VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Mark Guethle and Village Clerk Lori Murray
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Police Chief David Fisher.
DISCUSSION
1. Randall Crossing Mixed Use Development
On November 18 the concept plan was discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting. It was also discussed at the January 7th Plan Commission meeting with a full recommendation for approval. Ed Roberts, representing the development group, addressed the board. The proposal was for a 3-story structure with commercial retail and 28 studio and 1 bedrooms apartment units. There is a 2800 s.f. space on lot 3 which is designated for retail space. The developer is looking into adding a basement area. It would not change the footprint of the building. It would allow for storage downstairs and an additional two studio apartments. Uses for the larger space is still focused on a café and possibly some office space for the extra 1200 s.f.
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth said that a special use needs to be passed to allow for a major change to a PUD. The preliminary plan for the property laid out a several thousand square foot standalone building. In order to accommodate the additional residential, the Village needs to amend the PUD to allow for the additional zoning use. The building height is capped at 35 feet and the petitioner is requesting a building height of 38 feet. This additional height incorporates some para-pitting. Toth noted that the elevator shaft is not shown in the elevation plan. The village is looking to insinuate that the elevator shaft is a permitted encroachment into the additional building height. The site plan has a setback dimension. The setbacks all meet the code. They are proposing a 17-foot setback to the south. It was staff’s recommendation that the building be pushed to the south to allow more shared parking within the development.
There is a conflict with an easement. As a result, will re-conform the easement at a later date.
Toth noted that the request is to allow for the residential use, the additional building height, the additional setback along the southern portion of the property and site plan approval.
Trustee Guethle asked how long the project will take to complete. The answer was 6 to 8 months with construction to begin mid-April. Guethle asked if there are renters lined up. Roberts said they will market 4 months into the project. Carroll asked if there is anyone interested in the café. Roberts said they are speaking to a couple of interested clients.
The Board was in favor of the proposed changes and to move forward with the plan.
2. Batavia Boundary Agreement
As a part of the comprehensive plan, part of the goal is to renew all of the boundary line agreements with the surrounding communities. The most recent boundary line agreement with Batavia was dated in February 2003. The boundary line is the northern portion of North Aurora and extends from Hart Road at the east to the west of Bliss Road.
The current boundary line with Batavia is being changed to include additional acreage to the Village of North Aurora. This entails an additional 800 acres of land consisting of vacant farm land.
There are 200 acres north of Seavey Road that would go to the first municipality to come to the table with an actual development plan. This would expire in 10 years. If there is no development, it would go back to the Batavia side of the boundary line.
The boundary line agreement was on the agenda for the Batavia Committee of the Whole on January 14th. They concurred with the boundary line as proposed.
Village Administrator Steve Bosco said that when the village did the boundary agreement with Sugar Grove it had 16 years left on it. With Batavia there are 3 years left. The reason the Village is doing this now with Batavia and Sugar Grove is because the three communities overlapped each other in these areas and it was very confusing since some towns have rights to other land for other towns. Therefore, the three communities will now have a delineated stopping point between them and the other communities. The board was in favor of moving forward.
A public hearing will be scheduled for the first week of March.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
