VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
JUNE 18, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
Village President Hansen called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Village President John Hansen, Trustees Mike Herlihy, Bob Strusz, Mark Gaffino, Linda Mitchell, Max Herwig. Not in attendance: Trustee Dale Berman.
Staff in attendance: Atty. Kevin Drendel, Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Management Analyst Wes Kornowske, Building & Zoning Commissioner DeWayne Williams, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Asst. Public Works Superintendent/Water Division Paul Young, Police Chief Tom Fetzer, Fire Bureau Chief Mark Bozik, Tim Grimm (Rempe-Sharpe).
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
MARK SORRENTINO asked the Board for feedback in terms of its plans for commercial development in the community. Sorrentino noted that it had been six weeks since the no vote on the proposed Walmart at the corner of Orchard & Oak. Trustee Herlihy said that the process does not begin but finishes with the Village Board. If revisions are made, those would be presented to Staff. Sorrentino said the Board sent a clear message that it does not want commercial development, or that particular development on the corner of Oak & Orchard. Sorrentino asked the Board to give Staff or the Plan Commission some direction. Sorrentino said he was concerned that taxpayers have spent over six million dollars improving Orchard Road and the intersection to the tollway to benefit commercial development, and the Board turned the Walmart proposal down because of a handful of residents.
Trustee Hansen said he has had conversation with Walmart since the vote and was trying to discuss how to move forward. Hansen said he assured Walmart that the Village is still very interested in that type of growth. There are several parcels along the corridor that are designed for commercial use. Hansen reminded the Board that, “although we are friendly with our neighbors, they are not too far off Orchard Road. If Walmart moves there, the Village will not only give up its six million dollars of infrastructure, we also will have the crime, traffic and will be selling them water.” Hansen said he is trying to retain conversation and will illustrate more when it becomes public. Sorrentino asked the Board if it still wants to see commercial development at that location (Oak & Orchard). The Board said yes. Trustee Herwig said the Village should not take a piece of property and put something on it that is too large or that is not aesthetically pleasing, just to have a big box. Herwig said that Oak & Orchard parcel is a great corner, 28 acres and great for commercial, but if another big box came in with the exact same blueprint, he would probably vote no again. Herwig said it would have been nice to have Walmart in town, but not at the expense of what it would have caused at that corner. Herwig added that, “we would have seen something that over time we would not have liked.”
Sorrentino mentioned that the Plan Commission approved the plan. Trustee Herwig said the “Plan Commission felt that this was crammed down their throat and they didn’t feel that they had any other choice than to vote yes for this, other than the two people that voted no.” Herlihy noted that the Plan Commission voted yes with sixteen qualifications at 1:00 in the morning. Sorrentino said that the “Plan Commission are all big boys and this is not the first PUD that has come into the Village.” Sorrentino noted that there was a substantial effort made by Walmart, noting that 14 out of the 16 conditions were addressed in the end.
Sorrentino asked what the residents of the community would be saying when the Walmart moves to the Aurora Christian property which falls outside the boundary lines of North Aurora and less than a quarter of a mile away. Sorrentino added that a million dollars of sales tax a year will go down the street to Aurora and will be using North Aurora’s sewer, water and street to generate the $100 million worth of sales and the Village of North Aurora will not get a dime.
Trustee Mitchell said the vote six weeks ago was irresponsible on the part of the Board and apologized to Walmart and the commercial business owners. Mitchell said that, “three hundred residents should never influence, that drastically, the future of a 15,000 plus resident community.” Mitchell said the Board was not to be voting on whether or not a Walmart went on the corner of Oak & Orchard, rather what kind of a building, parking lot, types of trees, detention, etc. Mitchell said that if the Village is lucky enough to get a big box on that corner, that big box will not do half the things (berm, fence, landscaping) to border the townhomes that Walmart was willing to do. Mitchell said she agreed with a past comment made by Trustee Berman that Walmart has to be doing something right to be one of the most successful businesses in this country.
Village President Hansen said that the big boxes are looking for high visibility on Orchard Road, so something will be there whether it is a 150,000 or 125,000 s.f. building. Hansen said the Village will be challenged again because proposals will be coming in the near future.
Trustee Herlihy said the Board was presented a proposal that at a point in time when a Motion was made and seconded to vote, the Board had to act on what was there. Herlihy said it could have evolved into other things. Herlihy said he did not say no to Walmart, but the particular package was an incredibly intense use. Herlihy said the site will absolutely be a commercial development. Herlihy said he would be willing to entertain Walmart back to the Village under similar but different site plan issues.
Trustee Strusz said that he sat through the plans as a part of the Plan Commission. Strusz said that on that night the Plan Commission looked at a site plan that it was not ready to look at. Strusz said that, normally, when the Plan Commission looks at a site plan, the commission reviews the plan and tells the developer what they do not like and it is brought back for review. Strusz said that was not the case that night. Strusz added that the Plan Commission was told they needed to make a decision and continued the meeting until 1:00 a.m. Sixteen allegations were made against the plan. Strusz said that a lot of the members knew they would not see the plan back again and was not happy about that. Strusz noted that the Plan Commission and Board absolutely were not against Walmart. Strusz said the plan did not fit at the proposed location, had a parking lot that didn’t have islands and did not even have cart holders. A parking lot was stuffed into the parcel that would abut right up to Oak Street. Strusz said he was not against Walmart and would love to see them come back.
Sorrentino noted that Walmart did not violate or ask for any variations in setbacks along Oak or Orchard. Walmart met code. Strusz said that as far as the residents that live next to the site, they voiced their opinions and might not like the next big box that looks at that parcel.
Mr. Sorrentino thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak at the meeting.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
A.
