City of Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board met Oct. 22.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE
Chair Weller called the October 22, 2019 Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley Street. Upon roll call, the following were:
Roll Call Vote
Present: Nicole Aranas
Christopher Dabovich
Cecilia Horejs
Mark Plunkett
Scott Weller
Absent: Bob Gudmundson
Dan Wanzung
City Staff Present: Tracy Jones, Staff Planner
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 8, 2019
The minutes were approved as presented.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
ZA #19-17/ SPECIAL USE PERMIT/ 300 S. CARLTON AVENUE/ STAY FUR FUN, LLC
Chair Weller reconvened the public hearing on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. He stated that the public hearing was called to order on October 8, 2019 but was continued until October 22, 2019 for the applicant and staff to provide additional information to the Board. The applicant provided a revised site plan that omits the property owned by 703 Childs Street. Staff provided additional information on the access easement over the private alley that connects the main portion of the subject property to Childs Street.
The property listing sheet for 300 S. Carlton Avenue provided by Ms. Wollan was incorporated into the record.
Mr. Conforti stated that he has provided a revised site plan that omits the property owned by 703 Childs Street and proposes 12 parking spaces (instead of the existing 10 parking spaces) on the east side of the private alley. These parking spaces are shown solely on the subject property.
Staff Planner Jones stated that staff has prepared an Easement Exhibit that shows the property owned by 300 S. Carlton Avenue (Stay Fur Fun, LLC), 703 Childs Street (Lap of Luxury Pet Resort) and 657 Childs Street (I Have A Bean). The Easement Exhibit further shows the location of the access easement over the property owned by 300 S. Carlton Avenue and 703 Childs Street. Staff further stated that the ALTA Survey provided with the special use application referenced three easement documents over Parcel 1 (508949, 648662 and 806657). Staff obtained copies of these documents from the County, however, the language in the easement documents is rather vague and does not mention on-site parking. While the easement documents do not specifically allow on-site parking, as long as the parking does not block safe ingress and egress for any of the adjacent properties, staff does not have any concerns with it remaining and/or additional parking spaces being added.
Staff Planner Jones stated that the existing building has an on-site parking ratio of approximately 3.8 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet (32 parking spaces for the 8,407 square foot building). The square footage of the building was recently revised to omit first floor mechanical areas, storage areas and stairways that are not included towards the computation of required parking.
Staff Planner Jones further stated that the applicant is proposing to increase the parking on the east side of the private alley from 10 to 12 parking spaces but decrease the on-site parking from 32 to 14 parking spaces (by replacing the parking lot at the southwest corner of the building with the new outdoor play area) for a total of 26 parking spaces. With 26 parking spaces for an 8,407 square foot building, a new parking ratio of 3.1 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet for customers/ employees is proposed.
Staff Planner Jones stated that the Zoning Ordinance does not include a parking ratio requirement for Kennels where a significant amount of the building square footage is devoted to open spaces for indoor playrooms. However, the general parking requirement, for uses not otherwise defined, is 2.75 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. Based on the revised building square footage and the additional parking proposed on the east side of the private alley, the applicant now exceeds this parking requirement.
Ms. Wollan stated that the subject property had more windows then the applicant had previously indicated. She stated that an additional Kennel in the area would increase barking and she is worried about future noise complaints that she can’t control. She questioned the applicant’s decision to keep the dumpster inside his building and his lack of experience in the dog boarding industry. She further questioned the square footage of the building used to determine the required parking; the Milton Township website lists the building at 12,460 square feet but the applicant states that the building is only 10,000 square feet.
Mr. Conforti stated that the difference in the two figures was the partial second floor that will be used solely for storage and therefore was already omitted from the square footage used to determine the required parking.
Maris Weinewuth, 804 N. West Street, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Weinewuth stated that the two Kennels should be able to co-exist together. She added that the applicant brings an outside perspective to the dog boarding industry.
The Board stated that if a partnership is reached with a dog trainer or another outside facility in the future to occupy part of the building, a special use amendment would be required to re-evaluate the parking situation at that time.
Mr. Dabovich moved and then Ms. Horejs seconded the motion to close the public hearing. On a voice vote, all voted aye.
Ms. Aranas moved and then Mr. Plunkett seconded the motion to approve an application requesting a special use permit to allow a Kennel to occupy the existing building located at 300 S. Carlton Avenue with a fenced outdoor play area located at the southwest corner of the existing building. The property is zoned M-1 Manufacturing District.
Roll Call Vote
Ayes: Nicole Aranas
Christopher Dabovich
Cecilia Horejs
Mark Plunkett
Scott Weller
Nays: None
Absent: Bob Gudmundson
Dan Wanzung
Motion Passed Unanimously
V. MISCELLANEOUS
There was none.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Dabovich moved and then Mr. Plunkett seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. On a voice vote, all voted aye.
https://www.wheaton.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10222019-1282
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