Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 –

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –

Meeting in the Main Conference Room of the Division of Transportation, 1611 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

A presentation is to be given on the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan for McHenry County

Four resolutions are being presented the Committee for consideration, including:

Resolution to approve Adopt-A-Highway volunteer group agreements

Resolution awarding a contract for building demolition and appropriating funds for

the Miller Road Project

Resolution approving an engineering services agreement to provide bridge inspection services and appropriating the necessary funds

Resolution approving supplemental engineering agreement and appropriating funds for the Hill Road Township Bridge Project.

Other matters on the agenda include staff recognitions a possible executive session to consider meeting minutes regarding land acquisitions and pending litigation

1:00 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A review of the Draft Unified Development Ordinance

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board Agricultural & Conservation Easement (ACE) –

Meeting in the Main Conference Room of the Division of Transportation, 1611 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

New Business includes consideration and action to organize a fundraising event for ACE; consideration to host a meeting about the Unified Development Ordinance for the farming community; consider transfer of development rights; and consideration to request the State’s Attorney to request an Attorney General’s interpretation of the TRD regulations; as well as action to set the 2013 Meeting Schedule.

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7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission –

Meeting in the Crystal Lake City Hall, Council Chambers.

Four proposals are being presented to the Commission for comments and/or approval and include:

Wickenkamp, 141 Ellsworth Street –A request for a variation to allow a covered front porch to encroach 10.88 feet into the required 25.5 foot average front yard setback.

Kumi Sushi – 1145 S. Rt. 31- Lutter Center - A request is being made regarding tenant sign criteria which was created for this Lutter Center Central Park retail center.

The petitioner is requesting a Final PUD Amendment to exceed the height permitted in the PUD Tenant Sign Criteria in order to use letters that are up to 52 inches in height. This results in the sign requiring 161.4 square feet of wall signage rather than the allowed 75 square feet.

The Commission is to consider the recommended staff approval for the amendment with certain related conditions.

Nagel – 215 Union Street – The property owner is requesting a simplified residential variation from certain nonconformities to allow an addition to the residence to encroach into the required setback and be as close as 10 feet from the front property line instead of the required 35.5 feet.

CrossFit Crystal Lake, Inc., 110 .Woodstock Street, Suite C— This business, the provider of strength and conditioning training, would be located in a building on Woodstock Street across from the former location of the Crystal Lake Police and Fire Station and next to the current City Hall. Other property in the area, in addition to the current Municipal Complex, includes a cemetery and multi-family residential as well as single family residential.

Wednesday Evening Government Meeting

7:30 p.m.—Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission –

Meeting in the Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 Woodstock Street

A hearing on the Comprehensive Land use plan and map is being continued to the December 7 Commission meeting.

Petitioners coming before the Commission are:

Hare – 85 S. Oriole Trail—

Forrest and Helga Hare at 95 S. Oriole Trail are seeking a Special Use Permit for a detached accessory structure greater than 600 square feet. This is an n addition to an existing garage. The request is to allow the addition to be as close as 28 inches from the side property line instead of the required five foot side yard setback

The existing garage is a two-story structure and the addition would also be two stories. The addition is t be used for storage of equipment.

Iron Hand, LLC, 5831 Northwest Highway

This establishment plans to open their business classified as a “drinking Place” in the former Great Escape store located on Northwest Highway, east of Main Street. The property was granted a SUP to allow a lounge (Buzz Lounge) with dancing on Friday and Saturday nights within the suite. The Buzz Lounge has closed.

Although the property is located at 5831 Northwest Highway, access to the property is from Rosenthal Drive and Heritage Drive. Currently another tenant in the building is Halloween Express. They have occupied 22,000 square feet of space from around September to November for the past several years.

According to indications from the petitioner, there may be gaming equipment such as a pool table, golden tee, electronic darts etc. The petitioner also is planning to add a kitchen on site.

Sage YMCA, 701 Manor Road

This petition was continued from October 19 meeting and is for a final PUD Amendment for an electronic message center sign.

This property was recently purchased by the YMCA Metro Chicago and existing wall signage was amended through sign permits to illustrate new ownership and Sage sponsorship.

The request is to install a free-standing monument sign near Manor Road. The sign will be illuminated and contain an electronic message center.

Crystal Lake Bank and Trust, 5100 Northwest Highway

A request is being made for a Final PUD Amendment and Special Use Permit to allow an electronic message center sign.

The property is located at 5100 Northwest Highway, at the northwest corner of Route 14 and Pingree Road. It was the location of Amcore Bank.

Now Crystal Lake Bank is requesting to be able to replace the existing free-standing sign with an electronic message center.

Main Street Apartments – E. Main Street, N. Congress Parkway

The petition was continued from October 19 Commission meeting. The petitioner is requesting annexation of the property along with a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, rezoning to R-3-PUD.A conceptual review for a 71 unit apartment development is being proposed.

The original plan for the property which was presented in 2007 was for B-3, O, M-L and M zoning with a subdivision for five commercial lots.

This is the property where trees were recently removed in order to better market the property. With the review by the City, the highest quality species were saved.

Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Matters for Wednesday Meeting

Among the five public hearings the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission are expected to conduct this evening beginning at 7:30 pm is one for School District 47. It involves a conceptual plan review for a support service facility at 114 Erick Street. This is the former Power Conversion Products/Eltek Industries manufacturing facility.

The District proposes to consolidate the Districts support service functions including the Administrative offices, warehouse, print shop, storage facilities and school bus maintenance and dispatch. Currently these are located in four different locations throughout the school district. Consolidation of the services could save the district expenses, while increase efficiencies.

Other matters before the Commissio include: 

Lukas, 1764 Andover

Other matters to be handled by the Commission include a public hearing for a Simplified residential variation to allow a deck and pool attached to a house to encroach 11 feet within the required 20-foot yard setback. This is on property located at 1764 Andover Lane.

Donaldson-567 Larium Lane

A public hearing is scheduled for this property to allow a variation for a garage addition to be as close as two feet from the property line and for the combined interior side setback to be 16.3 feet.

Aaron's Sales-6107 Northwest Highway, Unit C

A special use permit is requested to allow outside storage of trucks. This is a new business to Crystal Lake offering rent-to-own financing for buyers of higher-ticket items such as furniture, appliances, and electronics. This new business will occupy 6,500 square feet of the building. Other tenants include Sprint, and Back to Bed. Aarons is also requesting a permit to allow vehicles to be parked overnight in the parking lot alongside the building.

Straight Shooter Gallery, 560 Beechcraft

This is a special use permit to allow Commercial Recreation for an indoor shooting range for handguns and rifles on the first floor. The second floor would provide for ancillary retail area and classroom area for training. .

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets in the City Council chambers of the Municipal Complex, located at 100 Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake. Meeting time is 7:30 p.m. 

Changes Taking Place For Route 176 and 31 Businesses

A Mobil Service Station along with a Subway and a car wash may be operational soon at the southwest corner of Routes 176 and 31. The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the plan for this location. The final approval is up to the City Council.

A Mobil station has been planned for this location since 1991 however, that permit approval lapsed. A Special Use Permit for a gas station, car wash and convenience store/sandwich shop was approved by the City in 1996. However, because the special use permit was not used for six consecutive months, a public hearing on the use is required by the city codes.
That hearing took place Wednesday evening and was recommended for approval with some stipulations for the City Council to consider when they consider the Planning-Zoning Commission recommendations.

One thing that has been considered a necessity in that area is the burial of utility lines. Deferrals have been given on seven different instances in the past, including one for the Mobil station.

Another matter the Council will be considering is a favorable recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission for the addition to the McHenry County Mental Health Building at 620 Dakota Street. The new Mental Health Building is to consist of a two-story 22,560 square foot addition creating added office space.
KnowPlace Pets—825 Munshaw Lane

Pet Care Services are planned for a location in the Lakeview Business Center and would be next to the Dolphin Swim Club. The area is planned to provide for 40 dogs for daycare and 20 for boarding. This proposal also will be before the City Council at next Tuesday's meeting.

August 18 Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Meeting Is Cancelled

The next meeting of the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, has been cancelled due to a lack of completed petitions ready for review.

The next meeting of the Commission will be the regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday September 1 at 7:30 pm. in the City Council Chambers, 100 Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake.

Pet Day Care Receives Approval Recommendation

Charlies Dog House, a dog daycare facility is seeking to open a business at 140 W. Terra Cotta Avenue. The services will provide care for animals dropped off or boarded for a short period of time. A small portion of the building is also used by Union Pacific Railroad. The petitioner is requesting a variation in order to use the vacant building.

Nearby neighbors expressed concern that the passing trains may cause the dogs to make noise which could be disturbing to the residents. The petitioner explained that the dogs would not be out of doors all the time and the noise inside the building is not audible on the exterior.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending the requested rezoning for the dog care facility. The final decision is up to the City Council.