EDC Minutes 2003 12-18-03 Page 1 of 7
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE APPROVED 1/15/04
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2003
ATTENDANCE
Committee members: Aldermen Richard Sticka, and Alderwomen Valerie Burd, and
Wanda Ohare; Mayor Art Prochaska; City Planner Mike Schoppe; Kelly Kramer,
representing the City Attorney's office; Ksenia Rudensiuk, from the Conservation Design
Forum; and City Administrator Tony Graff.
MINUTES
Minutes from the September 15, 2003 meeting were approved.
PRESENTATION
Ksenia Rudensiuk from the Conservation Design Forum spoke to the committee about
the Blackberry Creek Watershed Alternative Futures Project.
The project encourages communities along the Blackberry Creek to use conservation
design as the community grows as opposed to conventional designs, she said.
The study takes the master plans of the municipalities in the watershed, Rudensiuk said.
If the communities build out according to their own plans, what impact will that have
using conventional methods? In the alternative, it shows, what would happen if
communities use principles associated with smart growth, she said. Will it actually make
a difference? A lot of money was spend researching the watershed and researched
numbers covering the whole region. The study found that using principles associated with
smart growth does indeed make a difference, Rudensiuk said.
She distributed the Blackberry Creek Newsletter and another thick report that
communities can use as a guideline to help them follow conservation designs.
Rudensiuk then gave a slid presentation showing examples of the differences between a
variety of conventional plans and conservation plan.
Blackberry Creek is 32 miles long and includes the municipalities of Elburn, North
Aurora, Aurora, Montgomery, Sugar Grove and Yorkville.
The lower part of the watershed is flatter. Giving a basic hydrology lesson, she said in
this region, water tends to fall on wetland soils and replenishes streams through
groundwater infiltration. As we build our communities, it diminishes the ability of the
groundwater to recharge and clean itself.
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If the water ions directly to the streams, the streams tend to get very big and very shallow
and there is a lot of bounce to them. Meanwhile, as the population of the area increases,
the health of the stream decreases.
However, if communities in the Fox Valley build using alternative principles, they can
change that. In fact, if done properly, she said the health of the creeks could actually
improve.
The Alternative Futures Project gives cites numerous concepts that can be used for
conservation, she said. One example she showed of alternative principles was the use of
green roof gardens, which are more common in other parts of the world, but they can
work here. That method also requires less detention.
Rudensiuk said the report used three components to calculate the advantages. One was
the TQ mean, which measures the flashiness or extremes of the creek. It checks how
much is over the mean flow. The second component of the calculation is the one -year
discharge rate, and the third concept is required detention.
Are these conservation methods economically feasible? Rudensiuk said to economic
analyses are being conducted and they show these conservation methods do make
economic sense.
Another example she showed of conservation methods is to put depressed islands in
parking lots rather than the mounded islands. She also suggested municipalities or
businesses install permeable roadways in areas with less intensive use.
Rudensiuk said the manual is full of ideas for conservation and provides details on how
to go about using them and contains ways to obtain more information.
She added that there is a Conservation Design Forum resource manual that has many
ordinances in it that municipalities can adopt a la carte.
Chairman Richard Sticks asked what the response has been from other communities she
has spoken to. Rudensiuk said all of the communities have asked her to return to provide
more information.
For instance, she said Aurora has taken many of the conservation principles and made a
manual to follow for development along the western side of the city. She said the plan
designates where the best areas are for roads and housing.
City Planner Mike Schoppe said that map applies to area that has not yet annexed into the
city, but could potentially become part of the city. Rudensiuk said the city, however, had
applied some of the conservation principles to improvements planned downtown.
Mayor Art Prochaska said the city has actually started doing some of the conservation
practices outlined in the plan. For instance, he said some of the new subdivisions are
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required to have more green space. Yet, he said it is still something the city needs to be
more aware of
Shoppe said the basins at the shopping center at Menard's also have been carefully
planned and will help in conservation. However, he said the city staff is a little concerned
about the maintenance of it.
Regarding one suggestion to plant more prairie grasses rather than turf grass, Committee
member Valerie Burd said the city might need to revise its weed ordinance. Likewise,
Prochaska said seeing natural grasses rather than turf grass would have to be something
people would have to get used to seeing.
Rudensiuk said the city would have to do what's appropriate for itself. Also, she said
experts would be available to instruct the community on what types of grasses to grow.
Shoppe said some types of conservation practices might not be applicable in all areas and
in many cases; the practices would need to be bought into from the very beginning. Using
natural grasses in yards also would need to be something that would have to be designed
properly and maintained, he said.
Rudensiuk said that the conservation methods suggested are not without issues, such as
proper maintenance. However, she said the issues are just different from other issues the
current practice brings about.
Burd asked if there are communities that provide incentives to developers who install
conservation methods. Rudensiuk said yes and added that there are some suggestions in
the manual.
Committee member Wanda Ohare thanked Rudensiuk for her presentation and asked how
the city should proceed to the next step.
Schoppe suggested that rather than making changes to the subdivision ordinance to
incorporate some of these conservation practices, the city could put requirements into the
landscaping or storm water ordinances.
Schoppe also suggested meeting with some of the builders in town to update them on the
conservation practices available.
Sticka suggested Rudensiuk go before the Committee of the Whole to give her
presentation.
MINUTES
Minutes from the September 15 meeting were approved.
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PLAN COMMISSION RESTRUCTURE
Mayor Prochaska informed the committee he has asked the City Council to look at
restructuring the Plan Commission by reducing the number of members. One of the main
issues, he said, is that the commission is so large; it is sometimes difficult to get a
quorum.
Mayor Prochaska said he checked with other communities and they typically have seven -
to nine- member boards. Currently, the Plan commission has 13 members. Mayor
Prochaska said he'd like to see the number reduced to nine and five members would be
necessary to make a quorum. As of now, there are 10 active members on the Plan
Commission. Three members have recently resigned, he said and he has no desire to
make any re- appointments.
Because no one wants to force any current members off of the Plan Commission, Mayor
Prochaska said he would like to revise the current ordinance to state that the quorum
number would adjust until the number of commissioners hit the bottom number of nine.
The committee had some discussion about commissioners who live outside of the city
limits. Sticka said he suggests that anyone currently on the Plan Commission can remain
on it until they choose to resign. However, any newly appointed people would have to
live in the city. Those commissioners representing the Fire District and the School
District could then in the district, but in the Yorkville area.
Burd said she doesn't think all commissioners should be required to live in town. People
who live in unincorporated Yorkville have some interest in the development around
them.
Mayor Prochaska said right now, he doesn't want to address the issue of where the
members come from, only the number of members.
Kelly Kramer, representing the city attorney's office, said now would also be an
appropriate time to enact a deputy chairman in the event that the chairman could not
attend a meeting. She said the mayor and the current chairman, Tom Lindblom, could
make a recommendation. Normally, she said, it's the person who has the longest service
time, but who is not the chairman.
Kramer said she could have a draft ordinance available by the Jan. 6 Committee of the
Whole meeting.
FOX HILL SSA
Kramer said there has been a problem with maintenance of open spaces and the trail
system in the Fox Hill subdivision. The city met with homeowners in the subdivision to
ask whether they would prefer creating or homeowner's association or creating a special
service area. In a vote conducted by Alderwoman Ohare, the homeowners voted to create
a SSA.
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Kramer said the next step is to determine the amount of taxes necessary to create the
SSA. Then, the city will need to publish notification and hold a public hearing. If 51
percent of the homeowners file an objection, creation of the SSA can be vetoed, she said.
If the required number of objections are not filed, then the SSA will become effective and
the City Council can then vote on the SSA.
Mayor Prochaska said the city wants to move on this in a timely fashion so that it can be
approved in time to be placed on the tax bills. Maintenance then could begin this spring.
SOUTH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT UPDATE
Mike Schoppe presented the committee with an update on the south comprehensive plan
amendment and asked guidance from the committee on several issues regarding the
update.
The first item for discussion was the project area. He said the committee might want to
look at more than just the south portion and include the area from Route 71 south to
Caton Farm Road and Grove Road. Also, he suggested viewing the area from the
Yorkville /Oswego boundary agreement line west to Helmer Road.
At the time the comprehensive plan was last revised, there wasn't much development
pressure in the southern area, he said. Now, as pressure grows, he said the city should
look at whether the right project area has been targeted.
Mayor Prochaska said the project area looks good. He suggested that the area north of
Route 71 and west of the Foxlawn subdivision might want to be included.
Burd suggested looking at the entire southern area. Mayor Prochaska agreed saying that
this might be the time to plan for the entire area, which is everything south of the river
that is not developed and is within the boundary agreements with neighboring
communities such as Oswego and Plainfield.
To the east, he said the city is limited by what Yorkville Bristol can service. Meanwhile,
he said Oswego's plans for the area toward Grove Road and Route 126 are for
commercial developments.
If Fox Metro comes down to service that area, then Yorkville might want to look at doing
something on its side of that area as well.
Mayor Prochaska said he sees the southeasterly area staying in the estate category at least
for a while. However, he said pressure from Joliet will affect it.
He added it's important for the city to lock in the Route 47 and Caton Farm area.
The second item Schoppe wanted to discuss was land use. He said land use issues are not
his forte and he recommends teaming up with Smith Engineering to determine land use.
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However, he said some of the land use issues that need to be addressed include the
amount of land that should be reserved for commercial development.
Burd said reaching a consensus as a city council might be difficult because some
alderman want only estate developments to come into that southern portion. Mayor
Prochaska said he understands why some favor estate development. However, he doesn't
want to make a land use plan in a vacuum. Joliet, one of the major cities in Illinois,
already intends to grow toward Yorkville, he said. Caton Farm Road is already being
developed as a major thoroughfare, he said. That road needs to be planned as a major
intersection, Prochaska added.
He also said the city needs to look at ways to connect Minkler Road to Brisben Road and
the city needs to coordinate efforts with Oswego.
Prochaska said it also may behoove the city to look at another north and south feed road.
Shoppe said the city will need to determine how much revenue it would like from
potential commercial development in that area. However, he said that might be more
detailed than the city needs to go right now. Prochaska agreed. However, he said that the
city should look at some commercial development in that area as well as possible
industrial development.
He said he would like to go on the premise that Caton Farm Road and Route 47 will be
the next major commercial area in the city.
Graff said a logical step would be to identify some areas as possible commercial areas
and then do further studies.
Mayor Prochaska said the city will need to determine what areas to preserve as open
space. Right now, the city has an opportunity to do that as it works on the plan.
Graff asked if there should be an inventory of soils and other factors. Then the city
council could meet to discuss future development knowing what types of soils are in the
area and where services could be located.
Burd asked how the facilities study currently underway falls in with the comprehensive
plan update. Mayor Prochaska said the two plans should play off each other and will not
duplicate each other.
Schoppe also wanted to know if he should incorporate recently adopted plans such as the
recreation master plan and the transportation plan into the comprehensive plan update.
Mayor Prochaska said it might be a good idea to add all of the new information that
comes to the city to the plan.
Schoppe also asked if the city wants the preservation of open space in the southern part of
the project area to separate and define adjacent communities. Mayor Prochaska said
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specifically along Route 126 the city would want to plan for bands of open space. He said
that wherever possible along that road, he would want to encourage the forest preserve or
others to buy land for preservation. Prochaska added he would like to see more
connected green space rather than ribbons of green.
Graff said it would be a good idea for the city to try to promote green space corridors
along certain roadways. Prochaska said the Grande Reserve development has planned
large setbacks along Route 34 to show a large green area. He said he likes that idea.
Shoppe said he also wants to know if the downtown plans should be incorporated into the
comprehensive plan update. Prochaska said not right now. He said he sees that as a
separate plan.
As the city plans for growth, Schoppe said the toughest part is going to be getting a
consensus on an objective. For instance, Mayor Prochaska said Route 126 is one of the
most beautiful drives in this area. He said it's hard to understand that someday that will
be developed. He said he wants to know how the city can keep some of that farm scape.
Schoppe said he senses the city wants to have an image, possibly a rural one, and that the
city council needs to determine what it can do to enhance that image.
Prochaska suggested Schoppe bring the scope of services to cover under the
comprehensive plan update to the Jan. 20 C.O.W. meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Dina Gipe