Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Plan Commission met Nov. 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Village of New Lenox Plan Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Mark Muehlnickel.

Mr. Muehlnickel led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following were present: Chairman Mark Muehlnickel, Commissioners Rebecca Dalseth, Robert Moss, Andrew Hawkins, Jason Raidbard, Matthew Blackburn, and Theresa Berkey.

The following were absent: None.

Chairman Muehlnickel announced there was a quorum present for this meeting.

Also in attendance were Senior Planner Jeff Smith, Planner Jenni Neubauer and Senior Administrative Secretary Lisa Martin.

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF A REGULAR PLAN COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

A motion was made by Mr. Raidbard and seconded by Ms. Dalseth to approve the September 19, 2023 minutes as presented with Mr. Moss abstaining. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

REQUEST FOR SPECIAL USE FOR A PHYSICAL CULTURE & HEALTH SERVICES USE

(Public Hearing)

S’Wet Contrast Therapy Studio

1.51 acres located at 2360 East Lincoln Highway

Megan Kucala – Petitioner

Mr. Muehlnickel asked for a motion to open the public hearing. A motion was made by Mr. Hawkins and seconded by Ms. Dalseth to open the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Chairman Muehlnickel advised that proper proof of notice had not been received.

Mr. Smith agreed and said the notices were sent out wrong and would have to be redone. He stated that the meeting would have to be continued to November 21, 2023.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion to continue the public hearing to November 21, 2023. Motion was made by Mr. Moss and seconded by Mr. Blackburn to continue the public hearing. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

TEXT AMENDMENT FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE C-7 DISTRICT

(Public Hearing)

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion the public hearing. Motion was made by Ms. Dalseth and seconded by Mr. Raidbard. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Mr. Muehlnickel asked if proof of notice was completed, and Staff replied affirmatively.

Mr. Smith disclosed that there was not a clear allowance for indoor and outdoor recreation facilities as a permitted use in the C-7 District. He explained that with the 100 acres acquired by the Village for a large indoor and outdoor sports complex near U.S. Route 6 and Cedar Road that is zoned C-7, it made sense to add them both as permitted use in the C-7 District. Staff looked for Plan Commission comments and recommendation.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion to close the public hearing. Motion was made by Ms. Berkey and seconded by Mr. Hawkins to close the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion recommending approval of the proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, adding indoor and outdoor recreation facilities as a permitted use in the C-7 District.

Motion was made by Mr. Hawkins and seconded by Ms. Berkey.

Upon Roll Call, the vote was:

AYES: - Commissioners Hawkins, Blackburn, Moss, Raidbard, Dalseth, Berkey and Chairman Muehlnickel

NAYS: - None.

Motion carried.

TEXT AMENDMENT FOR OUTDOOR STORAGE FACILITY SCREENING IN THE I-1 DISTRICT

(Public Hearing)

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion to open the public hearing. Motion was made by Mr. Blackburn and seconded by Ms. Berkey. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Mr. Muehlnickel asked if proof of notice was completed, and Staff replied affirmatively.

Mr. Smith explained that for outside storage in the I-1 Limited Industrial District, the Landscape Code requires this area to be screened by an 8-foot-tall solid fence with landscaping on the outside of the fence when it abuts a public street right of way, an adjacent residential use or adjacent commercial use. That same screening would be required when the outside storage abuts another industrial use, unless there is a waiver request submitted to the Village Board.

He said there was a recent case in the Ferro Industrial Park with a proposed outside storage yard that already had adequate screening from adjacent industrial uses by a significant number of existing trees, so a request was made to waive the fence and landscaping requirements. The Village Board approved the waiver, but felt Staff could make those decisions in the future. He stated that the text amendment would allow Staff, and in particular the Community Development Director or designee, to waive the required screening of the outside storage yard from an adjacent industrial use. Staff is looking for a Plan Commission recommendation.

Mr. Muehlnickel asked what would happen if some of the existing vegetation died.

Mr. Smith said that the approval waiver can be subject to conditions, such as the requirement to install a fence and landscaping if the existing trees/vegetation is damaged, destroyed or dies. If only some of the existing trees die, then they would have to be replaced with new trees to be reviewed and approved by Staff.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion to close the public hearing. Motion was made by Ms. Dalseth and seconded by Mr. Moss to close the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion recommending approval of the proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance allowing for the Community Development Director or designee to waive the requirement to screen outside storage facilities from adjacent industrial uses in the I-1 District as drafted.

Motion was made by Mr. Blackburn and seconded by Ms. Berkey.

Upon Roll Call, the vote was:

AYES: - Commissioners Blackburn, Dalseth, Moss, Berkey and Chairman Muehlnickel

NAYS: - Commissioners Hawkins and Raidbard

Motion carried.

REQUEST FOR REZONING FROM C-1 AND C-4 TO C-2

(Public Hearing)

AJ’s Hot Dogs

0.509-acre property located at 342 West Maple Street

Chris Manolitsis – Petitioner

Mr. Muehlnickel asked for a motion to open the public hearing. A motion was made by Mr. Hawkins and seconded by Mr. Raidbard to open the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

Chairman Muehlnickel advised that proper proof of notice had been received, but the petitioner requested more time to rebut comments that were received by an adjacent landowner.

Mr. Smith said that the petitioner requested the public hearing be continued to December 5th.

Mr. Muehlnickel requested a motion to continue the public hearing to December 5, 2023. Motion was made by Mr. Raidbard and seconded by Mr. Hawkins to continue the public hearing. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Smith reported that the next meeting is on November 21, which includes the continuation of the Special Use public hearing for 2360 East Lincoln Highway. There will also be a public hearing scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Plan Commission, a motion was made by Mr. Moss and seconded by Mr. Blackburn to adjourn. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m.

https://www.newlenox.net/files/documents/PlanningCommissionMinutes11-07-23095212112723AM1385.pdf