economic Development Department, 1420 Miner
Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Issue:
Analysis:
This is a City -initiated petition for Text Amendments to the City of Des Plaines 1998
Zoning Ordinance, as amended, concerning various code changes related to the
anticipated adoption of the 2012 Building Code and Amendments to the City Code and
repeal of related existing portions of the City Code. Items addressed by this update
include antennas and billboard lighting standards. The proposed amendments includes
revisions to the following portions of the Zoning Ordinance: Accessory, Temporary, and
Specific Use Regulations (Article 8), and Billboard Sign Regulations (Article1 l)
Text Amendment Report
Petitioner City of Des Plaines, Community and Economic Development Department, 1420 Miner
Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Case Number 14 -011 -TA
Address Citywide
Background Information
The City of Des Plaines is in the process of repealing the 2006 International Building Code Series and
adopting the 2012 International Building Code Series. As a part of that process some topics that are
currently regulated by local Building Code Amendments will be repealed. Therefore, the City is proposing
to relocate portions of the local Building Code Amendments relating to the lighting of billboards and non-
commercial antennas to appropriate portions of the Zoning Ordinance.
The language from Building Code Section 10-1-6-1 regarding lighting and electrical standards for
Billboards will be directly inserted into Table 11.6.B of the Zoning Ordinance which establishes standards
for Billboards. After review of the Private Parking Lot Standards within Section 10-6 of the Building Code
with General Counsel and Building Division staff, no changes are proposed to the parking standards
contained within Article 9 of the Zoning Ordinance. Following a comparison of Building Code regulations
relating to Antennas (10-4) with the current Zoning Ordinance regulations (Section 8.3), amendments to the
zoning regulations are proposed to address noncommercial broadcast antennas. Where the Zoning
Ordinance is currently silent regarding noncommercial or amateur broadcast antennas, these standards from
the Building Code will be incorporated as Section 8.3-2-E of the Zoning Ordinance.
Case #14 -011 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
April 14, 2014
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To properly evaluate the text amendment requests, the standards below, which are contained in Section 3.7-
5 of the Zoning Ordinance, must be employed. Following is a discussion of those standards:
A. Whether the proposed amendments are consistent with the goals, objectives and policies contained
in the Comprehensive Plan:
Comment: The City of Des Plaines Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2007, does not
address these changes in detail. However, an objective of the Comprehensive plan includes protecting the
integrity and high quality of single-family residential neighborhoods. Appropriate regulations regarding
light trespass from billboards and location of antennas may help to achieve this objective.
B. Whether the proposed amendments are compatible with the current conditions and the overall
character of existing developments in the immediate area:
Comment: The proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance restate existing regulations within the
Building Code that may act to maintain the character of properties in relation to billboard lighting and
location of antennas.
C. Whether the amendments are appropriate considering the adequacy of public facilities and
services available to the property:
Comment: The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have a significant effect on public facilities or
services.
D. Whether the proposed amendments will have an adverse effect on the value of properties
throughout the jurisdiction:
Comment: The proposed amendments would regulate on-site improvements and should not have an
adverse effect on the value of properties.
E. Whether the proposed amendments reflects responsible standards for development and growth:
Comment: This zoning text amendments do not appear to directly conflict with the City's Comprehensive
Plan, the official policy guide to future land use, development, and conservation within the community.
Therefore, the proposed text amendments would not appear to be in conflict with responsible standards for
development and growth.
Recommendation: Based on the above analysis, the Community and Economic Development Department
recommends approval of proposed text amendments.
Plan Commission Procedure: Under Section 3.7-4 of the Zoning Ordinance (Amendments) the Plan
Commission may vote to recommend approval, approval with modifications, or disapproval. The City
Council has the final authority on Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
Chairman Niemotka asked if Commissioners have any questions.
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April 14, 2014
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Commissioner Lane asked:
• on page 22, regarding temporary signs in a calendar year, does that mean if you change a sign,
then it's considered a second sign? Mr. Mangum advised — it's typically a banner sign (i.e.
Mother's Day) allowed for a 30 -day period, then after the sign is down for a minimum of 60 days,
a business owner could ask for another 30 day period for either the same or a different sign.
• if it is 2 signs per lot or a 2d sign. Mr. Mangum advised — a developer may have 2 construction
identification signs
• if those (construction identification signs) have a time period. Mr. Mangum advised — until the
duration of the project.
Commissioner Bar asked:
• if a temporary sign means facing a certain way. Mr. Mangum stated — any type of banner sign is
considered temporary.
Chairman Niemotka asked:
• regarding a dish, is that 10 feet in diameter? Mr. Mangum advised — these refer to broadcast
buildings; older language when dishes were larger.
• if these are for broadcast (referring to Section 8.3). Mr. Mangum advised — the proposed changes
regarding noncommercial broadcast antennas to the zoning ordinance are the red and underlined
text (pages 15, 22) as noted.
• if Item E, in red text, cannot be done. Mr. Mangum stated — these are existing limitations in the
building code that would be carried over to the Zoning Ordinance.
Commissioner Bar asked if:
• Items 1&4 contradict each other. Mr. Mangum advised — the material, wood, is the difference
(Item 4).
Commissioner Lane recommended/asked:
• language call out the material. Mr. Mangum reiterated — wood separates the two points.
Commissioner Lane believes it would be less confusing to homeowners if these points specified
materials. A revision as such (between Items 1&4 were noted).
• does this allow for canopies or awnings to be backlit? Mr. Mangum advised — yes
• if there is a permanent monument sign, it states it must face one street. What if a property is on a
corner? Mr. Mangum advised — on an angle/corner would be acceptable.
Chairman Niemotka asked if there were any further questions. There were none.
A motion was made by Commissioner Lane, seconded by Commissioner Bar, to approve this
recommendation.
AYES: Bar, Lane, Niemotka, Yi
NAYES: None
* * * MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (4-0)
Case #14 -011 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
April 14, 2014
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ADJOURNMENT
It was stated there would not be a meeting on Monday, April 28, 2014.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bar, seconded by Commissioner Lane, to adjourn the meeting at 7:17
p. m.
AYES: Bar, Lane, Niemotka, Yi
NAYES: None
* * * MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (4-0)
Sincerely,
Gale Cerabona
Recording Secretary
cc: City Officials, Aldermen, Plan Commission