Dupage Policy Journal

City of Elmhurst Development, Planning, & Zoning Committee met Sept. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

City of Elmhurst City Council/Elected Officials | City of Elmhurst, IL Website

Chair Deuter called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

2. Roll Call

Present: Deuter, Veremis, Park

Absent: None

Staff Present: Franz, Gal, Kopp

Elected Officials: None

3. Receipt of Written Communications

Items were posted online related to Case 23 P 08.

4. Public Comments

Charles Margosian commented on Case 23 P 08.

5. Business Before the Committee

A. Development, Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023

Alderman Park moved to approve the minutes of the DP&Z Committee on September 11, 2023.  Alderman Veremis seconded. Voice Vote. Motion passed.

B. Case 23 P 08 – Elmhurst Memorial Health (Edward Elmhurst) Conditional Use Permit for Preliminary and Final Planned Unit Development with Site Development Allowances

CP Franz summarized the applicant’s request. ACM Kopp addressed questions from the Committee on nearby street jurisdiction and property annexation. Curt Pascoe presented their application and addressed the changes made to their initial plans in response to neighbor feedback and in response to feedback received from the Z&P Commission during the public hearing. Mr. Pascoe highlighted the landscaped buffer along Kendall Avenue, lighting on the site, traffic, and the requested site development allowances for signage.

Chair Deuter thanked the applicant for making changes to their proposal and the consideration given to incorporate neighbor feedback.

The Committee asked questions regarding generated traffic, parking, signage, and construction access. There was discussion regarding the ingress/egress from Lexington Street. The adjacent shopping center noted concerns about how patrons will leave the site and not be able to cross Lexington to the businesses in the shopping center. There were concerns about illegal U-turns and conflicts with traffic and requested that the porkchop be removed to allow vehicles to go straight through, however, to retain the NO LEFT TURN signage.

Brendan May from KLOA reviewed the traffic studies with the Committee and noted that even without the addition of the NO LEFT TURN SIGN, there was minimal traffic projected to be travelling west and that removing the pork chop would not impact left-bound traffic but would allow for northbound movement. The Committee agreed to recommend removal of the right out only curb restriction and to enforce the prohibition on left turns through signage.  

It was noted that the applicant is requesting the Committee to suspend the rules to allow for both the report and ordinance to be approved at the next City Council meeting. The Committee discussed that enough justification needs to be made for them to accommodate this request. The Committee discussed that the plan is to construct the parking lot and landscaping first so that the landscape buffering can be installed prior to the building construction which benefits the neighbors. With the asphalt plants closing this Fall, there is concern that they will not be able to complete the parking lot and landscaping before the asphalt plants close which in turn would leave the site only partially completed throughout the winter. The Committee agreed that there is a benefit to moving quickly on the landscape and fence installation to ensure that it can get installed and the parking lot can be paved before the Winter. It also noted that the hospital can use the parking lot for employee parking prior to building construction.

Alderman Park made a motion to issue a report recommending approval of the two requests in Case 23 P 08 incorporating changes to the ingress/egress. Alderman Veremis seconded. Voice Vote. Motion passed.

C. Zoning Ordinance Update

Chair Deuter noted that the open houses for the ZO update were held last week. CP Franz summarized the attendance. The Committee continued their review and discussed Articles 9 and 10.  Staff noted items to circle back to.  

6. Other Business

None

7. Adjournment

Alderman Park moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m.  Alderman Veremis seconded. Voice Vote.

Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coe/Board.nsf/Public#