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06/14/2010DES PLAINES PLAN COMMISSION JUNE 14, 2010 MINUTES The Des Plaines Plan Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 14, 2010, at 7:00 P. M., in Room 102, City Council Chambers, of the Des Plaines Civic Center. PLAN COMMISSION PRESENT: Bar, Kellerman, Niemotka, Perez ABSENT: Kowalski Also present was Senior Planner Scott Mangum, Department of Community and Economic Development. Acting Chairman Niemotka called the meeting to order at 7:05 P. M. A motion was made by Kellerman, seconded by Perez, to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2010, hearing. AYES: Kellerman, Perez, Bar, Niemotka NAYES: None MOTION CARRIED A motion was made by Bar, seconded by Perez, to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2010, hearing. AYES: Bar, Perez, Kellerman, Niemotka NAYES: None MOTION CARRIED Citywide — Unified Development Ordinance June 14, 2010 Page 2 Unified Development Ordinance Leslie Oberholtzer, Principal with Farr Associates, and Christina Anderson, Senior Urban Designer/Planner with Farr Associates, were sworn in to give testimony. Acting Chairman Niemotka stated that the group would start with comments from the beginning of the code. Acting Chairman Niemotka inquired about the definition of "Family" on page 15 and whether there were limits on the number of children based on the size of the dwelling. Mr. Mangum stated that building and fire codes limit the number of occupants per bedroom. Mr. Bar expressed concern with limitations on expanding nonconforming structures because he believes there are owners that should be able to improve their properties without excessive regulations. Ms. Oberholtzer explained the new code would eliminate a number of nonconformances by aligning standards better to development patterns, however, there are a few suggested changes that may address Mr. Bar's concerns: • 1.6-1.E — Separate Modification of nonconforming uses from structures to allow greater flexibility for nonconforming structures. • 1.6-2.B.1.a — Change the percentage of expansion where the Standards of the Ordinance would apply from 20 to 25 percent. • 2.3-10.A.3 — Change the location of parking to allow a double row of cars (60'-70' wide) in the side yard. Mr. Bar expressed concern that the properties with existing pole signs in the NC1 District that want to improve existing pole signs would be discouraged from improving nonconforming signage. Ms. Oberholtzer explained that the property in question on Ballard Road was unique because a portion of the right-of-way is used for parking, increasing the distance from the actual roadway and building, and that this uniqueness would be cause for a variance. However, Ms. Oberholtzer would not recommend allowing pole signs in the NC 1 District Citywide. Mr. Bar suggested that certain type of businesses, such as taverns and auto related uses might be allowed pole signs. Mr. Perez thought that if Mr. Bar has concerns, additional business owners might have similar concerns. Ms. Oberholtzer stated that the code would apply Citywide, but variances are reserved for unique circumstances. Ms. Oberholtzer explained that pole signs were generally limited to areas where buildings have greater setbacks. Pedestrian scale pole signs are also allowed in some of these areas. Mr. Mangum added that in other areas where building types allow building closer to the street, the buildings themselves, in addition to wall, awning, or projecting signs, help to provide advertising. Mr. Bar stated that he thought that the code as a whole was a great improvement and should have been implemented years ago, but thought that the nonconformities section needs tweaks. Acting Chairman Niemotka asked about the use of Rise over Run vs. Run over Rise in the roof types on page 67. Ms. Oberholtzer stated that latter was typical in roof construction as opposed to other disciplines such as engineering or landscape architecture. Acting Chairman Niemotka asked whether there was an overall limitation on the size of garages. Mr. Mangum stated that there was not, however, overall site limitations on building coverage and impervious coverage would act to limit the size of garage buildings. Mr. Perez inquired about garage setbacks and easements. Mr. Mangum indicated that garage setbacks would be reduced from 5 -feet to 3 -feet in the new Citywide — Unified Development Ordinance June 14, 2010 Page 3 code to reduce nonconformities in many areas. Property owners would still need to observe easements or obtain permission from the easement holder to building within an easement area. Acting Chairman Niemotka inquired about the use of the term Yard on page 145. Ms. Oberholtzer referred to the definition of Yard on page 15. Acting Chairman Niemotka pointed out that the existing DiMucci-Lowenberg Park at the western terminus of Princeton Street is zoned Residential instead of Open Space. Ms. Oberholtzer responded that it should be correctly zoned as Open Space. Staff Report: Unified Development Ordinance Issue: Citywide Amendment to replace the existing Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map, and Subdivision Ordinance with a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Zoning Map. Analysis: The City initiated the process of replacing its zoning code and subdivision regulations in 2008 by hiring Farr Associates, a local, but nationally renowned, architecture and planning firm that specializes in drafting sustainable zoning codes. Since mid -2008 City Staff and Farr Associates have partnered with a ten -person working group consisting of aldermen, architects, a land use attorney, residents, and representatives of the Historical Society, Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Review Commission, and the Plan Commission. The public participation process has included a well attended community meeting in September of 2008 where over 100 participants gave feedback in the form of an image preference survey and culminating with an open house in April 2010 where the public was invited to preview the new Ordinance. Additional insight and feedback has been gained through focus groups with developers, land use attorneys, business owners, and city officials. The Community Development Committee of the City Council received and discussed the attached draft document in late April 2010. A zoning code regulates development within the City. The City's current zoning code, adopted in 1998, is typical of conventional zoning codes, which focus on land use as opposed to building form. A zoning code that considers building form ahead of land use, known as a form -based code, is better at promoting character -rich and pedestrian -friendly neighborhoods. Farr Associates has studied the development patterns throughout Des Plaines to pinpoint the places that are most valued by residents and incorporated these places into the code as models for future development. This has resulted in a fine grained zoning map that differentiates among neighborhoods by allowing appropriate single-family building types: where the current zoning ordinance has essentially one single- family building type, the form -based code has six types that regulate features such as the slope of the roof, amount of garage on the front facade, and floor height, to ensure compatibility with existing homes in the district. The UDO includes a variety of commercial and residential building types that mix well with existing neighborhood fabric. A strong downtown core with transit oriented development and a community -wide network of open spaces are promoted within the new regulations. All of the standards in the UDO contribute to a more walkable and sustainable community. The graphics oriented ordinance, which makes the liberal use of diagrams and illustrations, provides a more user-friendly document. There are a number of innovative and sustainable features of the draft Unified Development Ordinance including: o Open space typologies for the creation of new open spaces. Citywide — Unified Development Ordinance June 14, 2010 Page 4 o Parking regulations that give parking credits for a development's proximity to public transit or public parking, and credits for the inclusion of car sharing. Parking requirements also set parking maximums and include requirements for bicycle parking. Some parking lots would require either pavement with a minimum amount of solar reflectivity, a minimum amount of recycled content, or pervious pavement. Parking reductions are given for multiple uses and cooperative vehicle parking. o Standards would limit the amount of impervious surface allowed on a lot to help limit the stormwater runoff that contributes to flooding. o Street type standards which promote the development of complete streets that address all modes of travel, including pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicular traffic, and streets appropriate for their context in all districts. Additionally, bike and pedestrian usage is encouraged by requiring multiple connections to subdivision and minimum distance to open spaces. o Solar energy systems, small wind energy systems, and cistern/rainwater collection would be allowed by right as accessory structures in all zoning district. o Natural building materials and native plants are encouraged. o Additional landscaping and tree canopy requirements for developments, including parking lots, to minimize the urban heat island effect and help manage stormwater runoff. o Tree preservation requirements for commercial development and subdivisions. o Sustainable density through Transit Oriented Development, Upper -floor residential allowed in all commercial districts (mixed use), and limited secondary dwelling units (mother-in-law quarters) in single family zoning districts. o Allowance for food production for limited commercial sale and certain home occupations in all residential districts. The result is a Unified Development Ordinance with form -based zoning regulations to preserve and enhance the City's unique character and replace the existing Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Plan Commission consider the draft Unified Development Ordinance and recommend that the City Council adopt the Unified Development Ordinance. A motion was made by Bar, seconded by Kellerman, to recommend that the City Council adopt the Unified Development Ordinance and Zoning Map with the suggested changes to Sections 1.6-1.E, 1.6- 2.B.1.a, 2.3-10.A.3, and to reflect the DiMucci-Lowenberg Park as open space on the Zoning Map. AYES: Bar, Kellerman, Niemotka, Perez NAYES: MOTION CARRIED The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 P. M. The next meeting of the Des Plaines Plan Commission is Monday, June 28, 2010. Citywide — Unified Development Ordinance June 14, 2010 Page 5 Sincerely, Robert Niemotka, Acting Chairman Des Plaines Plan Commission Cc: City Officials Aldermen Plan Commission Petitioner(s)