DATE: VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD PLAN COMMISSION RECORD OF MINUTES Chairman Sobkoviak called the Plan Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Seggebruch, O Rourke, Renzi, Kiefer, Heinen, Fulco, and Chairman Sobkoviak were present. Fire District arrived at 7:14 pm. Park, School and Library Districts were absent. Michael P. Collins VILLAGE PRESIDENT Michelle Gibas VILLAGE CLERK TRUSTEES Margie Bonuchi Paul Fay Bill Lamb Garrett M. Peck James Racich Dan Rippy Also present were Michael Garrigan, Village Planner, and Merrilee Trotz, Recording Secretary Approval of Minutes: The Plan Commission minutes from March 6, 2012 was accepted as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chairman Sobkoviak asked for public comments on items that were not on the agenda. There was no response. DEVELOPMENT REPORT Mr. Garrigan indicated the Village Board approved l) the special use for Olsen Ottawa Re-subdivision; and 2) recommended forwarding a letter of no objection to Will County for the Johnson Bed and Breakfast. OLD BUSINESS: Case No. 1574-122011.SU 23915 W Main Street Mr. Garrigan indicated this case was previously heard last month; the applicant is requesting a special use for a drive-thru at the southeast corner of Main and Route 59. Staff believes the findings of fact have been met. The petitioner is providing expert witnesses due to the numerous objections of neighbors regarding traffic, sound and trash pick-up. The village engineer has reviewed the site; the village engineer identified some potential conflict with regards to traffic making left hand turns from/to Main Street; the village engineer felt the potential conflict of the traffic heading west and making a left hand turn could be mitigated with one-way signage and pavement markings. Staff s position basically has not changed; Staff has worked with the applicant to see if there was a middle ground between the applicant and the neighbors. The applicant has presented letters from the sound expert, traffic engineer expert, and the waste management expert. These letters will be included in the record. Chairman Sobkoviak verified that the concerns of the village engineer were met with stipulation number 3. Mr. Garrigan stated that was correct. Commissioner Sobkoviak swore in Carl Bryant, petitioner; James F. Yerges of Yerges Acoustics; Michael Werthmann of Kenig, Lindgren, O Hara, Aboona, Inc. (KLOA); and Dale Ipema, Environmental Recycling & Disposal Service.
Page 2 of 6 Mr. Bryant stated he brought his experts to address the concerns of sound, traffic and waste/refuge removal. Mr. Yerges presented his background and 40 years of experience of sound, noise and vibration control and mentioned other projects he has worked on with in Plainfield. Mr. Yerges described the standardized loudspeakers used by Dunkin Donuts and the pre-adjusted level of 70 decibels at a distance of four feet. Mr. Yerges and Mr. Bryant visited the Dunkin Donuts at 13313 S Rte 59; this loudspeaker was set at 65 decibels and is set no higher than 4 feet from the ground; the car will block the sound at a distance of 40 feet. Commissioner O Rourke asked the distance from this proposed loudspeaker to the property lot line. Mr. Bryant said there is 20 feet beyond the curb to the lot line. Commissioner Fulco asked if Dunkin Donuts had the ability to increase the volume. Mr. Yerges said the operator would not be able to adjust the volume based on the manufacturer s literature; it could be done but it would require a technician. Mr. Werthmann presented his background of approximately 23 years experience as a licensed engineer; licensed with Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania; certified operations traffic engineer having worked on numerous coffee shops, donut stores, fast food restaurants, banks, and numerous similar type projects within Plainfield. Mr. Werthmann described the traffic that could be expected in the peak hours of 7-9 a.m. as being by pass traffic (meaning people are driving by and pulling in for coffee and getting back on the road); indicated the impact of new traffic was very limited; reviewed the site access from Route 59 and Main Street; described the right turns in from northbound and eastbound traffic and described the circulation on the site and explained how signage would work. Commissioner Kiefer was concerned with the access from Main Street and the hours of operation of the drive-thru. Commissioner Heinen was concerned with trip generations; and the circulation within the site; asked if the village engineer brought up additional signage. Mr. Werthmann further explained access from Main Street; explained with Dunkin Donuts the customers are usually repeat customers; they expect 70 trips in an hour, you might assume 50-50 coming from Main Street and Route 59 in an hour; the evening you might expect 30 trips; indicated most shops of this kind circulate through the site. Mr. Garrigan indicated Mr. Threewitt, Village engineer, reviewed the site and thought the circulation throughout the site could be addressed with a) the signage; b) pavement markings; and c) possibility of shifting the access point further to the west to create an offset to reduce any possibility of a conflict with the one way drive. Commissioner Renzi was concerned with the time intervals of the traffic lights and the distance from the full access on 126 from Rte 59; concerned that the number of cars do not stack up beyond the menu board. How many cars per minute are going past the full access? Mr. Werthmann indicated they did not look at the timing of the lights. Mr. Werthmann explained the 70 cars would be split between the two access drives; three of the movements leaving the site can make right hand turns; explained his visit to the site and his experience making make left turns; did not feel the access would be a problem. Commissioner Seggebruch described the access to the gas station across Rte 59 and the signage.
Page 3 of 6 Commissioner O Rourke asked for clarification on the fourth paragraph of the letter from KLOA. Mr. Werthmann explained if you are leaving the site you have an opportunity to make a right back to the east, to make a right on Rte 59 to the north and get into the left turn lane to head west or make the left out onto Main. Correction to the letter that Only if vehicles desire to travel south (not north) on IL 59 will leave to turn left onto IL 126. Mr. Ipema presented his background of 15 years with the family business and 3 previous years with a national hauler; official title is Secretary/Treasurer but also drives the trucks and works with the customers. Mr. Ipema indicated they service about 15 other Dunkin Donut shops and many other drivethru locations that are either coffee shops or major restaurants. Most of these shops have similar conditions and they work with the customers on time frames. Mr. Ipema took the longest wheel based truck and did a dry run at the site on March 1st at 8:30 a.m. and explained the process. Commissioner Heinen was concerned with the additional curb that will be installed. Mr. Ipema indicated Mr. Bryant stood where the curb would be and was able to get in and out of the site. Commissioner Seggebruch asked if it was a three point turn. Mr. Ipema stated yet. Commissioner Seggebruch asked if a grease trap would be required and who would have jurisdiction if it was needed. Mr. Bryant said he did not know but that he had done them before. Chairman Sobkoviak opened the meeting for public comments. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Michael Baish. Mr. Baish is concerned with the train traffic along with the vehicle traffic in the access points; noise including the conversations and car radios; garbage pickup will be a problem; trash with the winds will travel to the neighboring yards. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Patricia Graham Cremeens. Ms. Cremeens mother lives on the corner of Bartlett and Main Street; in the evening they can hear conversations from the 7-11 across Main Street while they sit in the back yard. Ms. Cremeens is also concerned with the safety as there are lots of accidents. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in John Hall. Mr. Hall is concerned with the traffic; squealing tires; noise from the car stereos; indicated the closest 24 hour drive-thru is at 135 th on Rte 59 and the distance from residential properties; and the Walgreens on Rte 59 and 126 is proposing to reduce their drive-thru hours. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Michelle Kelly. Ms. Kelly is concerned with the blaring music and indicated a sidewalk will need to be removed to provide for the drive-thru. Ms. Kelly made a presentation describing the drive-thrus and their hours of operation in the area between 126 south to Lockport and explained that none of these were fast food and that the Bucky s Express gas station and the 7-11 buildings have no access on the rear of their buildings. Ms. Kelly felt what the applicant is asking for is not comparable to anything in the area; feels this usage will be detrimental to residents. Chairman Sobkoviak swore in Heath Wright. Mr. Wright requested if this is approved that the ordinance include the testimony not just the language compliance with the requirements of the village engineer as he did not attend the meetings and indicated there are still lighting issues on this building. Chairman Sobkoviak asked for additional comments; there were none; the time for public comments was closed.
Page 4 of 6 Mr. Bryant indicated the lighting was installed as approved; stated his sound engineer testified; indicated he has no control on the train traffic; regarding the conversations there are 45000 cars a day through this intersection; indicated he planted the landscaping using Michelle Kelly s plan; indicated he reconstructed a deck to a deck at grade for Mr. Hall; stated me monitors his site personally; there is already a special use for a drive-thru on this site so there is a precedent. Dunkin Donuts is a national retailer; this is an opportunity for a 10 year lease; there is a 34% vacancy on commercial properties of this size in Plainfield; this project will provide sales tax, employment, and will be an asset for the village. Commissioner Renzi asked how to compute the noise of idling vehicles and the total noise. Mr. Yerges explained if you are standing right next to a modern automobile in good repair would be about 50 decibels. Mr. Yerges further described how to compute decibels for multiple cars; 5 cars would equal about 55 or 56 decibels; 6 decibels at 8 feet; 12 decibels down at 16 feet; at 55 feet it would be about 37 decibels. Chairman Sobkoviak stated he worked with audio acoustic field and agreed that Mr. Yerges statements were very accurate. Commissioner Heinen asked if there was any compromise for the hours of operation for the drive-thru. Mr. Bryant stated that defeats the purpose of the store being opened; this is an auto oriented site. Commissioner Kiefer asked if the sound board could be shut off at night and just have the window open for ordering. Commissioner O Rourke asked if Mr. Bryant had asked the tenant if the sound board could be turned off at night. Mr. Bryant stated the sound expert is saying the sound does not carry; he asked the tenant if it was possible to operate out of the window at night but as of this date did not have an answer; he would be more concerned if the noise was louder. Commissioner O Rourke felt this was a way to address the concerns of the neighbors. Chairman Sobkoviak asked the percentage of business using the drive-thru. Commissioner O Rourke thought a drive-thru accounted for more than 50% business; thought some of the 24 hour operational stores were open due to the baking operation for locations; now the process is different that they do not need the central location open to bake the product as each individual satellite bakes its own product. Mr. Bryant asked another 24 hour Dunkin Donut store why they were open and was told it was because they make the donuts. Mr. Bryant stated the site was originally analyzed by village traffic engineer and was approved for the traffic flow and location of the buildings both internally and for ingress/egress. Commissioner Heinen asked if Mr. Bryant knew the statistics of usage between 10 pm to 7 am. Mr. Bryant did not know. Commissioner Renzi was concerned with night time driving and the headlights from vehicles coming around behind the bank building. Mr. Bryant did not know. Mr. Garrigan said one resident did testify as to the car lights. Commissioner Heinen indicated he looked at this and this property is quite a bit higher than the house. Mr. Garrigan said there is substantial landscaping to mitigate some of that; there is also a dip in the parking lot so at that point the lights are down. Commissioner Renzi suggested with a 24 hour operation we might need to look at the landscaping. Commissioner Seggebruch suggested some additional landscaping could be added to compensate for the loss of landscaping along the east side of the building. Mr. Bryant was willing to improve the barrier. Commissioner Kiefer felt the project did not meet either of the findings of fact.
Page 5 of 6 Commissioner O Rourke said this was a tough decision but felt the neighbors concerns might need to be addressed over the economics. Mr. Bryant stated this was a development that was approved and zoned; he worked with the neighbors; indicated all through town there is commercial that abuts residential properties; this is part of the Comprehensive Plan; this is a national tenant to bring sales tax and employment; this space has sat empty for 1-1/2 to 2 years; are you telling developers to go elsewhere. Ms. Kelly said that Bartlett will remain residential and they want to keep it as nice as possible; feels this use will be detrimental to the residents. Commissioner Renzi also shares the concerns but when things are close he will rely on the Staff; he would feel more comfortable if he knew where the 45 foot line is located and suggested the sound engineer to draw it out so we could see it visually; would like hard numbers regarding the number of cars using Rte 126; time sequence for those cars; how the time sequence will impact the 70 trips; and how getting out on Rte 126 would be rated at A B or C equivalent to a stop sign so we will know how many cars will be stacked at the Dunkin Donuts. Commissioner Heinen felt the experts did a good job; still concerned with the 24 hour operation of the drive-thru. Commissioner Seggebruch felt this was a building that fits in the neighborhood; there are some other uses that would be allowed at this location that would not be such a great use such as a cigar bar or neighborhood pub with a liquor license that would not be such a great use due to the traffic it would generate; the drive-thru is more limited to short orders; this is a family type business; suggested the applicant work with the neighbors to make improvements to the landscaping or to enhance it to be less objectionable to the neighborhood. Commissioner Fulco indicated the Plan Commission wanted more information on the sound, garbage and traffic; he provided the information we requested. Commissioner Renzi asked if a fourth stipulation was needed for the provision of additional landscaping. Chairman Sobkoviak said he agreed under oath so an additional stipulation would not be needed. Commissioner Renzi made a motion to recommend approval of the Special Use for a drive-thru for the space commonly known Main Street market located at the southeast corner of Route 59 and Main Street subject to the following stipulations: 1. Compliance with the requirements of the Village Engineer. 2. Compliance with the requirements of the Plainfield Fire Protection District. 3. That appropriate directional signage be incorporated with the drive-thru route. Commissioner Fulco seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Seggebruch, yes; O Rourke, no; Kiefer, no; Heinen, no; Fulco, yes; Renzi, yes; Chairman Sobkoviak, yes. Motion carried 4-3. NEW BUSINESS: None
Page 6 of 6 DISCUSSION Some discussion was held regarding signage in Patriot Square; parking in the Riverwalk area for the St. Patrick s Day Parade and suggested in the future having some type of traffic control as a citizen directed traffic. Commissioner Seggebruch indicated he attended an informational HPC meeting wherein the Building Code was discussed. Adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Merrilee Trotz Recording Secretary