VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
APRIL 18, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Chris Faber, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Village Engineer Jim Bibby, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Police Chief Dave Summer.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Discussion of Waste Management Contract Amendment
Waste Management suggested that the one day spring and fall clean-up that occurs twice a year be changed to a two day collection so that pick up for the west side of town would be on Friday and the east side of town on Saturday. Waste Management would also drop the toter price by a dollar. Trustees Curtis and Lowery asked if the toter prices could be dropped further. Village Administrator Steve Bosco said that he did request a further decrease but that Waste Management was comfortable with their offer. The majority of the Board in favor of moving forward.
2. Discussion of Valley Green Golf Course Property Concept Plan
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth noted that the purpose of discussion is to review the concept plan for two major properties: Valley Green Golf Course and the Slaker Property adjacent to Route 31. This item would have to come back for an official public hearing for the planned unit development requiring a special use. Zoning designation on the property would need to be changed to allow for a warehouse distribution use. Valley Green Golf Course consists of 59 acres and the Slaker Property, 24 acres. Final site plan review would be required by the Plan Commission and Village Board.
The developer has requested discussion regarding access to the property and the extension of Poplar Drive.
Mike Chavini of Pizzuti Development addressed the Board.
There are three building proposed for the development. The first phase will include the two buildings furthest from Route 31. Pizzuti is looking to build a 500,000 s.f. spec building on the west side of the property. Build out will be within a 2-3 year period.
Chavini stated that the biggest question for the project is how to create access to the property. They want to keep the full access on the Slaker Property off Route 31 and there is an opportunity to create an access on the west side of the property by extending Poplar Place. Toth asked if the Village would be interested in making this a public right of way or if the Village would want to sell the land to the developer. Staff’s thought is to sell the property to the developer and make it a private drive.
Trustee Faber asked what would be done with the wetland area. Village Engineer Jim Bibby said that after the initial contact with Kane County, they are going toward a wetland bank cooperative within Blackberry Creek Watershed. It would be a payment rather than a mitigation on site.
Trustee Curtis was concerned with runoff from the property since the property would be concrete rather than a golf course. Chavini said that the property will be designed with a number of detention ponds and a majority of detention and retention will be onsite.
Trustee Lowery said he was concerned with how this development will affect the residents who live next to the proposed site as well as the impact of the appearance on Route 31. Trustee Carroll agreed that he was not in favor of the appearance of a warehouse along Route 31 when the Village is trying to beautify the corridor. Faber suggested some retail frontage on Route 31 and pushing the building further back. Gaffino suggested berming and screening the building with landscaping. Chavini stated that the office corner of the building toward Route 31 will have more architecture to soften the look and will be set back 100 feet.
Curtis said she is in favor of having a building with a larger footprint that will clean up the look of the corridor, toward the freeway. Curtis added that she also sees this as an opportunity to bring more jobs to the village.
Gaffino suggested berming and landscaping to screen the building from the residents who live on Kingswood and Princeton.
The Village Board was in agreement with selling a piece of the Village’s wetland property to the developer so that the developer can work out the extension of Poplar Place.
Chavini asked if the Village were to sell us the land, if there would be any issues with the village being a co-applicant to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mayor Berman said that the Village would cooperate to get the project done in the most effective way.
Atty. Drendel said that there would be a contractual contract with the Village being the owner of the property and signing off on it to Pizzuti.
3. Budget Discussion Continued
Changes to the Budget
-Increase in sidewalk leveling from $25,000 to $40,000.
-Carry over of Budget for Welcome Signs and increase from $100,000 to $145,000.
-Increase in Oak Hill/Towne Centre Wetland Repair work from $90,000 to $115,000.
-Decrease in the Water Tower Painting project of $60,000.
Bosco noted that there is $50,000 in the budget for sidewalk leveling and some in-house work. That does not account for the $50,000 that the Village can commit during the road program. Therefore there is $100,000 worth of sidewalk work in the budget.
The public hearing is scheduled for May 2nd and Approval of the budget is scheduled for May 16th.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Curtis and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
