Zoning Commission Minutes 2013 02-27-13APPROVED 3/27/13
ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Yorkville City Hall Conference Room
800 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560
Meeting Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and Mr. Crouch welcomed everyone.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken; a quorum was established.
Committee Members in Attendance
Jeff Baker
Michael Crouch
Greg Millen
Phil Haugen
City Officials in Attendance
Krysti Barksdale-Noble, Community Development Director
Jason Engberg, Community Development Intern
Citizen’s Comments
There were no citizens in attendance.
Previous Minutes
Mr. Baker made a motion to approve the January 23, 2013 minutes. It was seconded;
there were no discussions, corrections or additions so a motion to approve was made,
seconded and unanimously accepted and the motion was carried.
Mr. Crouch then turned the meeting over to Ms. Noble and/or Mr. Engberg to cover Old
Business.
Old Business
Mr. Engberg said at the last meeting they went over the business and manufacturing
districts. There were no changes to the manufacturing districts so those were omitted.
He changed everything that was discussed on the Business Districts (Chapter 12), such as
“mixed buildings,” and added some clarity such as making sure the dwelling units are
above the first floor of a permitted use and the entire first floor is used for commercial
purposes. He also added some pictures that were not in the previous packet.
New Business
Ms. Noble said the City Attorney and she had gone over a couple of incidences and
included the zoning ordinance on things that had to be addressed and found it needed to
be “cleaned up.” Staff reviewed, but the City Attorney wrote the ordinance so if there are
any specific questions she cannot address she will forward them to him and provide a
response to the committee. (3.15) She said it was pretty straightforward until you get to
the amortization period, particularly where you have the dates of 15 years or eight years.
Cities have these on the books so if the area becomes a real nuisance, there is a
mechanism in the ordinance to enforce the time-limit.
Mr. Crouch asked who keeps track of the time and Mr. Baker asked when the clock
starts. Ms. Noble explained that if the date of the ordinance that changes the use could be
the date; people have been known to challenge those dates. That’s why cities rarely
enforce these issues unless there’s a specific ordinance for a specific property they’re
getting complaints about; then they’ll go back and do their history and research when of
the ordinance changed; when they were notified; or IF they were notified. Mr. Crouch
pointed out that someone has to keep track of that. Ms. Noble said that would be the City
Clerk because if an ordinance ever changes the zoning criteria it requires a public hearing
and then the ordinance is recorded.
Mr. Baker said if they are going to set time limits, he really didn’t like the time for “C –
Non-Conforming Billboards and Advertising,” and “E – House Trailers.” He said
billboards and advertising look bad before 10 years. The committee agreed to change it
to five (5) years and increase “Manufacturing Districts” to ten (10) years. Mr. Baker
suggested they should eliminate the old sign ordinance. Mr. Crouch said the key element
is getting the City Council to recognize that the Zoning Board of Appeals is the
appropriate place for it to be – it’s better for it to all be in the same document.
10-15-5: EXEMPTED BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND USES: The types of issues
listed under this ordinance are exempt from the amortization until the property is
destroyed; then it would have to be rebuilt to conformance of current code. Ms. Noble
asked the committee if they were comfortable with her being the determining factor of
the damage with regard to fair market value. She suggested that it state, “Recommended
by the Community Development Director and approved by the City Administrator.”
Mr. Engberg showed the group some static graphics to aid in explaining what he was
doing with Chapter 7, dealing with set-back lines and heights. He used a not-to-scale
mock-up quick glance of regulations – making the footprint more obvious. He is using
many graphics and pictures to make it as clear as possible to clarify verbiage. Mr.
Crouch said it looked very nice.
Ms. Noble told the group they are in the “home stretch,” with only five chapters left – off
street parking; loading; signs; telecommunications towers, antennas and facilities; and
alternative energy systems. She thinks they should be done by this Fall.
Mr. Crouch asked if there was any other business; there was none; a motion to adjourn
was made; seconded; agreed by all. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 27. This
meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Bonnie Olsem
Administrative Secretary