City of Lockport Committee of the Whole met March 1.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
REGULAR MEETING of the Committee of the Whole of the City of Lockport, Illinois was held on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in the Board Room, 3rd Floor, of the Central Square Building, 222 E. Ninth Street, Lockport, Illinois. Mayor Steve Streit called the Meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
INVOCATION – Pastor Earnest Jones, Christ Vision Community Church
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor, Steve Streit
Alderwoman, Joanne Bartelsen
Alderwoman, Christine Bergbower
Alderman, Mark Lobes
Alderman, JR Gillogly
Alderman, Patrick McDonald
Alderman, Matt Kairis
Alderwoman, Karen Kostecki
ABSENT: Alderwoman, Renee Saban
ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk, Kathy Gentile
City Administrator, Ben Benson
Finance Director, Lisa Heglund
City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams
Director of Public Works, Brent Cann
Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies
Chief of Police, Richard Harang
PRESS: Cathy Wilker, LCTV
INTRODUCTION OR PROCLAMATION
1. 175th Anniversary of the I&M Canal (Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area) Proclamation ∙ Ana B. Koval, President of the Canal Corridor Association (CCA) is designated by Congress as the local coordinating entity for the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area, America’s first national heritage area
MAYOR’S REPORT
1. Lockport Township High School Bowling Team - 2023 IHSA State Championship
∙ Undefeated in conference
∙ Ended the season at 36 wins and 1 loss
∙ Members of the Lockport Girls Bowling Team:
o Paige Matiasek
o Cassie Kontos
o Morgan LiCausi
o Madi Lave
o Brooke Stroud
o Lauren Lane
o Kadie Kontos
o Cece Gilbert
o Taylor Lane
o Abby Miller
LIAISON’S REPORT
1. Bergbower
a. Astronomical Sprint – At Your Door service is available, as well as Simple Recycle
b. Met with Lockport in Bloom – planning a landscaping project at Washington and 9th
2. Gillogly
a. Construction season starts next week – Austin Tyler will start the watermain project
b. Gallagher Asphalt will be starting later this month on the 9th Street project. IDOT will be repaving from downtown Lockport from Hamilton to Read Street. Lockport will be working on the same street the following year as part of the channelization project.
i. Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, provided details on the work that IDOT will be doing, and specifically what the City will be doing. In total the project will be accomplished over 2 years, and neither project should disrupt the other.
ii. An additional turn lane is planned, in addition to additional improvements.
c. Wolverine Pipe Line has cleared trees in Ward 2 at 151st and Farrell. Private trees has been installed in a public easement and had to be removed per federal mandate. Wolverine has been a good company to work with.
3. Lobes - Karen Springs will have resurfacing work done this year
4. Benson – Lockport Restaurant Week runs from Feb 27 thru March 12. Get more information at eatlockport.com.
ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT OR ACTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FN-1. 2022 Budget Amendments - Additional
Finance Director, Lisa Heglund, presented the Staff Report.
DIRECTION: Add as an Action Item to the March 15 City Council Meeting
CD-1. Text Amendment to Chapter 156 of the Lockport Code of Ordinances/2023-02 TA
Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report. Recommending the fence requirement for pools be reduced to 6 feet.
DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the March 15 City Council Meeting
CD-2. Concept Plan for a Gas Station with Convenience Store at Northeast Corner of 151st St. and Archer Ave. Intersection/PZC Case #2022-020
Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report. Subject property is currently zoned C3 commercial. Applicant is seeking approval for a concept plan for a fuel station, which is a special use within the C3 district. At their February 14, 2023 meeting, the Plan and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Concept Plan subject to specific conditions. The Applicant has been very willing to work with the City Staff and address any concerns.
Discussion among the Council ensued.
There are currently 7 occupied mobile homes on the property. The owner of the mobile park owns another mobile home park behind Joe & Josie’s; some open lots exist at that location. Concern raised regarding displacing or moving the current residents. The owner of the property has opted to sell the property and a buyer has opted to purchase it. The Council approved the lot to be zoned to support a gas station; the property is not zoned for residential.
Concern raised regarding this property being used for gaming and liquor license. The property does not qualify for gaming. The project is only at the concept phase, so the Council can later decide about the liquor license.
Concern raised about weight restrictions and the wear and tear on the roads. Concern raised about the turn lanes, which would require approval by IDOT.
Discussion about water access to the site. The current residents are on well and septic; no current sewer lines exist. Any new development would require City sewer extensions.
Mayor Streit informed the attendees that the City had introduced reasonable restrictions and identified specific intersections that would appropriately be suited for gas stations. The City does not own the property and have the authority to dictate private property transactions.
The process for developments will start with a Concept Plan. After working with Staff, the Applicant can evaluate feedback and make the decision to proceed forward or not. If the Applicant decides to proceed, the next step would be to pursue the appropriate engineering studies.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. John Roling - 925 W. 151st Street – raised concerns about traffic, pollution, water contamination, high Citgo gas prices
2. Ray Gonzalez – concerned about the egress on Archer, the fence, berm, and drainage or catch basin to manage water flow from storm water
3. Kimberly Gogerty – 1004 151st Street - concern about flooding
DIRECTION: Add as an Action Items to the March 15 City Council Meeting
CD-3. Concept Plan for a 122,600 SF Building for Future Limited Manufacturing and Assembly Uses for Lots 9, 10, & 11 in Prime Business Park/PZC Case #2022-022
Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report for the proposed Concept Plan. The use is consistent with the 2014 I-355 Corridor Master Plan Update. The Plan and Zoning Commission, at their February 14, 2023 meeting, recommended approval of the concept plan by a vote of 6-1 subject to specific conditions. The Concept Plan, if approved, is valid for 1 year from the date of approval.
Concern raised about the design of the architecture, and will work with the Applicant to ensure that the design is more consistent with the Prime Business Park. The use for this property is light manufacturing; the property is not zoned to support warehousing.
Discussion about the process of City review for any future tenants of the structure; a business permit would be required. The City would reinforce the light manufacturing use.
DIRECTION: Add as an Action Item to the March 15 City Council Meeting
PW-1. Archer Avenue and Maryknoll Drive Watermain Installation Project
Brent Cann, Public Works Director, presented the Staff Report on the extension of the existing water main to provide water to an existing structure. The property currently has a private main; this project would install a public main. Seeking approval to install 800 feet of 12 inch watermain to support the existing and proposed tenants in the existing building. The extension would also support a tie in, by George’s restaurant, to support future water needs. The project would include increased fire flows and four new fire hydrants.
Discussion among the Council regarding possible extension beyond George’s. The project is expected to take 2 weeks, scheduled for mid May, outside of the active winter maintenance season. The project team would consist of two water operators, 1 sanitary and 1 street resource.
DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the March 15 City Council Meeting
OPEN FLOOR COMMENTS
1. Mike Meyer – addressed the Council regarding the proposed Citgo gas station at 151st and Archer – spoke in support of the improvements and the project
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION TO ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING, AT 8:15 pm. MOTION BY LOBES, SECONDED BY MCDONALD. MOTION PASSED BY VOICE VOTE.
https://lockport.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=lockport_b52bef99e5273dde6ce6c765df8ed428.pdf&view=1
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