McLean County Land Use and Development Committee met May 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Land Use and Development Committee of the McLean County Board met at 3:30 p.m. in Room 404, Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
Members Present: Chairman Chuck Erickson, Members Laurie Wollrab, George Wendt, Jacob Beard, Sharon Chung and Shayna Watchinski (All via remote attendance)
Members Absent: Member Lyndsay Bloomfield
Other Board Members Present:
Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator, Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator, Mr. Trevor Sierra, Assistant State’s Attorney Civil Division; Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads/ Elected Officials Present: Mr. Phil Dick, Director of Building and Zoning
Others Present:
Chairman Erickson called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m., declared a quorum and presented the minutes from the March 5, 2020 regular meeting for approval.
Motion by Chung/Watchinski to approve the minutes from the March 5, 2020 regular meeting.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Erickson presented bills that had been reviewed and recommended by the County Auditor with a prepaid and fund total of $774.09.
Motion by Wollrab/Watchinski to recommend approval of the Land Use and Development Committee bills prepaid total and fund total of $774.09.
Motion carried.
Chairman Erickson confirmed there were appearances by members of the public. Statements were read into the record from Julie Cotter, Lance Sleeter, Laurie Sleeter,
Lindsay Buchman and Jeff Powell by recording secretary Julie Morlock and are attached here to as Attachment A. (3:20 – 21:12) Mr. Erickson indicated he had asked Chairman McIntyre to attend and provide comment at the end regarding the efforts that have been made on this matter.
Chairman Erickson presented for action a request by Bryn and Kelly Holevoet for a waiver of preliminary plan requirements and approval of a two-lot subdivision final plat for the Holevoet Subdivision which is a re-subdivision of Lots 4 and 5 in Knob Hill Acres P.U.D. Mr. Dick went over the project and indicated that all requirements had been met for this proposal.
Motion by Chung/Wendt to recommend approval of a request by Bryn and Kelly Holevoet for a waiver of preliminary plan requirements and approval of a two-lot subdivision final plat for the Holevoet Subdivision which is a re- subdivision of Lots 4 and 5 in Knob Hill Acres P.U.D.
Motion Carried
Mr. Dick provided next steps for this proposal.
Mr. Phil Dick presented an update and photo of the collapsed building in the Village of Cropsey. He indicated he had spoken with owner on April 7th to get an update and was told he had hired someone to begin work to clean up the project. Mr. Dick indicated he called him back on April 27th and was informed the wall had been taken down. He indicated property has not been cleaned up much other than that, but he will stay on top of the matter. Ms. Metsker stated there was nothing taping off or preventing someone (including children) from entering and getting hurt. She asked if there is a requirement for landowners to post if the property is a hazard. Mr. Dick indicated there is nothing in our requirements that says they must do that. He stated if the Committee wanted, he would direct him to put up a fence. Ms. Metsker stated if that is the normal way, we would handle the situation then she felt we should ask him to do that. Mr. Wendt asked about a nuisance law and if it could be applied here. Mr. Dick indicated owner has been told this is a nuisance and he must clean this up. Mr. Dick indicated he could make request about fence and had already told landowner he is liable if someone is hurt on the property. Mr. Wendt stated maybe if we push for the fence, he might work to get the debris hauled away. Mr. Dick stated he felt if he continues to push him the owner will get it cleaned up.
Mr. Beard agreed we should continue to push him in this direction. He asked about the basement and if there is an open pit in the land. Mr. Dick indicated there is not an open pit but there are things that could injure people. Ms. Wollrab suggested start with fence and if he won’t agree to fence tell him to at least put up warning tape. Ms. Metsker asked if Mr. Dick had been in touch with Mr. Byer from the Township. Mr. Dick indicated he had not been in communication with him since the wall had come down. Mr. Erickson asked if there were any other questions or comments, hearing nothing he moved forward.
Mr. Erickson indicated the next item on the agenda was the process for submitting a text amendment to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Erickson stated that they had recently amended the zoning ordinance to read: “Amendments may be proposed by the County
Board, the Land Use and Development Committee of the County Board, Regional Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, any property owner or a person or organization with a property interest in the subject property.”
He stated that he and Ms. Wollrab had discussed how to bring the Land Use Committee into this process. He stated that Ms. Woods stated we cannot make any applicant come to the Land Use Committee first. He stated they wanted to put a proposal in that they could come to the County Board for advice and recommendations. He stated he proposed the following language: “An applicant may first submit a proposed text amendment to the Land Use and Development Committee of the County Board for advice and recommendations prior to submission to the Zoning Board of Appeals”.
Ms. Woods indicated her concern is the statute is very broad and does not limit who can bring any text amendments to the Zoning Board of Appeals. She indicated that even though our list is extensive we limit it somewhat and was concerned that if we limit it even more by saying only those who come to the Land Use Committee first can submit an application, then they would be in violation of the statute. Ms. Woods said that adding suggestive language to the text should be fine because it is only a suggestion. Mr. Erickson asked Ms. Wollrab if she had anything to add. She stated that reason behind addition was they felt individuals or entities could benefit from hearing from the Board first before going to the Zoning Board of Appeals because application would ultimately come back to the County Board. Mr. Erickson stated if committee is ok then would send it back to Administration to come up with language to be approved at the meeting next month. Mr. Erickson did not see any objection and asked Administration to provide language as an action item next month.
Mr. Erickson asked Mr. McIntyre to come forward and speak to the Windmill issue and efforts we have been making. (42:40) Mr. McIntyre indicated about the end of March the issue was brought to his attention and there was a meeting with the County and Invenergy to discuss the dust on the roads. He stated one of the roads that had initially been proposed for construction traffic was moved to a better road for construction, per the Road Agreement, but now goes by an additional five residences. He stated they recommended to the Company that they add more water trucks and Invenergy said they would do. He indicated that Mr. Stokes and Mr. Dick have been out monitoring. Mr. McIntyre indicated he went to the area at the end of March and he went back out later in April and while it was some better on 2900 it was not on the other two roads. He indicated traffic is also an issue as vehicles are driving fast on roads that are barely wide enough for two vehicles. Mr. McIntyre indicated he had gone out again today and did not see evidence of extra water trucks and talked to Mr. Dick and Mr. Stokes about it again. He indicated the Company is going to be applying a substance called soil tack to hopefully hold down the dust. He recommended continuing to monitor through the month of May and if they do not see this rectified then follow up with the State’s Attorney and Corporate offices in Chicago about options. He stated that Mr. Dick and Mr. Stokes have done all they can within their authority in this matter. Ms. Wollrab asked how long construction is expected to continue. Mr. McIntyre indicated at least another 10 months. Mr. Beard said he was supportive of continuing to follow up and monitor the situation. He stated that there were similar issues with past windmill construction and those have been remedied so felt this situation could be rectified. Mr. Thompson agreed there were issues with past windfarm projects at the beginning during the hauling in of equipment and gravel and figure this may get better once construction of the turbines starts. He also stated the end road will be a much better road. Mr. Thompson stated that slowing down will help with the dust that is generated and safety issue. Mr. McIntyre indicated this is a workable situation and he hoped he would not be back in front of the Committee. Mr. Erickson thanked him for coming in and providing an update. Ms. Metsker also thanked Chairman McIntyre for assisting in this matter.
Chairman Erickson indicated there were no positions filed under the purview of the Committee. He stated the next meeting would be on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.
Chairman Erickson asked if there was anything else to come before the Committee, hearing nothing he adjourned the meeting at 4:29 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7334
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