Village of Libertyville Plan Commission met Nov. 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the commission:
The regular meeting of the Plan Commission was conducted virtually due to public health concerns and called to order by Chairman Mark Moore at 7:00 p.m.
Plan Commission Members present: Chairman Mark Moore, Amy Flores, Walter Oakley, Richard Pyter, Kurt Schultz, and Eric Steffe.
Plan Commission Members absent: Matthew Krummick.
A quorum was established.
Village Staff present: John Spoden, Director of Community Development, Heather Rowe, Economic Development Coordinator, David Smith, Senior Planner, and Jeff Cooper, Village Engineer.
Comprehensive Plan Review Committee present: Chairman Bill Cotey, Mark Grote, and Matt Hickey.
Lakota Group representatives present: Nick Kalogeresis.
Commissioner Oakley moved, seconded by Commissioner Pyter, to approve the October 12, 2020, Plan Commission meeting minutes.
Motion carried 6 - 0.
OLD BUSINESS:
PC 20-25 Village of Libertyville, Applicant
118 W. Cook Avenue
Request is for an Update to the Village of Libertyville Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. John Spoden, Director of Community Development, stated that at the conclusion of last month’s meeting on the Comp Plan update the Plan Commission requested Staff, CPRC and the Lakota group to address a few unanswered items including adding a section that recommends retaining a Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to meet at least twice a year to monitor and guide implementation of the plan. He stated that a section will be added to encourage construction of dwelling units that contain first floor master bedrooms. He stated that a statement regarding the Advocate Condell Medical Center should be added to address research and development that encourages medical related development that would serve to support Advocate Condell and establish the Village as a center for the medical industry. He stated that language should be added to the Milwaukee Avenue Study Area that it is an excellent location for med-tail (medical retail) uses with offices for physicians and related facilities along with possible second story residential to address shortages in housing at an attainable rate. He stated that the TOD plans gives particular attention to the cross walk intersection at Milwaukee Avenue near the downtown Metra Station relative to pedestrian safety. He stated that at some point the creation of a separate bicycle and pedestrian plan should be considered.
Mr. Nick Kalogeresis, Lakota Group, introduced language that the Village requested to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mr. Kalogeresis stated that they are recommending that the Comp Plan states that in 2020, the Village of Libertyville responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic by providing various forms of support to its business community, including publicizing various financial assistance programs offered through the State of Illinois BIG program and the CARES Act Works For All Americans administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Aimed at its restaurant businesses, the Village also permitted temporary outdoor dining locations on public and private property as needed due to indoor dining service.
Mr. Kalogeresis stated that the Comp Plan should also note that while the long-term effects of the pandemic will not be known, there are several possible short and long-term outcomes and implications for Libertyville that include the following:
• Retaining restaurants and entertainment-related businesses. The Village will need to continue promoting available financial assistance programs, or develop new ones, to help retain a key business sector, especially for the downtown.
• Promoting multi-channel businesses. Businesses that market and interact with customers using a combination of indirect and direct communication channels – websites, retail stores, mail order catalogs, direct mail, email, and mobile – are more likely to survive the pandemic than those who do not. Providing technical assistance on multi-channel marketing may help local businesses emerge from the pandemic in a more competitive position.
• The remote worker. It is unclear what employee workplace preferences will be over the long-term — working remotely or face-to-face. Several states and communities have already evaluated co-worker space needs and developed incentive programs to attract remote workers to their communities.
• General retail impacts. Although preliminary, most market forecasters believe the Covid-19 pandemic will accelerate the decline the indoor regional malls but may provide some boost to outdoor retail and strip centers.
• Office to residential conversion. Residential will continue to prove the most resilient land use going forward in the pandemic era. The pandemic may cause companies to free up unused office space, repurposing them as housing and forcing such properties to become lifestyle driven.
• Leveraging authenticity and community. A heightened appreciation for immediate proximities will continue to influence consumer behavior following COVID-19. Deepened emotional ties to local businesses and places in Libertyville may shape demand for new businesses, services and experiences, building on the community’s strong sense of authenticity.
Mr. Spoden stated that this issue will change how planning will be done in the next few years. He stated that one of the more important reasons for keeping the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee active is to examine parking implications in the downtown for the near term. He stated that the need for parking seems to be trending downward.
Commissioner Pyter asked if the rezoning of properties should commence in response to the land use guide in the Comprehensive Plan or should the Village wait for someone to come in and propose a project.
Mr. Spoden stated that rezoning is typically based upon the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that the proposed Comp Plan update reflects the zoning that is currently in place. He stated that there are certain areas that would be subject to development such as the area in the northwest corridor of the Village where the Prairie Crossings Metra Stations located but this would be put on hold until the land fill is closed. He stated that in other areas such as the Fould’s building would not be rezoned but is better suited for a Planned Development proposal in order to adapt that building for a different land use. He stated that with a built out community like Libertyville that it is better to not rezone properties without development proposals.
Commissioner Pyter asked what the status is of the Rt. 53 extension.
Mr. Spoden stated that it does not seem likely to happen anytime soon. He stated that the Village of Libertyville has gone on record to support the extension.
Mr. Mark Grote, committee member of the CPRC, stated that although the Comp Plan Update has taken longer than expected it is good to have a fresh perspective on future changes to the Libertyville community.
Commissioner Steffe stated that he likes the additions being proposed tonight including the text regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mr. Matt Hickey, committee member of the CPRC, asked for clarification as to the role the CPRC would have as it relates to parking regulations in the Village as there already is a Parking Commission in the Village.
Mr. Spoden stated that CPRC would examine the bigger picture relative to an overall parking policy for example the development of the Trimm property, not the day to day regulation or enforcement of parking regulations.
Commissioner Schultz stated that he supports the additional language regarding the implications of COVID-19.
Commissioner Oakley stated that it was a good presentation and he also supports the additional language regarding COVID-19.
Commissioner Flores stated that it is a very good Comp Plan and agrees with the addition of the language regarding COVID-19.
Chairman Moore thanked and praised everyone for their input, time and effort put into the development of the Comp Plan Update. He stated that he would like to offer some additional ideas that might be worth thinking about but not necessarily needing to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan and that would Logistics and Life Sciences.
Mr. Spoden stated that he is ready for the Plan Commission to make their recommendation to the Village Board to approve the Comprehensive Plan Update.
In the matter of PC 20-25, Commissioner Oakley moved, seconded by Commissioner Flores, to recommend that the Village Board of Trustees approve the Village of Libertyville 2030 Comprehensive Plan, an update to the 2005 Comprehensive Plan subject to the proposed revisions and additions as outlined in the November 6, 2020 Development Review Committee Report and in accordance with the documents submitted.
Motion carried 6 - 0.
Ayes: Moore, Flores, Oakley, Pyter, Schultz, Steffe
Nays: None
Absent: Krummick
NEW BUSINESS: None.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSION:
Mr. John Spoden, Director of Community Development, stated that Staff is recommending that the Comp Plan will go to the Committee of the Whole for review and discussion before being placed on the Village Board of Trustees agenda for approval.
Commissioner Pyter moved, seconded by Commissioner Steffe, to adjourn the Plan Commission meeting.
Motion carried 6 - 0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m
http://www.libertyville.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11092020-1508
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