Village of Homer Glen 14331 South Golden Oak Drive Homer Glen, Illinois 60491 Tuesday, April 3, 2007 7:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Special Board Meeting Homer Junior High School 15711 S. Bell Road Homer Glen, IL
A. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order on April 3, 2007 by Mayor Russ Petrizzo at 7:37 p.m. in the Homer Junior High School Cafeteria 15711 South Bell Road, Homer Glen. B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG C. ROLL CALL Present at 7:37 p.m. were Mayor Russ Petrizzo, Trustees Brian Andrews, Marcia DeVivo, Christopher Locacius, Margaret Sabo, and Dale Vogelsanger. Trustee Mary Niemiec arrived at 7:40 p.m. All remained present throughout the meeting. Also present on behalf of the Village were Village Clerk Gale Skrobuton, Village Manager Dwight Johnson, Community Development Director Jeff Harris, and Village Attorney Ken Carlson. A quorum was established. D. GALLAGHER AND HENRY/EDGEMARK DEVELOPMENT NORTHEAST OF 159 TH STREET AND PARKER ROAD. 1. Staff Comments Village Attorney Ken Carlson provided a general review of the project, the Development Agreement and Economic Incentive Agreement. The project overview of the 159.18 acres located at the northeast corner of 159 th and Parker Road covered: Single Family Residential 63.90 acres; Multi-Family Residential 43.39 acres; and Commercial approximately 41-1/2 acres. 2. Public Comment Statements regarding the Gallagher and Henry Edgemark Development were made by: 1. George Yukich, 17005 Burr Oak Drive stated that he has been on the Plan Commission for two years and when Mr. Gallagher first came before the Plan Commission his proposal was shut down as it was too big. Changes were then made including cutting down the size of the condos and townhouses, adding parks, and doubling the retention areas. Mr. Yukich stated that what Mr. Gallagher is trying to do is for the benefit of Homer Glen. 2. Don Rudolph, 14940 Will Cook Road commented that building has to continue in the area in order get a better tax base. 3. Tracy Talley, 13363 Maverick Trail commented on the flooding problems in the area surrounding the proposed Gallagher and Henry development and asked if there was a time limit on the completion of a development. Mr. Talley questioned the size of the retention ponds the parking areas for the condos. 4. Julie Stoklosa, 15262 Silo commented that nothing is ever going to be what everyone wants and it is important that this commercial area be developed. 5. Nancy Ekins, 13306 West Doede Lane stated that she is concerned about the detention areas on this property and she hasn t seen anything about a comprehensive water study being completed. Ms. Ekins also stated her concern about the increased traffic on 159 th and Parker. 6. Barb Mikel, 13664 Deer Valley commented that she is not opposed to the Jewel being built, but she has heard that this development is a done deal. Village of Homer Glen Page 1 of 4
7. Marvin Pickering, 13525 Gougar Road stated that he has lived in the area since 1962 and has watched the flooding problems continue to grow. He commented that where you have multifamily housing you need more police and more teachers in the schools. 8. Barbara Wolfe, 13308 Chicago Bloomington Trail voiced her concern about sewage treatment and she has not seen it addressed. 9. Cathy & David Boo, 15850 West Shady Lane stated that they own commercial property along 159 th Street and are concerned about the plans the Village has for commercial. They are also concerned about the overcrowding in the schools and the amount of money that is being given to the schools. 10. Michael McMahon, 14663 Teal stated that there is a basic lack of trust with Gallagher and Henry. Homer Glen is unlike other communities in the area because we have land and we are trading land for asphalt and the developers are charging high prices for houses. Mr. McMahon questioned why we are paying so much in taxes to the schools. 11. Julie O Bradovich, 15549 Elder Court stated that this development would be in her front yard and feels that a compromise has been made with everyone. She feels is a positive thing that Gallagher and Henry will be making road improvements and putting in two much needed parks. 12. Martin Zielke, 14203 King Road is concerned that there has been no discussion about the variances that the builder needs to make his plan work. He would like to see what the plan would look like with no variances. Mr. Zielke also stated that this community is supposed to be a single-family community and with all the condominiums and townhouses it doesn t fit in with the plan. 13. Chris Cralle, 13715 South Janas Parkway commented that many new ordinances have been approved that are more developer-friendly than citizen-friendly. The horses have been eliminated, the barns are gone, and the open space is being eliminated. Mr. Cralle asked for the Board s loyalty to the citizens of Homer Glen and not the developers. 14. Frank Bujan, 13131 Hidden Valley Drive voiced his concern about the real estate taxes and questioned if there was any information available regarding the taxes to be generated from this development and the projected number of students as stated by the school districts. 15. Laurel Ward, 15429 West 139 th Street stated that what is being proposed is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and does not meet our Zoning Ordinance. She contacted a land use engineer and asked him to review the proposal and found that our Comp Plan calls for 75 acres of single-family homes, 26 acres of multi-family and 50 acres of commercial. What is being proposed is 63.9 acres of single family, 43.9 acres of multi-family leaving only 43.4 acres of commercial. She voiced her concerns about how this proposal is being presented and reviewed. 16. Russell Knaack, 13911 West 167 th Street presented information on the number of students that this development would add to the school system. Mr. Knaack stated that after reviewing the realistic figures, the school district will have $1 million dollars in debt to School District 33C by the year 2014. 17. Jim Daley, 12708 West Hadley stated that if the proposed development by Gallagher and Henry is approved, it will be legally binding to all future administrations for 20 years. There is nothing in this agreement that we can achieve with a Special Use Permit. Mr. Daley commented that the Comprehensive Plan reads that while Homer Glen should continue to be primarily a single-family residential community, the Village will consider a limited amount of new high quality multi-family housing in select locations provided the developments are Village of Homer Glen Page 2 of 4
characterized by innovative site planning, significant number of open space, and are compatible with the nearby existing residential areas. This development is 69% multi-family and 31% single family and is not compatible with the existing residential areas. 18. Ann Holtz, 13355 Farm View stated that the multi-family appeals to a market that exists. The Village cannot legally stop development and she supports this project. It will benefit the subdivision with much-needed parks and the added retention areas. 19. Evelyn K. Walano, 14425 Hillcrest Road commented that she was on the Plan Commission and this development was denied by the Commission. The plan has gone through many revisions since then, but she feels is a good plan and fits in the Comprehensive Plan. 20. John Lahey, 13231 Maverick Trail commented about the standing water in his back yard and the proposed additional retention ponds that will just bring more problems because it cannot absorb the water and he will have even more water in his back yard. 21. Jeff Strunka, 15713 West 139 th Street commented about Homer Glen s Mission Statement and that this development does not fit in. The Village should pick a Mission Statement and stick with it. 22. John Winter, 13703 Deer Valley Drive commented he wants to stay in Homer Glen and eventually wants to build a new home in the Village. In order for our taxes not to go up we have to be smart in development, and he feels that this development has an affordable solution for people who cannot afford million dollar homes. 23. Ed Bachner, 15522 Hawk Haven stated this development originally had small lots and everything was jammed together. Gallagher and Henry knowingly came in with a ridiculous plan and gradually made changes so everyone would think that with theses changes showed how much was worked out and now it was a great plan. 24. Bill Karn, 14463 West Hickory Avenue commented that he was on the Plan Commission from the very beginning and the Ordinance states that condominiums and town homes should be figured on the net area and each one of those units should be sitting on its own one-acre lot. The most condos you can put on this area is 48 and Gallagher and Henry is trying to put 112. 25. Cynthia Rataj, 15500 Red Cedar Trail stated that she wants stricter rules to limit multi-family housing and less granting of variances. 26. Jack Perrin, 12426 Rose Wood Drive commented that the problem with Gallagher and Henry is that they never finish a development. He lives in Kingston Hills and what was promised has not been completed. E. ADJOURNMENT Trustee Vogelsanger made a motion to adjourn the meeting, second by Trustee Andrews. Voice Vote All in favor: (6) Trustee Andrews, DeVivo, Locacius, Niemiec, Sabo, and Vogelsanger. Nays: None (0) Motion Carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m. Village of Homer Glen Page 3 of 4
Respectfully Submitted, Gale Skrobuton, Village Clerk Approved at the Board of Trustees Meeting dated Village of Homer Glen Page 4 of 4