VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 19, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – See below
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Petition 21-04: Gerald Hyundai Expansion
Administrator Bosco presented the special use for expansion and requested feedback from the Board in regard whether or not to move forward with the Petition.
Community & Economic Development Director Toth further explained that the project will require site plan approval as the expansion exceeds 25% of the square footage of the existing facility. The project is expected to be presented at a public hearing before the Plan Commission May 4, 2021 and then return before the Board for final approval May 17, 2021.
Trustees were in agreement to move forward with the expansion.
2. Petition 21-03: Randall Terrace Apartments
Administrator Bosco explained that in 2001 The Village Board approved an Ordinance approving a special use for a B-2 District Planned Unit Development for the Randall Road Commercial Center, therefore prohibiting residential use within the development.
In 2018 the property owner proposed the multi-family residential concept to the Board at a Committee of the Whole meeting, to which the Board was receptive.
In 2019 the petitioner went before the Plan Commission and requested a special use to amend the PUD to allow multi-family residential dwellings as a permitted use on Lot 2 only. The Plan Commission made suggestions for the site plan and recommended approval of the special use amendment. The Village Board discussed the petition at their August 8, 2019 Committee of the Whole meting and confirmed their support of the project.
The petitioner has returned for final review and consideration of the site plan. Through a final review of the PUD Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance, it was determined that there were additional deviations needed for final approval of the project, requiring another public hearing which was held before that Plan Commission at their April 6, 2021 meeting. The Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the site plan and associated deviations.
Director Toth added additional details to the history of the proposed development. He stated that the deviations needed for final approval are floor area ratio, building materials and front yard fence. Director Toth introduced Mark Sorrentino.
Mark Sorrentino explained that the property is a 22 acre site, the residential community would be constructed on Lot 2 of that site. It is proposed to have 66 residential units in four buildings, a clubhouse and pool on 5.2 acres. All residential buildings’ balconies will be facing inward toward a courtyard.
Trustee Curtis asked about an estimated rental rate. Sorrentino responded that the rates will be competitive with other rentals in the area.
Trustee Martinez stated that he liked the complex.
Trustee Salazar liked the way the balconies open to a courtyard in the center of the complex.
Trustee Lowery stated the Village should move forward with the project.
Trustee Carroll asked if The Springs was at full capacity, his concern being that the Village could become over saturated with rentals. Director Toth stated that they are near capacity. Mr. Sorrentino added that in his market research, area rentals are occupied quickly.
Mayor Gaffino stated that he appreciated the layout and it appears that there is a market for rentals.
3. Humane Pet Sales
Director Toth and Village Attorney Kevin Drendel drafted an ordinance modeled after the recently passed ordinance in Naperville, requiring that the retail sales of cats and dogs are limited to animals sourced from humane rescues or animal control facilities. This ordinance would require the retailers to maintain a record of where the animals sold are sourced from.
Trustees were in agreement with the drafted ordinance.
4. North Aurora Days
Administrator Bosco stated that the Board needed to address and discuss the suggestions of the North Aurora Days committee, which met on March 8, 2021. Committee Members expressed concern with the continued spread of Covid-19 in the region, special event liquor licensing, social distance restrictions and health and operational concerns for those volunteering and working the event as well as attendees.
The current State of Illinois Festival Guidelines are
Phase 4: 15 people per 1,000 sq. ft. (750 people) (we are currently in phase 4)
Bridge Phase: 30 people per 1,000 sq. ft. (1,500 people)
Phase 5: No Capacity Limits
Special Event Liquor Licenses
Required from Illinois Liquor Control Commission to sell alcohol for community festivals
Granted on case by case basis
Village must monitor, control, and restrict attendance
No beer tent at event, if license request is denied
Administrator Bosco went on to explain that some over variables to consider are that while the Village organizes the event, we partner with local civic groups to run the beer tent. Those local non-for-profits acquire the liquor license.
Planning for the event takes several months and we are currently approximately three months out from the traditional North Aurora Days event dates.
The Village also has yet to secure a contract with the owner of the Clocktower Plaza, the typical site of the event.
The North Aurora Days Committee did not think having North Aurora Days as it is traditionally held, would be a viable option but wanted to wait until May to make an official decision. They suggested the possibility of having an event later in the year. Additional possibilities presented are moving forward with as close to a traditional North Aurora Days as possible, modify or reduce the event in length and location, host a virtual event, have an event later in the year or cancel the event altogether.
Administrator Bosco stated that the Board had the final decision on the fate of North Aurora Days.
Trustee Lowery stated that he thinks putting the event off until early fall would be a better possibility.
Trustee Curtis expressed concern about delaying the event when vaccinations will be available to anyone who desires one in early May additionally, the event is outdoors. Trustee Curtis suggested that moving forward with the event would benefit businesses.
Trustee Lowery restated that the safety of volunteers is a concern as well as pushing the date back allows for additional time to plan. Trustee Lowery also commented that it is unpredictable how the vaccinations will unfold.
Further discussion was had in regard to other local municipalities holding their heavily attended events, with the rebuttal that North Aurora Days is largely staffed by volunteers and the Village needs to keep their health and safety in mind as well as the attendees.
There was additional discussion in regard to the logistics of putting together an event in the limited time available.
The consensus of the Board, based on suggestions from Administrator Bosco, was to investigate options to hold a modified event at possibly later date. Monitor Covid-19 trends and levels of comfort of the civic group volunteers and readdress the possible options of an event after the next North Aurora Days Committee meeting on May 10, 2021.
Trustee Martinez, upon this his last meeting as trustee, expressed appreciation for his fellow Board Members and Village Staff.
Motion to Adjourn for Executive Session made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Martinez.
EXECUTIVE SESSION –
1. Pending Litigation
Committee of the Whole resumes
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
