DeKalb Times

City of Dekalb Planning & Zoning Commission met Feb. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a meeting on February 5, 2024, in the Yusunas Meeting Room at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. DeKalb, Illinois. Chair Max Maxwell called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

A. ROLL CALL

Recording Secretary Stephanie Turner called the roll. Planning and Zoning Commission members present were: Steve Becker, Trixy O’Flaherty, Maria Pena-Graham, Shannon Stoker, Jerry Wright, and Chair Max Maxwell. Bill McMahon was absent. Planning Director Dan Olson, Fire Chief Mike Thomas, City Engineer Zachary Gill, and City Manager Bill Nicklas were present representing the City of DeKalb.

B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA (Additions/Deletions)

Chair Maxwell requested a motion to approve the February 5, 2024, agenda as presented. Mr. Becker motioned to approve the agenda as presented. Ms. O’Flaherty seconded the motion, and the motion was approved by unanimous voice vote.

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. January 16, 2024 –Chair Maxwell requested a motion to approve the January 16, 2024, minutes as presented. Mr. Wright motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Becker seconded the motion, and the motion was approved by unanimous voice vote.

D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Open Floor to Anyone Wishing to Speak on Record) None

E. NEW BUSINESS

1. Public Hearing – A petition by the City of DeKalb for an amendment to Ordinance 06- 59 by amending the Preliminary Plan and Section 2.8 of the Ordinance to allow an additional full access onto S. Malta Road and approval for a Final Plan for the subject site at 1130 S. Malta Road to accommodate an 8,000 sq. ft. fire station.

Mike Thomas, Fire Chief, stated discussions started a year ago regarding response times for calls on the southwest side of the City which were greater than the standard of four minutes. Fire Chief Thomas explained staff found a few locations in the City where response times were not meeting the standard and determined the subject site was best due to the City already owning the property. He added crews of the three other fire stations are going out of their districts to respond to calls in the southwest side of DeKalb.

Zac Gill, City Engineer, indicated the subject property was previously dedicated for use as a fire station a couple of decades back. Mr. Gill stated the plans are not fully completed and the City is following all codes and requirements for this development. He discussed the point of access to S. Malta Rd. was determined by efficiency and the layout of the fire station. He added there are also entrances off the internal roadway of the subdivision which will have minimal impact.

Planning Director Olson went through the Staff Report dated February 1, 2024. He covered the need for the City to amend the Planned Development Ordinance and Annexation Agreement approved previously for the Glidden Crossing development due to the proposed new full access to S. Malta Rd. Mr. Olson added the subject lot was indicated for a fire station on the preliminary plan approved in 2006. He stated the current fence was placed one-third of the way into the lot which means the fence and 11 trees will need to be removed to accommodate the proposed fire station. He noted 11 new trees will be planted and a new 6-foot-high privacy fence will be constructed about 15 feet from the west lot line. Mr. Olson also mentioned a retaining wall will be placed along the south and west sides of the building.

Mr. Olson discussed the amendment to the Planned Development Ordinance was necessary due to the additional full access off S. Malta Road. He also said the Ordinance required a Final Plan be reviewed by the Commission and City Council for each lot in the subdivision. Mr. Olson stated the request will help reduce emergency response times, which is greatly needed.

Chair Maxwell stated there was one speaker request form submitted for this hearing.

Greg Prater, of 876 Quail Run, started by saying he agrees a fire station is needed in this area but has concerns since he lives right behind the proposed lot. Mr. Prater added he went to the City Council meetings in 2006 when the shopping center was discussed and passed. He explained the fence currently sits about 40 feet from his property line and the proposed fence will be closer. Mr. Prater’s stated his main concern is the proposed location of an enclosure for a generator and transformer, which is near his home and his neighbors. He added everyone in the neighborhood is concerned about the noise and light from the proposed fire station.

City Manager Bill Nicklas responded by describing the layout of the building being determined to minimize impacts to the neighbors to the west. Mr. Nicklas said the current fence on the site has been repaired numerous times and the proposed fence will be much sturdier. He noted the berm of the property will not change much and there will be a retaining wall built with new trees planted.

City Manager Nicklas stressed the City has been working with engineers regarding the screening between the fire station and residential properties and will work with them to possibly move the generator and transformer to a location closer to the station. He discussed emergency calls take place day and night and the siren noise will not be activated as soon as the doors open. Mr. Nicklas stated the fire station is being proposed now to improve on response times after running on minimal staff prior to his arrival in 2019.

Chair Maxwell asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commission members.

Ms. Pena-Graham stated the fire station was already planned for and it’s time to build one due to the number of calls and development in the area.

Mr. Becker said it is nice the City will work with the neighbors and then inquired about previous issues with electrical power in the proposed corridor. City Manager Nicklas responded that he cannot speak for ComEd but the City is working with them to bring substantially more power to this area, including the southeast industrial park. He added the new station would be constructed with an advanced design which minimizes electrical power draw in the area.

Mr. Maxwell questioned the percentage of increased emergency calls. Fire Chief Thomas said they responded to 7,500 calls in 2022 and in 2023 they were at 7,800 calls. He added when he started in 1995, they ran 2,700 calls. Chief Thomas stated simultaneous calls are affecting them with 2,744 calls in 2022 and even more in 2023.

Mr. Wright asked for a comparison in size of all the fire stations. City Manager Nicklas said Fire Station 2 is small and Station 1 is bigger and more comparable to the new station. He said the proposed fire station is considered a neighborhood station according to the Northern Illinois standards.

Mr. Wright inquired about the cost for this facility and what makes this the right time to build a new station. Mr. Nicklas responded that the cost for the new station is $4,265,000 and said DeKalb’s bond rating has been upgraded recently. He added during the period of 2010-2018 there were layoffs and a cut back in services with a slow climb out of the housing crisis. Mr. Nicklas said the response times in Fire Department suffered and it is unacceptable for a City that wants to be first rate.

Mr. Maxwell asked what the standard is for the number of citizens per fire personnel. City Manager Nicklas stated per capita is not the main criteria but the City has grown in four directions and three of the areas have been covered with adequate response times.

Ms. O’Flaherty moved that based on the submitted petition and testimony presented, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend to the City Council approval of an amendment to Ordinance 06-59 by amending the Preliminary Plan and Section 2.8 of the Ordinance to allow an additional full access onto S. Malta Road to accommodate

an 8,000 sq. ft. fire station to be located on Lot 8 in the Glidden Crossing Subdivision. Approval is also recommended for a Final Plan consisting of a site plan dated 1-29-24 labeled as Exhibit A and architectural elevations dated 11-14-23 labeled as Exhibit B for the property located at 1130 S. Malta Road subject to the addition of 11 trees along the west side of the site.

Mr. Wright seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Becker – Yes, Ms. O’Flaherty – Yes, Ms. Pena-Graham – Yes, Ms. Stoker – Yes, Mr. Wright – Yes, Chair Maxwell – Yes. Mr. McMahon was absent. Motion passed 6-0-1.

2. Public Hearing – A petition by the City of DeKalb for text amendments to the “Unified Development Ordinance” Article 7.06 “Fences” regarding the height of open and privacy fences in non-residential districts, fences on lots with frontage on three streets, fences along alleys and other miscellaneous amendments related to fences.

Planning Director Olson went through the Staff Report dated February 1, 2024, regarding the proposed amendments. He said for the unique situations involving lots fronting on three public streets, amendments are proposed that would allow a 6-foot high privacy fence in the yard except for the front yard or the front of the house. He added the 6-foot-high fence in the side yard would not obstruct views in these scenarios because there would be no adjoining home.

Mr. Olson went on by stating the “GS” Government Sanitary District is proposed to be added to the list of zoning districts where higher fences are allowed for screening or security measures. He mentioned the “GS” District was also added to the list of zoning districts where barbed wired fences are allowed in certain situations. Mr. Olson mentioned the Building Department suggested an amendment to require fences be setback 3-feet from alleys. In addition, he said an access gate along an alley is recommended for residential properties and a gate every 150 feet for commercial properties. Mr. Olson noted these changes are to accommodate emergency access and to provide adequate space along alleys for refuse containers and snowplows. He said existing fences not meeting the proposed requirement would be considered legal non-conforming and will not be required to be taken down, however, if a new fence is installed it will have to follow the guidelines.

Chair Maxwell asked if there was anyone from the public that had any questions or concerns which there were none.

Chair Maxwell asked if there were any questions or concerns from the Commissioners. Ms. O’Flaherty stated the proposed amendments make sense to her.

Ms. Stoker moved that based on the submitted petition and testimony presented, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend to the City Council approval of text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance regarding fences as indicated in Exhibit A attached to the staff report.

Mr. Becker seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Becker – Yes, Ms. O’Flaherty – Yes, Ms. Pena-Graham – Yes, Ms. Stoker – Yes, Mr. Wright – Yes, Chair Maxwell – Yes. Mr. McMahon was absent. Motion passed 6-0-1.

F. REPORTS

Planning Director Olson announced the next Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, February 20. He said one hearing is currently scheduled for 530 Charter Street to accommodate a transition program for the school district. He mentioned the City Council approved at their last meeting the rezoning for 11921 Route 38 and the relocation of a retail tobacco store in the Junction Center Shopping Center.

G. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Wright motioned to adjourn, Ms. O’Flaherty seconded the motion, and the motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. The Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.

https://www.cityofdekalb.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02052024-2484