VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
PLAN COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Mike Brackett called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Chairman Mike Brackett, Commissioners, Anna Tuohy, Tom Lenkart, Mark Bozik, Doug Botkin and Scott Branson
Not in attendance: Aaron Anderson
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth and Planner David Hansen
Also in attendance: Kevin Drendel, Village Attorney
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of Plan Commission Minutes dated August 3, 2021
Motion for approval made by Commissioner Botkin and seconded by Commissioner Tuohy. All in favor. Motion approved.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Petition #21-09 (204 Hansen Boulevard): The petitioner, Genesis of North Aurora, requests a Special Use to allow a Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Service establishment in the B-2 General Business District.
Chairman Mike Brackett called the public hearing to order.
The petitioner, John Dvorak (CFO – Gerald Auto Group), said the 204 Hansen Building has been used as a corporate accounting office since 2016. He stated the property was originally built in 1995 as a Saturn dealership and subsequently became a KIA dealership. KIA then moved to 201 Hansen. Since the use has changed over the last six months use approval is now required to use the property as an auto dealership. John then provided a brief summary of Gerald’s plans to upgrade the existing building with the new Genesis dealership. He said the building would be expanded by about 13.8%. This will be the first standalone Genesis dealership in the Chicago area.
Mike Toth stated the petitioner is requesting a special use to allow a Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Service establishment on the subject property, which has been utilized as a car dealership since 1995 with Saturn and as recent as 2016 with KIA. They are moving Genesis out of the Hyundai dealership to do a standalone dealership on this site. The Zoning Ordinance contains provisions stating a use is considered abandoned if not in use for more than 180 days. The subject property has not been used as a dealership since 2016. It has been used as their accounting office. The addition to the building represents less than 25% of the existing square footage of the building so site plan approval is not required. The request is to be able to use the property again as a car dealership.
Chairman Mike Brackett opened the public hearing for public comment. No comment.
Chairman Mike Brackett closed the public hearing.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Petition #21-09 (204 Hansen Boulevard): The petitioner, Genesis of North Aurora, requests a Special Use to allow a Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Service establishment in the B-2 General Business District.
Chairman Mike Brackett opened the discussion to the Plan Commission members.
Commissioner Tuohy stated she was excited to see that area developed and is excited to see more function.
There were no comments or concerns from the Plan Commission.
Motion for approval of a Special Use to allow a Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Service establishment in the B-2 General Business District was made by Commissioner Bozik and seconded by Commissioner Tuohy. Vote: Lenkart – Yes, Bozik – Yes, Tuohy – Yes, Botkin – Yes, Branson – Yes, Brackett – Yes. Motion approved.
OLD BUSINESS – None
PLAN COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND PROJECT UPDATES
Chairman Mike Brackett asked about the Jeep dealership that was approved a few years ago. Mike Toth stated there was an issue with the private covenants on that property and the deal did not go through.
Chairman Mike Brackett asked about the Casey’s petition. Mike Toth stated the petition was discussed by the Village Board and they were in favor of it.
Mike Toth introduced David Hansen as the Village’s new Planner. Toth said David started with the Village over five years ago as the Administrative Intern and was later promoted to Administrative/GIS Analyst. David has been responsible for building the Village’s first GIS system. He will eventually be handling the Plan Commission meetings.
Mike Toth provided an update to the Plan Commission on previous petitions. He stated the Village Board approved the Oberweis industrial PUD and the amendment to the Orchard Commons PUD. He added that a permit had been submitted for Starbucks in Orchard Commons. Steve Bosco stated Aurora Pack had begun work on their facility.
Commissioner Tuohy inquired about the Fox Metro Pump Station. Mike Toth stated there were some minor changes to the site plan and building elevations required to be approved by the Village Board. There were no zoning changes so the plans did not have to come back to the Plan Commission. No building permit has been submitted for the project yet.
The Plan Commission inquired about the Italian restaurant (Fortunato). Mike Toth stated the permit is currently under review.
Commissioner Tuohy inquired about the proposed Taco Bell that was included with the Orchard Commons development. Mike Toth stated his department has not yet received a building permit for the Taco Bell.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Lenkart and seconded by Commissioner Tuohy. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Watkins
Village Clerk
