AGENDA MEMO

CITY COUNCIL

MEETING DATE:  September 7, 2010

 

 

Issue Statement

 

PZC 2010-11:                         1041 S. Frontage Road, Darien Municipal Services:  Petitioner seeks a variation to permit the construction of a detached accessory structure, a salt barn, within the front yard and interior side yard, and to reduce the front yard setback from 50 feet to 15 feet.

                                               

                                                ORDINANCE                         BACKUP                             PLANS

 

Discussion/Overview

 

The Planning and Zoning Commission held the required public hearing on August 18, 2010.  Both the Commission and the Municipal Services Committee recommend approval of the petition.  While the Commission’s recommendation includes altering the salt barn location and further reducing the setback along Frontage Road, the Committee’s recommendation is to maintain the submitted site plan.

 

The full agenda memo follows as “Additional Information.”

 

A draft ordinance is attached.

 

 

Decision Mode

 

The Planning/Zoning Commission considered this item at its meeting on August 18, 2010.

The Municipal Services Committee considered this item at its meeting on August 23, 2010.

The City Council will consider this item at its meeting on September 7, 2010.

 

 


Additional Information

 

 

Issue Statement

 

PZC 2010-11:                         1041 S. Frontage Road, Darien Municipal Services:  Petitioner seeks a variation to permit the construction of a detached       accessory structure, a salt barn, within the front yard and interior side yard, and to reduce the front yard setback from 50 feet to 15 feet.

 

 

Applicable Regulations:          Zoning Ordinance, Section 5A-5-9-2:  Location and Yard Regulations of Accessory Buildings, Structures, and Uses of Land.

                                                Zoning Ordinance, Section 5A-9-4-7:  I-1 General Industrial District, Yard Requirements.

 

 

General Information

 

Petitioner:                                City of Darien

                                                Municipal Services Department

                                                1041 S. Frontage Road

                                                Darien, IL 60561                                           

 

Property Owner:                     City of Darien

                                                1702 Plainfield Road

                                                Darien, IL 60561                   

 

Property Location:                  1041 S. Frontage Road

 

PIN:                                        09-34-303-026

 

Existing Zoning:                     I-1 General Industrial District

                                               

Existing Land Use:                 Municipal public works facility

 

Surrounding Zoning and Land Use:

 

North:        I-1 General Industrial District, I-55 - expressway.

South:        R-1 Single-Family Residence District (DuPage County) – forest preserve.

East:          R-2 Single-Family Residence District (DuPage County) – single-family home.

West:         I-55 and Cass Avenue interchange - expressway.

 

Comprehensive Plan Update: Industrial

 

History:                                  

 

Size of Property:                     acres

 

Floodplain:                              None. 

 

Natural Features:                     None.

 

Transportation:                        Property has frontage on S. Frontage Road.

 

 

Documents Submitted

 

This report is based on the following information submitted to the Community Development Department by the petitioner:

 

1.         Plat of Survey, 1 sheet, prepared by Schomig Land Surveyors, Ltd., dated July 20, 2010.

2.         Building Elevation, 1 sheet.

3.         Aerial Photo of property.

 

 

Planning Overview/ Discussion

 

The subject property is the City’s public works facility, located at the southeast corner of the I-55 and Cass Avenue interchange.  The City proposes to construct a new salt barn, 65 feet x 75 feet.  The barn will comply with applicable building height regulations within the I-1 zoning district, maximum permitted height of 35 feet.

 

The proposed salt barn location is within both the front yard and interior side yard.  Per the Zoning Ordinance, detached accessory structures are not permitted within front and side yards.  Additionally, the Zoning Ordinance requires a building setback of 50 feet from the front lot line.  The proposed salt barn is to be 17 feet from the front lot line.  The salt barn will meet the required 5-foot setback from a side lot line.

 

In 2004, the parcels containing the City’s public works facility and the trucking facility were resubdivided.  Currently, the lot owned by the City extends further to the east, by 480 feet.  However, the eastern portion of the lot is currently unavailable for the salt barn, as it is being used by the adjacent trucking facility through a lease.  There is not available space elsewhere on the lot for the salt barn.

 

The variation request must address the following criteria for approval:

 

            1.         Whether the general character of the property will be adversely altered.

            2.         Whether the overall value of the property will be improved and there will not be any potential adverse effects on the neighboring properties.

            3.         Whether the alleged need for the variation has been created by any person presently having a proprietary interest in the premises.          

            4.         Whether the proposed variation will impair an adequate supply of light and air in adjacent property, substantially increase congestion in the public streets, increase the danger of fire or endanger the public safety.

            5.         Whether the proposed variation will adversely alter the essential character of the neighborhood.

 

 

Staff Findings/Recommendations

 

Based on current lot configuration and activities on the lot, the proposed location for the salt barn is limited.  The proposed location best meets the needs of the City.

 

Staff finds that the proposed variation will not adversely alter the character of the property or neighborhood, nor will it impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties, nor will it increase congestion in the public streets or increase the danger of fire. Therefore, staff recommends the Commission make the following recommendation to grant the variation petition:

 

Based upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated with PZC 20010-11 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code and, therefore, I move the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of the petition.

 

           

Planning and Zoning Commission Review – August 18, 2010

 

The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this matter at its meeting on August 18, 2010.  The following members were present:  Beverly Meyer – Chairperson, Robert Erickson, Donald Hickok, Ronald Kiefer, John Lind, Susan Vonder Heide and Michael Griffith – Senior Planner.

 

Members absent:  Gloria Jiskra, Raymond Mielkus, Kenneth Ritzert and Elizabeth Lahey – Secretary.

 

Michael Griffith, Senior Planner, reviewed the staff memo.

 

Chairperson Meyer stated she spoke to Dan Gombac, Director, Community Development/Municipal Services.  She stated the salt barn will not cause drainage problems.  She stated the barn location will allow the trucks to back off S. Frontage Road to load and unload the salt.

 

The Commission discussed reorienting the salt barn parallel to S. Frontage Road, providing a smaller setback than requested, and having the door face the southeast.

 

The Commission noted that the survey did not provide a clear idea of where the barn would be on the property, relative to other structures.

 

There was not anyone from the public.

 

Without further discussion, Commissioner Hickok made the following motion, seconded by Commissioner Erickson:

 

Based upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated with PZC 20010-11 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code and, therefore, I move the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of the petition, subject to:

 

            1.         Rotating the salt barn so it is parallel to S. Frontage Road right-of-way line.

            2.         Providing a 5-foot setback off the S. Frontage Road right-of-way line.

            3.         Locating the salt barn door on the southeast side of building.

            4.         Providing a final site plan or staking the site.

 

            Upon a roll call vote, THE MOTION CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

            (Commissioners Jiskra, Mielkus and Ritzert were absent.)

 

 

Staff Comments – Municipal Services Committee

 

Staff will address the Commission’s recommendation at the Committee meeting, specific to the orientation of the salt barn and the door location.  Staff recommends the Committee make the following recommendation to approve the variation petition:

 

Based upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated with PZC 20010-11 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code and, therefore, I move the Municipal Services Committee recommend      approval of the petition.

 

 

Municipal Services Committee Review – August 23, 2010

 

The Municipal Services Committee considered this matter at its meeting on August 23, 2010.  The following members were present:  Alderman Joseph Marchese – Chairman, Alderman John Galan, Alderman Ted Schauer, Dan Gombac – Director, Michael Griffith – Senior Planner and Elizabeth Lahey – Secretary.

 

Michael Griffith, Senior Planner, reviewed the staff memo and noted the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation.  He noted that the Commission recommends altering the salt barn location, but that Dan Gombac can comment on why that is not possible or the best option.

 

There was not anyone from the public to offer comments.

 

Dan Gombac, Director, began to comment on why the proposed site plan was the best option.

 

Alderman Galan questioned why this was even being discussed, stating the issue of an accessory building in the front or side yard is more for residential properties.  He stated this is a no brainer, no problem with the site plan presented by staff.

 

            Without further discussion, Alderman Galan made the following motion, seconded by Alderman Schauer:

 

Based upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated with PZC 20010-11 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code and, therefore, I move the Municipal Services Committee recommend approval of the petition as presented.

 

            Upon a voice vote, THE MOTION CARRIED by a vote of 3-0.