VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VLILAGE BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
Village President Hansen called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Village President John Hansen, Trustee Dale Berman, Trustee Mike Herlihy, Trustee Bob Strusz, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Linda Mitchell and Trustee Max Herwig.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Bob Kennedy, representing LFI, informed the Board that an application had been submitted for annexation and B2 zoning for the approximately 28-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Oak & Orchard. LFI has been actively marketing the property for over 9 months without any positive input from the retail community. Kenny said that the B2 zoning will be a tool to help market the property more effectively. In the annexation agreement there will be a provision stating that whoever wants to build on that property will have to return to the Village for site plan approval so that the Village has control over what happens with the property. Kenny said that LFI plans to meet with the North Aurora Together group before the Plan Commission meeting on March 4th.
Michael Mills of LFI, 9440 Enterprise Drive, Mokena, IL – Mr. Mills said the request is for straight B2 zoning. There is no contract and no interested parties at this time.
Brian Gillet, 1131 Kilberry Lane, North Aurora, IL – Mr. Gillet said he was before the Board on behalf of himself and some of the neighbors in the Randall Highland neighborhood (corner of Randall & Orchard) in reference to Item K of the Agenda (Approval of the PUD Amendment for Lots 203, 205, 206 & 207 in Randall Crossings to Allow a Building Height Greater than 35 Feet). Gillet asked for the Board’s support in voting down the amendment to raise the height greater than 35 feet. Gillet said he was happy with the commercial and the current height restriction, pointing out that residents moved into the area knowing that 35 feet would be the maximum height for the buildings next door.
Allison Davis, 1154 Kilberry Lane, North Aurora, IL – Ms. Davis asked the Board to consider the aesthetics as well as the traffic and to turn down the request for a height variance. Davis noted that the hotel would be 200 feet from some of the homes.
Adolfo Murcia, 1134 Kilberry Lane, North Aurora, IL – Mr. Murcia asked the Board to vote against the amendment for the height variance since plans were put in place before that the height should be a maximum of 35 feet.
Shawn McMorris, 1161 Kilberry Lane, North Aurora, IL – Mr. McMorris said he was concerned with the value of his home and that having a building that could be 5 stories tall would be a negative selling point for any potential new buyers.
PRESENTATION: Design Perspectives results of the Riverfront Study
Todd of Design Perspectives was before the Board for a final presentation to present a Project Implementation Strategy and Final Completion Report. Tony Malone of ESI Consultants was present to address the engineering plans for the proposed riverfront development. The proposed development would extend from the south end of the island to approximately 140 feet north of the bridge on both sides of the river. The south end of the island would be cut down to create a wetland. They proposed replacing the decking on the bridge to add a bikeway. They have studied the plan for contingency of possible dam removal. It was determined that the water elevations south of the dam would remain exactly the same (north of the dam would be affected for a couple thousand feet with lower levels).
Todd of Design Perspectives presented a summary of the cost estimates. If all of the phases are built out (5 phases) as estimated by the design group, the total cost would be almost $29 million. Design Perspectives noted that the sooner the Board moves forward with some of the items, the less expensive they will be.
Trustee Mitchell said that this is a dream and will be a tremendous asset to the Village. Village President Hansen said that Illinois is looking for projects like this to fund down the road. Village President Hansen said he will be in Springfield in a couple of weeks and will lobby for some more grants. Trustee Gaffino said he sat on the Riverfront Committee and thanked Wes for his job on the project so far. Gaffino said this will be a great project for the Village. Trustee Strusz said that the Boardwalk is amazing and would love to see this at the Riverfront. Trustee Herlihy said the Village received great ideas through this plan. Herlihy said he didn’t want the cost figures to misguide people as to what kind of opportunity might exist in the concept and in the plan. Trustee Berman said he is disappointed in that he was looking for something that would go beyond the river and thought that the concept was to look at what might be seen in the way of development other than just a boardwalk, something that would deal with the entire area and bring in conceptually more in the way of commercial and changing some of the area into multi-family. Todd from Design Perspectives said that the core focus area was around the Village Hall, but they did look at the entire length of the river. There are a lot of recreational opportunities to the north and to the south, but the core around the building, particularly on the west side of the river does allow for a lot of redevelopment opportunities. Todd said that the Community Development Director will be able to market commercial opportunities and it will take some investment by the Village to make this happen.
CONSENT AGENDA
A.
