CITY COUNCIL 3-4-02 council agenda wo timesTHE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
COUNCIL AGENDA
March 4, 2002
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Honorable Howard J Kerr, Mayor
Samuel J. Henry, Alderman First Ward Roger J. Mohr, Alderman Third Ward
Robert T. E. Lansing, Alderman First Ward Timm Reynolds, Alderman Third Ward
Michael J. Burns, Alderman Second Ward James J. Cowhey, Jr., Alderman Fourth Ward
S. Michael Rummel, Alderman Second Ward Kimberly G. Moss, Alderman Fourth Ward
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC HEARING ON AN AMENDMENT TO A CONWAY FARMS – SOUTH
ANNEXATION AGREEMENT
PRESENTED BY CITY ATTORNEY VICTOR FILIPPINI
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
1. Comments by Mayor
A. Resolution of Appreciation for Charles Crook for 24 Years of Service
Recommended Action: Adoption of the resolution.
B. Resolution of Appreciation for Mark Krueger for 29 Years of Service
Recommended Action: Adoption of the resolution.
2. Comments by Acting City Manager
A. Department Spotlight – Recreation Department - Kinderhaven
3. Comments by Council Members
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of the Minutes from the February 21, 2002 Regular Meeting
The minutes are attached beginning on page 21.
2. Approval of Community Events in Market Square
A resolution establishing a special events policy in Lake Forest was approved by the City Council at its March 15, 2001 meeting. The policy requires that groups desiring to hold community
events in Market Square must first obtain City Council approval. Requests have been received as noted on the following page.
Organizer Event Date The City of Lake Forest Summer in the Square Sunday, July 21, 2002 Lake Forest
Preservation Foundation Annual Great Lakes
Navy Band Concert Sunday, August 18, 2002 Deer Path Art League Fall Festival of Arts Sunday, September 1, and Monday, September 2, 2002 Toy Station Garden Railway Expo Saturday, September
14, 2002
The City sponsors the Summer in the Square event. The other three events are at no cost to the City. All four events are held annually.
3. Proclamation of August 7, 2002 as Lake Forest Day
The Mayor will proclaim August 7, 2002 as Lake Forest Day, as the City honors neighbors, friends, residents and City employees by adopting the theme “Lake Forest Salutes Those Who Serve
and Protect”. The Proclamation is attached on page 28.
Recommended Action: Approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
ORDINANCES
Consideration of a Report and Recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals for a Variance from Front and Side Yard Setbacks to Allow Construction of a Second Floor Addition located
at 729 Cherry Avenue.
Filed by James Stansbury
PRESENTED BY PLANNER PETER COUTANT (604-5655)
On October 22, 2001 and December 17, 2001, the Zoning Board of Appeals held public hearings to consider a request for a front and side yard variance for property located at 729 Cherry
Avenue. A second floor addition is proposed to the rear of the house. The existing house is nonconforming and is located closer to the front and west side property lines than is permitted
by the zoning code. The proposed addition is located 14 feet 2 inches from the front property line and 2 feet 6 inches from the west side yard property line. The addition does not
exceed the amount of encroachment of the existing house.
The Board discussed this request at length, taking into account whether sufficient consideration was given to alternative designs to minimize the amount of encroachment into the side
yard setback. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval of the variance, noting the strong support from the neighboring
property owners and their desire to see work on the site completed. The Board also recognized the uniqueness of the lot and the hardship in conforming to the required setbacks. The
Board recommended several conditions of approval to minimize and screen the second floor addition from surrounding properties. The ordinance, with the site plan and findings, is included
in this packet beginning on page 29.
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval of an ordinance for a variance allowing construction of an addition located 14 feet 2 inches from the front property
line and 2 feet 6 inches from the west side property line as reflected on the site plan.
2. Consideration to Ordinance Amending Chapter 4, “Alcoholic Beverages”, of the Lake Forest City Code to Create a Class G Liquor License (Waive First Reading and Grant Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY CITY ATTORNEY VICTOR FILIPPINI
The City Attorney has drafted an ordinance in order to create a new class in the liquor code that would authorize not-for-profit organizations to purchase an annual license in lieu of
purchasing several temporary liquor licenses throughout the year. The Village of Glencoe has also established a very similar ordinance in their community. The fee for this annual license
would be $1,500. The organization that would be affected the most is Gorton Community Center, which currently purchases between ten and fifteen E-2 licenses per year for special events
at $150 each. A copy of the proposed ordinance is attached beginning on page 39.
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval amending Chapter 4 of the City Code to create a Class G Liquor License.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of an Appeal of a Decision of the Building Review Board to deny signage proposed for the top of two Abbott Laboratories buildings at Conway Park - 275 and 600 Field
Drive. Appeal filed by Mark Altman representing Abbott Laboratories
PRESENTED BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CATHERINE CZERNIAK (615-4299)
On February 6, 2002, the Building Review Board held a public hearing to consider a request from Abbott Laboratories for signage for two buildings at Conway Park. The Building Review
Board voted 5 to 1 to approve the monument signage proposed for the two buildings, but to deny the three wall signs proposed for the top of the buildings.
The proposed wall signs would be 5’0” in height and would include the corporate Abbott logo. The Board noted that neither the other buildings in Conway Park, or the Opus building on
the south side of Route 60, have signage at the top of the buildings. The Board also noted that the wall signage, in combination with the monument signage, would exceed the amount of
signage on other buildings in Conway Park.
The highly visible signage located at the top of the buildings would change the distinct character of the Conway Park which separates it from other business parks along the Tollway.
In addition, the identity of Conway Park could be lost completely over time as a result of the prominent signage that is proposed and replaced with an identity as an additional Abbott
Park. This is particularly likely given the potential for the construction of additional Abbott buildings at Conway Park.
Finally, the Board recognized that approval of the requested signage would establish a precedent for future signage requests. Interest has already been expressed by other businesses
in Conway Park in following suit and submitting requests for additional and more prominent signage.
A copy of the minutes of the Building Review Board meeting is included in the Council packet beginning on page 43. Also attached is a copy of The City of Lake Forest Guidelines for
Appeals Before The City Council, which have been provided to Mr. Altman.
Recommended Action: Uphold the decision of the Building Review Board.
APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZED INVOICES AND PAYROLLS
During the month of February, the following amounts were disbursed from the Cashier’s Account:
GENERAL FUND, IMRF, & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. WATER TOTALS INVOICES $576,690.22 $110,077.51 $686,767.73 PAYROLL $897,078.19 $123,784.22 $1,020,862.41 TOTALS $1,473,768.41 $233,861.73 $1,707,630.14
AUTHORIZATION OF TREASURER’S WARRANTS TO MEET EXPENSES OF
FEBRUARY, 2002
The motion to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign such warrants as may be necessary to meet the February 2002 audited accounts.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Manager
March 1, 2002
The City of Lake Forest is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require
certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are required
to contact City Manager Robert R. Kiely, Jr., at (847) 234-2600 promptly to allow the City to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.
March 4, 2002 Agenda Page 2