The Washington Township Zoning Commission met in special session on June 29, 2005 in the Meeting Room of Washington Township Government Center. Members of the Commission present were Mr. Rogers, Mr. Drain, Mrs. Zobrist, and Mr. Anderson. Mrs. Winwood was excused.

Call to order at 7:00 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

All in attendance were duly sworn in.

MOTION - Mr. Anderson moved the minutes of May 17, 2005 be approved with modifications.

Motion seconded by Mr. Rogers.

VOTE - Mr. Rogers, yes; Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.

CASE Z-663A - Riverain Ltd. Partnership & Yankee Center Ltd. (Traditions at Yankee)

This case was heard by the Washington Township Trustees on June 13, 2005 and sent back to the Zoning Commission to review the removal of interior lot lines. Request is for a revision to the approved plan with no interior lot lines.

Tom Toberen, Deputy Administrator, presented the case.

Applicant represented by Jeff Hyman, Developer, Burnside Construction, 2400 Wisconsin Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois.

Mr. Rogers - Asked if there are the same number of units?
Mr. Toberen - Yes.

Mr. Drain - Questioned if all the units will be condominiums?
Mr. Hyman - Yes.

Citizens voicing concerns, questions and comments included: None.

Public hearing closed.

Commission remarks, concerns and comments included: None.

MOTION - Mr. Rogers moved in Case Z-663A to approve applicant's request to revise the approved plan with no interior lot lines.

Motion seconded by Mrs. Zobrist.

VOTE - Mr. Rogers, yes; Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.

Case Z-663A approved.

CASE Z-588B - Divided Ridge Associates, Ltd. (Washington Trace)

Request is for approval of a new Planned Development Residential (PD-R) second stage and final plan zoning district and for a development plan for 460 single family homes, 150 multi-family dwelling units, church and daycare uses.

This case was tabled at the May 17, 2005 Zoning Commission Meeting.

Tom Toberen, Deputy Administrator, presented the case.

Applicant represented by George Oberer, Jr., Developer; and Pete Schwiegeraht, Senior Project Manager.

Mr. Toberen - Reviewed the changes in the proposed setbacks. It was determined that design flexibility does grant the Zoning Commission the ability to approve setbacks on the perimeter lots since height and area regulations are a required condition.

Mr. Schwiegeraht - Reviewed the changes made in the plan.

Mr. Drain - Who will own and maintain the township parks?
Mr. Oberer - They will be turned over to the Park District.

Mr. Oberer - Stated that it is their intention to maintain the building materials restriction that is currently in place.
Bob Surdyk, Washington Township Law Director - Indicated that the township's position would be that if the developer proposed the building restrictions, we would be able to enforce them.

Mr. Anderson - Asked how they are going to regulate the limits of the wooded areas to be saved?
Mr. Oberer - It is to their benefit to maintain the tree lines. They will ribbon those areas off. They may penetrate the areas if needed for utilities.
Mr. Anderson - Will you leave the underbrush and smaller trees?
Mr. Oberer - Indicated that they will leave the area "as is", however, the homeowner may want to do some clearing.

Mrs. Zobrist - Asked where the 8" caliper sized trees came from in the no cut zone with the original approval?
Mr. Oberer - Stated it was in the design guidelines submitted.

Mr. Drain - Asked if the developer had any concerns with the staff comments?
Mr. Schwiegeraht - They do not have any problem with the staff comments with the exception of comment #6 from Andy Ehrhart, Zoning & GIS Manager.

Citizens voicing concerns, questions and comments included:

Christine Bakhshi, 10541 Watch Hill Lane - Likes the additional open space and amenities package. However, she does not like the fact that there are more homes now on the east side of the development.

Skip Schafer, 1008 Whispering Pines - Discussed the 30' no cut zone. Mr. Schafer distributed pictures to the Zoning Commission indicating that there have been trees removed in the 30' no cut zone. He is not in favor of the new plan.

John Bradley, 10724 Falls Creek Lane - This is the first time he has heard of the 8" caliper trees that could be removed. Some trees in the buffer have been damaged by the bulldozers. Mr. Bradley was under the assumption that the lots abutting Waterbury Woods would maintain the standards of Waterbury Woods.

Charlotte Downing, 300 W. Social Row Road - Feels this is a much better plan.

Mr. Schafer - Thinks most of the trees in the no cut zone are less than 8" caliper which, according to the developer, could be removed.

Ms. Bakhshi - Would like to see the developer re-work the east side to reduce the number of lots.

Mr. Rogers - Asked if the construction drawing indicated the 30' no cut zone?
Mr. Schwiegeraht - Stated he is not prepared to answer that question since they don't have a copy of the plans with them tonight.

Mrs. Zobrist - Asked what could be built in the church/daycare area if it won't be a church or daycare?
Mr. Toberen - It could be residential as long as they did not exceed the 2.1 units per acre overall density.

Public hearing closed.

Commission remarks, concerns and comments included:

Mr. Drain - Feels there has been a lot of improvements and is in favor of moving forward with this plan. Does not have a problem with the setbacks requested.

Mr. Anderson - Likes all the parks and amenity packages. Feels the density is not an issue if the architectural style is appropriate.

Mrs. Zobrist - Feels it is a much better plan and likes the amenities package.

Mr. Rogers - Likes some of the amenities used; however, he does not feel it is in line with Create the Vision. Mr. Rogers stated he is not in favor of this plan. He also does not like the grid design with straight streets and rows of houses.

MOTION - Mr. Drain moved in Case Z-588B to approve applicant's request for approval of a new Planned Development Residential (PD-R) second stage and final plan zoning district and for a development plan for 460 single family homes, 150 multi-family dwelling units, church and daycare uses, subject to:

1) staff comments with the exception of comments #1, #2, #3, & #6 of Andy Ehrhart, Zoning & GIS Manager;

2) the landscape review by Sandra Spees, VIP Consultant;

3) the developer has stated he will abide by the building materials restrictions placed in Z-588A;

4) there being a 30' no cut zone along the west side of the project;

5) the construction debris be monitored so that the flow of the creek not interfere with downstream properties; and

6) the construction traffic be monitored to avoid traffic problems in Waterbury Woods.

Motion seconded by Mr. Anderson.

VOTE - Mr. Rogers, no; Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.

Case Z-588B approved with modifications.

Meeting adjourned. A tape recording of this proceeding is on file in the Zoning Office.

________________________________
Harry Drain, Chairman
Washington Township Zoning Commission

ZC\Minutes\June 29, 2005