Planning & Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

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[Music] [Music] All right. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call the October 6th meeting of the Elgen Planning and Zoning Commission to order. Will staff please call the role. Commissioner present. Commissioner Jones here. Commissioner Olsen

here. And comm Chairman Wermouth here. We have a quorum. Great. All right. Now we will uh move on to the approval of minutes from the September 8th, 2025 minutes. I can have a motion to approve those minutes. So moved. I move to approve. Is there a second? Second. Staff, please call the role. Commissioner Jones, yes. Commissioner Olsen, yes. Commissioner Boske, yes. And Chairman Wermore, yes. The minutes are approved. Four to zero.

All right. Uh we'll move on to the chairman's opening statement. So good evening everyone and welcome to the October 6th, 2025 meeting of the Elgen Planning and Zoning Commission. Tonight we're going to be hearing two petitions 29-25 and 17-24. Um before we move on to the agenda, I want to briefly discuss the role of the commission and the procedures of tonight's meeting. As a reminder, the planning and zoning commission is an advisory and recommending body to city council. The job of this commission is to review development proposals and determine whether a proposal meets the applicable standards of review. So, the process that we're going to go through tonight is that we will first hear from city staff followed by questions of the commission um that the commission has for staff. Then we'll invite the applicant to provide a brief overview of their proposal and the commission will then ask questions of the applicant. After that, we will open the hearing to public for questions and comments. During the public comment period, please come forward, state your name and spell it and provide your address. Public comments should be addressed to the commission who will keep notes of the questions, concerns raised, and then city staff and the applicant will have the opportunity to address those questions. Um, in the interest of time, we ask that those testifying do not reiterate points that have already been made. The commission will then deliberate, vote, and pass its recommendation to city council. In all cases, planning and zoning commission meetings are the forums for public hearings for each project. It's where all parties can provide comments or ask questions. At this time, we'll move ahead with the agenda. Uh, so those of you who wish to speak tonight should now stand and take the oath from the court reporter. We raise your hands, please.

Thank you. All right, we'll look to staff for the first uh petition 209-25.

Thank you, Chairman Wildermouth, and good evening, everyone. So, and for the record, we have provided the required notice on the first petition before you. This is the application by Todd Sylvia as applicant and Elgen Improvements LLC as the property owner who are requesting approval of a conditional use for a commercial event space for activities pertaining to the assembly of people to allow gaming events within the existing retail store commonly referred to as 1341 Manor Court. And as usual, we will start with the site location of the subject property. This is a 4,420 square foot commercial tenant space that is part of Wink Park Shopping Center. Wing Park Shopping Center is located at the southeast corner of North Mlan Boulevard and Wing Street here on the map outlined uh in red. The shopping center includes several buildings uh both single user buildings and multi-tenant buildings includes the Walgreens building on the far north end. The subject tenant space in the back building with direct access off Weston Avenue outline in red. The shopping center zone PAB plan area business district that was originally established in 2010 when the Walgreens building was approved. As you can see, the properties to the west across MLAN Boulevard have the same red shade. So they have the same AB zoning classification and they are improved with a variety of one and twostory commercial office buildings. To the north just off the screen is the uh U46 Illinois Park School which is zone CF Community Facility District. Uh to the south across Eco Drive is Calvary Lutheran Church, zone CF Community Facility District. And then finally to

the east across Weston Avenue are single family homes zone SFR or RC1. Here are a couple more photographs of the existing multi-tenant shopping center. These are the two buildings that face North Mlan Boulevard. So, the applicant, the owner of the existing Boris Hat gaming retail store is requesting approval to be able to hold gaming events within the retail space. They have opened up in fall of 2024. Originally, they were in Tyler Creek Plaza and ultimately moved to this location to uh have a larger space to be able to have these events. They are proposing to designate about 3,000 square ft of the existing uh 4,400 foot tenant space for these gaming events. As you can see, the layout indicates about 100 chairs and for, you know, up to 100 persons for these gaming events. The remainder of the retail space uh would include these retail racks, some bathrooms, uh and a small meeting room in the back of the tenant space. The applicant is proposing to add two more restrooms to satisfy the Illinois plumbing code. The proposed event space for the gaming uh for the games is essential in the trading card retail industry. Customers purchase card games and different supplies. They play games with other players, discover new strategies, and ultimately uh purchase more products from the retail store. The existing retail store is open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Sundays, the facility is closed. The applicant is not proposing to make

any changes to the existing hours of operation. Um, once per quarter, the space would be open until 1:00 a.m. on a Friday and then also once per quarter, they would be open until 900 p.m. on a Saturday. They are not proposing any changes to the site other than um the proposed sign on the building which will have to comply with the signed ordinance requirements. So the event space is required to provide one parking space per four seats and then one stall per each employee with 100 seats and three employees during these events. Uh the space is required to have 28 parking spaces with the rest of the tenants and the retail uh service uses and and restaurants within the shopping center. The entire shopping center is required to have a total of 331 parking spaces. Um, excuse me, 329. There are 331 parking spaces on site. So, the shopping center is going to continue to meet the parking requirements. The applicant at the request of staff has submitted a parking study to demonstrate that there is adequate parking within the shopping center. Uh, the the their parking counts indicate that the shopping center is busiest on a Saturday morning, midday, when approximately 19% of all parking spaces are occupied. It's about 64 parking spaces. That means that about 267 parking spaces are still available for this event space and other future tenants within the shopping center. The proposal is required to meet the standards for conditional use. We have provided our overview of standards in the packet and staff believes that the applicable standards have been satisfied and therefore staff recommends approval subject to the conditions in the packet. With that, I'm happy to answer any

questions. The applicant is here as well can address the commission. All right. Um, we will start with questions and I will start on my right with Commissioner Olsen. Uh, just one question. Is there a certain amount of people that participate in these gaming events that requires the special use or is it just overall the overall concept of congregation for events in itself requires this type of, you know, conditional use approval? Okay, no further questions. Thank you. You're welcome, Commissioner Jones. No questions. Thanks, Deir.

Commissioner Buske, no questions. All right. Um, we will call up the applicant to share their uh overview perspective um on the uh petition. Yep. Go ahead.

Hello. Good evening. Uh my name is Todd Sylvvia. I'm one of the owners of Gaming. Um, we have been, uh, again, open at this location since February of this year. We're currently doing retail, so that would be things like Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, these types of card games targeted towards young adults and, um, older kids. And we're just seeking approval to be able to host events. And, uh, by that mean basically inviting customers to come and play the card games with their friends or with other um, customers that we have, which allows the players to form a community with other people as well as increase the retail sales um, of our business. And then we also believe that it'll benefit the other businesses nearby as people will spend a lot of time in our store. So we would anticipate like for instance Little Caesars in that area but probably see an uptick in traffic and maybe the Walgreens and some other places. So um I'm happy to answer any questions uh that you guys may have.

All right, great. Thanks. Um I will start on my left with uh Commissioner Bowke. I don't have any questions, but I do want to say that I like the fact that you want to create uh an environment where people can gather and do things that, you know, they they love to do and it will also bring like you said economic value to that whole area. So, I appreciate what you guys are doing. Thank you, Commissioner Jones. You guys are operating a little bit now. Yes. Okay. Is there any possibility that you can encourage your folks to park in the parking lots that are available rather than on the streets?

Um, yeah. I mean, we're definitely open to ways that we can help communicate, whether that's put up signage to kind of help direct customers in particular directions if that's something that we I mean, I obviously would be all for that because I know there's parking spaces on the other side of that like building, but maybe it's not immediately obvious to our customers at present. So, yeah, it looks like that was the comments that we heard from there and some of the neighborhoods. So that would be nice to try to encourage him to there's so much parking parking lot available. That'd be nice. Thank you so much, Commissioner Olsen.

Yeah, just one question. Um I actually stopped by your business two weeks ago. Um I see that you guys kind of have most of the tables and stuff set up. Have you guys been doing any of the, you know, sort of gaming so far? You know, maybe not to the extent that's being, you know, presented tonight, but have you guys already kind of started that a little bit? Yeah, we we came over from like another location that was like a lot smaller. And so we're just trying to do what we can every day to kind of make sense and make sure we're doing all the paperwork and stuff like that. But yeah, one of the things after assuming this gets approved would be to do improvements to the unit like redo the floors and kind of like freshen up the space, but we're just working with the landlord through this process before that. Great. Thank you.

All right. I don't have any questions. Thank you. Um, so you can go ahead and uh go ahead and go back to your seat and um I will look to staff if you have any closing remarks. Oh, public comment. Sorry. Is there any comment from the public? All right. Seeing none, I will look to staff for any closing remarks. Nothing further to add. Uh staff believes that applicable standards are satisfied and staff recommends approval subject to the conditions of the packet. Sounds good. Is there a motion um for petition 29 29-25?

I move to recommend that the city council approve petition 29-25 subject to the conditions outlined within the staff report and to adopt as the findings of the commission the documents and conditions provided in such staff. Is there a second? A second. Can staff call the role? Commissioner Jones. Yes. Commissioner Boske. Yes. Commissioner Olsen. Yes. And Chairman Wildermouth. Yes. The motion is approved four to zero.

All right. Great. Thanks. Uh staff will be back in touch um with next steps. So, thank you so much for coming and um sharing tonight. Um the next item up is a map amendment to plan development which is petition uh 17-24. Okay, moving right along this uh second petition and again staff has provided the required notice on this one as well. So the second petition is the application by Sundep Oberoy as applicant and property owner who is requesting approval of a map amendment to the PAB plan area business district established by ordinance number G1407 with departures from the Elgen Municipal Code requirements to allow for the adaptive reuse of a portion of the existing multi-tenant office building for residential use as an apartment dwelling as defined by the Elgen zoning ordinance at the property commonly known as 860 Summit Street. Again, we'll start with the general site location of the subject property, uh, outlined here in yellow. This is a 3.1 acre property that is on the north side of Summit Street, generally between Waverly and Hayawata Drive. It is zoned PAB planned area business district that dates back to 1998 when the city approved the construction of a Dominic's grocery store on that vacant land immediately to the east. However, uh that grocery store was never commenced. The parking lot was constructed as you can see, but the building itself was never commenced. Then later in ' 07, the city approved an amendment to that plan development when the city approved the O'Reilly Auto Parts store that's currently known as

854 Summit Street, directly south of and in front of the subject property along Summit Street. As you can see, the properties to the east, to the west, and then to the south, they're all zoned the same. AB Area Business District or PAB Planned Area Business District. To the east is the vacant land uh that was approved for a uh multi- or commercial and residential plan development known as Bellacasa that was supposed to have 151 apartments or dwelling units. That project was up until recently going through the uh permitting process, but we received a word late last week that the applicant may be pulling and not deciding to proceed. So, we shall see what happens. Uh but the properties to the west are uh uh a mix of one uh one-story buildings that include either single tenants or multi-tenants uh generally commercial uses. To the south, same thing. U commercial properties that include a variety of buildings and uses. And then to the north, as you can see, are residential properties along Jefferson Avenue. Those are several multifamily buildings which is which are zone MFR multifamily residence district. The subject property is improved with an approximately 44,000 square foot building and a surface parking lot surrounding the building that has 143 parking spaces. The building in itself is consists of four four separate buildings. They're known as four separate buildings that are connected by uh inter internal or interior corridors. Uh the the building to the south as that's known as the building one is the

one that is mostly occupied. The other three buildings are generally vacant and and not occupied with any tenants. Uh the building is unique in that the lower level is slightly uh elevated. Uh so the windows are visible above grade. This the middle picture probably shows that the best and that means that the the first floor is slightly elevated as well. So it's a one-story building but it's sort of a high one-story building. The access to the property is um across the Orley property immediately to the south to Summit Street. So the applicant is requesting the approval for the adaptive reuse of the northern three buildings to convert those buildings to 34 residential units. So this is a site plan that's kind of rotated. North is on the left. Summit Street is on the right. This is the O'Reilly building and then this is the subject building that consists of these four sort of separate buildings that are connected. Uh this is the building one closest to O'Reilly and Summit that is mostly occupied and these are buildings two, three and four that are proposed to be converted to residential units. So the applicant would keep the front building as uh as is for for office uses about about 6,000 square feet. The building is occupied with primarily medical office users and they would all remain u currently the zoning allows for dwelling units above the first floor. So the applicant is proposing on the lower level and then on the first floor of all buildings and that's why there is a need for an amendment and zoning approval to that plan development. Overall there are minor site changes proposed. Most of the changes are to the

to the buildings on the interior. But on the uh overall on the site plan, they're proposing to relocate the uh uh the refuge collection area, the dumpster from this location in the back down to a more centralized location here in the front that will be enclosed with a 6ft high solid wall that frees up four parking spaces. It brings that number of parking spaces on site from 143 to 147. They would also install a water mane that kind of loops around the building to provide uh the necessary water connection for the sprinkler system and then for the for the fire hydrants. And then the applicant is proposing a um uh a recreational amenity for the residents like an outdoor seating area here uh with two covered canopies uh that's generally in the this is along the east property line. This is the first floor plan. Um, as I mentioned, most of the improvements are to the on the interior of the buildings and some on the exterior to modify the windows. Um, the 34 units are in the second, third, and fourth building. This is the 6,000 foot front building uh that would have multi-tenants here. There are 22 studios proposed with sizes ranging from 6 633 to 720 square ft in floor area. There are three one-bedroom units that range from 853 to 891 square ft in floor area and then nine two-bedroom units that range from uh 11 square ft to 1130 square ft. All of these unit sizes exceed the minimum floor area requirements by the zoning ordinance. And then here's the lower level uh plan

for the building. The front building would have uh storage units on the ground on the on the lower level. And then the buildings two, three, and four would have a mix of residential units. Overall, building two would have 10 dwelling units. Building three, which is this one right here, would have 12 and then building four would also have 12 units from the parking standpoint. The propos so the every dwelling unit based on their the size of each unit, they're required to have two parking spaces per dwelling unit. The 34 dwelling units that is a total of 68 parking spaces required for the residential component of the building. And then the uh medical office users in the front building are required to have 29 parking spaces. Overall, that's a total of nine or 97 parking spaces required for the entire property. As I mentioned, they they have 147 parking spaces on site. So, it far exceeds the the requirement by the zoning ordinance. These are the um proposed elevations for the building. The one on the top is the partial south elevation facing the um Summit Street and then the one on the bottom is the partial west elevation of that building two. The proposal includes two departures from the zoning ordinance. The first one is as I mentioned for the location of the dwelling units proposed. The zoning ordinance allows them only above the first floor. They're proposing on the lower level, the basement level and then on the first floor. And then second, the departure is for the recre location of that recreational equipment. It's generally allowed only in the rear yard. Uh this property has a parking lot in the back. So the recreational amenity is generally in the sideyard east of that building 4. The proposal is required to meet the

standards for map amendments and standards for plan developments. uh our overview of the standards in the staff report and we believe that all applicable standards are satisfied. With that, staff recommends approval subject to the conditions in the packet and the applicant and his architecture here. They can address the commission. All right. Thanks. Um Commissioner Jones, no questions. Thank you. Commissioner Boske, uh no questions for staff. Commissioner Olsen, no questions for staff. And I don't have any questions for staff at this time.

All right, we'll call upon the applicant and uh come forward.

Hello. All right. Good evening.

How you doing? Good evening. My name is Sunday Boboy. I've owned the building at 860 Summit since I think somewhere around 2011. It's about 14 years. It was a commercial building largely intended for um medical office space and um over the years just the demand for medical office space has shrunk because there are fewer doctors that are starting their own medical practices. Um, you know, most of the units in the building were developed as this dock in the box approach where they were designed with u uh a you know a reception area and anywhere from two to five um exam rooms and u most doctors in the last 8 to 10 years have actually sold their practices and have gone to work for hospitals. So we're seeing very little demand for commercial space uh one from the medical community and then uh to the extent that there is some activity a lot of that activity seems to have moved to Randall Road instead of what used to be on Summit Street. So, you know, I a couple years ago I had a meeting with uh the honorable mayor and uh one of the things that came out was, you know, residential space there was, you know, maybe five or 10% of of vacancy. Uh industrial space was like maybe 2% vacancy, but office space particularly after CO has been a challenge. So with all of those

developments, you know, we were we we approached the city and wanted to see if we could um uh you know, turn it residential. It's a beautiful building, but unfortunately, as a commercial building in the last 11 years, we we went from 60% vacancy to almost 80% vacancy now. And so we're hoping if we turn it into residential, we'll be able to get most of it leased. It'll be good for the community. Uh there is a large residential community around it. And then there's the grocery stores and some commercial activity there as well. So we're hoping that the planning and zoning committee will will approve our our application. Great.

We're happy to answer questions. All right, sounds good. Um, I will start with Commissioner Olsen. Sure. Thank you so much. Um, great project it looks like. Excited to see this redeveloped and actually have a good use in that neighborhood. So, few questions for you. Um, with the commercial building, if at any point in the future that became vacant, would there be intention to convert that to residential as well or leave it commercial or haven't gotten that far yet? Well, at this point, I'm hoping we can leave a commercial. We have now, you know, some of the doctors we have have been there. I mean, one of the doctors been there for 35 years. Mhm.

Um, they don't seem to have a desire to move. And if the residential community in the area grows, um, they're happy to be there. It's it's the new doctors that we we're having trouble with. Um um in the pharmacy that we had in the building, they've had challenges because of Walgreens and CVS. In fact, Chris, who ran the pharmacy, sold his business and his book of business to Walgreens and went to work for them. And you know, so those are the challenges. We, you know, I'd be open to uh the idea of turning it um residential, but we wanted it to have the least impact on the existing tenants. So, you know, uh with what we're doing, uh the existing tenants will have zero impact. they'll be able to continue running their business and be able to provide service to the the the tenants we we're hoping to bring in who can live there.

Great. Um, is there going to be kind of designated parking for those tenants in that commercial building versus residential or is it just kind of all mixed in? it is mixed in at this time. And you know, some of that we might decide as we you know, if if there is a conflict, we might move uh you know, uh some of the parking areas to be reserved. Uh we could they could be assigned uh once I mean if it gets to that point, the parking spots can be assigned to units. They can have a number and then everybody uses their assigned spot. Interesting. Can you please could you Oh, sorry. Could you state your name for the court reporter, please? Christian. I'm with C3D Architects. Thank you.

Um, sorry, I had a list here. I'm just running through. Um, I noticed that there's a lot of old dead trees on the property, some old dead fencing. Um, you know, things like that is all going to be kind of cleaned up and taken care of as well. Okay. And then I know you guys have to install a new water man. Will the parking lot be completely replaced through the back as well? Yeah, I'm hoping we'll have a brand new parking lot. Uh that might be one of the first few things we do because if we're ever going to sell these or get people to live in these apartments, the first thing they're going to see is the parking lot. So, and the outside amenities, right, they have to be appealing and attractive.

So, before we hit the units themselves, we'll probably do the community stuff first because that will help fill in the the residential units. Uh, last question. There's that um driveway that connects to the rear of the property that goes out to Higher Walla Drive. Is that going to be maintained? Obviously, it's not your property, but is that going to be an entrance and exit still? I would love to have it because I I suspect we have an easement

that allows traffic to come in through the back. You know, some of what we I have observed and you know, some of our tenants have complained about is the entrance that we have that is on Summit Street is a little bumpy. You know, it's and if you had an older vehicle with the shock absorbers are a little older, then it um hits the Yeah, it hits, you know, your your bumper will hit the payment. So, I'd like to see a lot of our residential tenants use the back entrance and for that we will probably need the owners next door to cooperate.

Yeah, absolutely. That's what I was asking is it's in terrible condition. Uh a lot of broken glass, shopping carts, trees, everything there. Uh but I definitely think it would be a good and we, you know, if we had enough activity, we'd probably go in and demand that. We haven't had I mean you know most of our um traffic traffic comes in from the front of the building and then there is the there are two entrances I think the other one that comes in from where um the CASA east a little east entrance

that is a nicer entrance so I think a lot of the traffic comes in from that side but yeah I mean that would be something I'd like to see our our residential tenants use because it just seems like you could get in and out without having to deal with traffic on the main road. Yeah, absolutely. No more questions. Thank you so much. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Jones, no questions. Thanks. Thank you, Commissioner Boske.

Uh, most of my questions have been asked, but I do want to add that reusing a space is key for, uh, smart city solutions. I'm a strong advocate for things that leave a small footprint and create, um, more of an economic impact. Walkability is is going to be great for people who live there, although it's not a um low income per se. It's very attainable with the prices that I've seen. So, I'm I'm excited to see the uh the project come to fruition. Thank you.

Um and I'm just curious if there's been feedback from the existing tenants in the commercial space. You know, um most of the tenants, um I've communicated with them. I provided them this information. Uh there was one tenant who had some questions and I've had a conversation with them and uh they're happy to work with us. Uh there's one tenant who is located in one of the other three buildings that we're going to turn residential

and um they're going to move to the front of the building. So I think um that helps our commercial tenants and then based on what we have just about everything in the in the back three buildings can be turned residential. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. We will now um you can have a seat. We'll turn it over to public comment and then we'll see if there's any questions. Thank you. There's one name on the signin sheet, I believe.

So, that was on my um so we do have one name on the signin sheet. Um and that is uh forgive me if I say the the name wrong. Um last name is Martinez. Phil, is that right?

Yeah.

Yes. Uh my name is Phil Martinez. Uh I live in that general area uh close to like Blackhawk and Congden Avenue. I go by there daily many times. And nothing personal against you or anything like that, but the property already is in it's in bad shape. It has been for many many years. I don't know if you guys realize the the shape that that's in is in a U a horseshoe. And in the past, Elgen has always had trouble with these type of apartment arrangement, building arrangements with the parking area in the middle where bad activities happen. Look at the property behind butas. I don't know what the name of the property is now. Um, Hunter Ridge, they have areas where you could uh have illicit activity going on. The city always had trouble with them. um Malberry Court, um Popular Creek, that was a big problem with them, too, where you could go back into the streets and they we used to have a lot of gang activity, drug activity, uh prostitution, and um it's just a bad setup and we're asking for trouble here, especially if it has a two exits from one from Summit and one from Waverly. Usually the police department doesn't like that because it's hard for them to control things, but um I I I just wish it would stay um commercial. A block to the north is Jefferson Street. There's smaller buildings there, 68 units. Um on the north side of the street are duplexes. And we we have look at the reports. We

have we've had shootings. We've had uh gang activity in the past. I mean, not not too long ago. And and I know because I I read it all the time on on the police reports. And I think this is like the last thing that we need here. I don't know why we can't look for something more appropriate for this area because everything in to the to the east and to the west is all commercial. Why not keep it that way? Uh, I mean, offer the property to ECC or Judson for a satellite facility or a memory care or or, you know, a physical rehab center or something like that. I mean, come on. It's just th this is a I think if this was a really high-end um product that would be really nice. But generally the they they start in really nice, they fix them really nice because they have to come in and sell it. But then the the owners either sell or they come in with the new management company and it's not the same quality. that then it all becomes a a dollar thing where they have to make a profit and that's their main concern and everything it just it just in Elgen it just never really works good and uh as time goes by and we're just going to end up with with problems. I mean the parking in the area there is to me is the main concern that should stand out to you guys looking at this uh situation. It's a they you can't see anything from Waverly, from Summit. Uh you can't see anything from Jefferson. It's just a good thing to to hide um bad activities.

So, I mean, I wish you guys would consider it and and either because you look at the thing, it it's 21 studios. It's um uh the one-bedroom units. It's not one of these where you're they're going to ask a lot of a lot of money and you're they're going to ask for people um that don't necessarily need a lot of money for a place to live. And we're asking for trouble. And to me that concerns me for somebody that's lived there for over I've been I am born and raised in Elgen and in that area we moved in there 31 32 years ago and it's still a very nice area to live in and I like it. But I'd like to keep it that way, too. But I think this isn't going to help. And just go I mean, go back and look at the reports on Jefferson. You'll see the lot of activity problems. Drive up and down the pro the property there. And it's not what it used to be. And and I think it's because it changes ownership or management companies. And the same is going to happen here. I'm not saying that they're they're going to be like that, but in time it it seems like it always happens. is just in a matter of 5 to 10 years, you'll see the the property start to change. It won't be as nice uh kept as as when it originally is is set up, but keep it in mind.

Thank you very Thanks very much for your comments. I've got a Do we think a question for the the applicant wants to address any of this? The other member of the applicant's team is here. Certainly we can u see if the other member of the can address the commission or any other questions. Yeah. Or I there was one question for I think maybe maybe staff can answer while we Sure. Wait. Uh there was a comment about the the easement and the two entrances. I don't know if you can speak to that.

I can certainly answer that. Uh, so does I was trying to pull up the survey for the property adjacent to the east where that easement would be located and it does not appear that there is a cross access easement on the property adjacent to the east that allows for uh access to to Waverly Drive. There are other easements up there for sewers and and water mane and whatnot, but not a cross access easement along the north. There is, as the applicant has indicated, there is a crossaxis easement towards the front of the property uh sort of directly from O'Reilly to the east and then it kind of goes down to the driveway to Summit Street. So, but along the back there isn't one.

Thank you. I I would suggest opening up to the the rest of the public there's

Let's uh Yeah. Is there any other public comment on this petition? All right. Um, seeing none, I'd like to offer the opportunity for the applicant uh to come forward and address any of the concerns raised if they'd like. Yeah, I'm not sure I understand all the concerns, but one of the things that popped out was whether these studios are going to be affordable. Um, if uh affordability is a detriment, I I would disagree with that. Um, and uh uh because they're studios um I don't know enough about what kind of gang activity takes place in Elgen and um what the reference says are. So unfortunately I can't talk about um you know why this building uh would not have the same problems the other uh areas have had. I can tell you this. Um, if that building stays vacant, there is a greater risk of, you know, um, bad activity taking place over having a building that is has residents in the building. So, I mean, that's um, that would be my position.

Thanks. Thanks so much. Just wanted to give you an opportunity to address the commission. All right. Um, you can go ahead and have a seat and we will Is there any other public comment on this petition? If not, we will close the public comment portion and look to staff for any closing. Oh, is there any other uh Sorry. Is there any other questions of the commission?

Uh, maybe you can answer this, Demir. Do you know if they're planning any lighting outside in that parking lot on the building? Uh, cameras, anything of that sort? Their plans do not indicate any new lighting or cameras.

But I've opened the can

Chris with C3D Architects. Um the uh site plan will be detailed and uh will be uh developed to the standards required for a parking lot. So it will have new uh uh light poles and everything. So it will meet the requirements for safety and uh lighting monitoring. It will be probably a a must. I mean this is a feature that is affordable and everybody does it. I mean every management has their own uh monitoring of uh their facilities. There's going to be recording and uh surveillance system in place. Anyway,

hope that's interest if you wouldn't mind speaking to the microphone. I'm sorry.

Thank you. I just want to add that there is already a surveillance system in the building as it is. So, you know, if we had more residents, um I don't see um adding a surveillance system as being a deterrent or a massive investment uh in in the project. So, you know, we definitely consider it and um have it as part of the project. Any other questions of the commission? All right, you can go ahead and have a seat. Um, we will close the the comment uh portion. I'll look to staff for any closing remarks on the petition.

I don't think we have anything further to add. I'm happy to answer any other questions. Um, we do believe that standards have been satisfied and that's why staff recommends approval subject to the conditions. Is there a motion to approve petition dash uh 17-24? Uh I move to recommend that city council approve petition 17-24 subject to the conditions outlined within our packet and to adopt as the findings of the commission those findings also provided within our packet. Is there a second? Second. Staff, please call the role. Commissioner Olsen,

yes. Commissioner Boske, yes. Commissioner Jones, yes. And Chairman Wilder, yes. Motion's approved. Four to zero. All right. Thank you. And uh staff will be in contact with you on next steps in the process.

Y um we will now move to other business. Yep. Any other business? All right. Uh then we will go to um public comment. Is there any public comment? All right. Come on for come on down. All right. If you can state your name and uh your address for the court reporter, please.

Sure. I'm Chris Cunningham. I'm an Elgen resident at 153 Dawson Drive. Uh Cunningham is cu n i n g h a m. Uh Dawson Drive is in the River Park Place neighborhood by Festival Park. Uh, I am not an expert in zoning and planning, so I maybe I'm in the wrong place and I appreciate your time. Uh, basically the homeowners association that runs my neighborhood is attempting to close off the neighborhood by putting gates at all the pedestrian walkways and also they want to put a gate across Dawson Drive, which is the way that you would drive into the neighborhood. um they cite safety concerns and uh my favorite things about Elgen are community and walkability. And so I want to know if like where I should start to try to engage the city to help me keep my neighborhood a community place and a walkable place and I just don't know where to start. So um

well we can thank you for uh coming and speaking. I'll give you my business card at the end of the meeting and we can certainly discuss changes like that are they start with the community development, the planning department. Uh your development was approved as a plan development. So there's probably a site plan that was associated with that plan development. Um so we can review that type of request. I'm not sure. It does it doesn't sound like you're in support of that, but maybe the HOA is looking to do that. Typically such proposals start with the community development department. We'll review that. will review the uh ordinances that are in effect and if that's possible or not and if it's not possible the process that would have to go through to make that possible. Uh but we can certainly have that conversation.

Okay. Thank you very much for your time. Yeah. Thanks so much for coming forward.

Is there any other uh public comment? All right. Um with that we will move on to summary of pending development applications. Thank you, Chairman Wildermouth. Uh, so we have I'll just quick update. So, at the council meeting on Wednesday, the council is expected to review the Larkin Stadium development for the Larkin High School and also the sign that is a 2125 Point Boulevard. Those two items were reviewed by the commission last month. Uh the other item, the uh automobile detailing shop at Dundee was uh most likely going to be heard at the next council meeting. We have received an application for uh for the construction of a new elementary school by U46 at 850 North Grove Avenue. That's the the former DC Cook plant building and property. Uh they're looking to demolish that plant building and then construct a new elementary school. So that will be for the commission in the next next couple months probably. Um and that's probably about it in terms of new stuff. Um if there's any questions about any of the other items, I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions for staff on any of the development applications?

No questions for me. All right. Uh then we will go to adjournment. If I can have a motion to adjurnn and move to ajourn second. I'll second. Can staff call the role. Commissioner Jones? Yes. Commissioner Olsen? Yes. Commissioner Boske? Yes. And Chairman Wilder? Yes, the motion's approved. We're journ. Thank you everyone. [Music]