CITY COUNCIL 02-23-06THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
COUNCIL AGENDA
Thursday, February 23, 2006 7:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 7:30 p.m.
Honorable S. Michael Rummel, Mayor
Tom E. Swarthout, Alderman First Ward Roger J. Mohr, Alderman Third Ward
David D. Grumhaus, Jr., Alderman First Ward Timm R. Reynolds, Alderman Third Ward
Michael J. Burns, Alderman Second Ward James J. Cowhey, Jr., Alderman Fourth Ward
Stuart M. Widman, Alderman Second Ward John A. Looby III, Alderman Fourth Ward
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS 7:30 p.m.
1. Comments by Mayor
A. Report from Lake County Board Member Susan Gravenhorst
B. Report on Community Food Drive, presented by Kathy O’Hara,
School District 115 and representatives from CROYA
C. Report on Early Voting, presented by Deputy Clerk Beth Marquez
2. Comments by Council Members 8:00 p.m.
3. Council Committee Reports 8:05 p.m.
A. Public Works Committee Report
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL 8:10 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA 8:10 p.m.
1. Approval of the Minutes from the February 6, 2006 Council Meeting: A copy of the
minutes are attached beginning on page 6.
2. Approval of Resolutions required for Bank and Investment Purposes
Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company, Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney require the attached
resolutions to be approved by the City Council. This is a housekeeping issue. Copies of the
resolutions are attached beginning on page 11.
Recommended Action: Approval of the Consent Agenda as presented.
February 23, 2006 Agenda Page 2
ORDINANCES
1. Consideration of a Recommendation from the Plan Commission to 8:15 p.m.
adopt the annual update of the City of Lake Forest Official Zoning
District Map. (First Reading, and if desired by the City Council,
Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY SENIOR PLANNER PETER COUTANT (604-5655)
The State Statues require that the City adopt the City’s Zoning Map on an annual basis. The
last official City Zoning Map was approved on February 19, 2004. The 2005 Zoning Map
includes the following changes that occurred this past year as a result of City Council action:
In September 2005, the City Council approved the rezoning of 1148 and 1170 Polo
Drive from R5- Single Family Residence District to R4 – Single Family Residence
District
In October 2005, the City Council approved the rezoning of the Fitzmorris
Property,1650 Kennedy Road, on the north side of Route 60, west of Academy Drive,
from R5 - Single Family Residence to TD – Transitional District
The updated Zoning Map reflects these changes and the current zoning throughout the City.
No zone changes are proposed as part of this update. The Plan Commission unanimously
recommended approval of the updated map. A copy of the updated map is attached as a
separate item to the packet. The ordinance approving the new map is included in the packet
beginning on page 19.
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval of an ordinance
authorizing the annual update of the Official Zoning Map.
2. Consideration of a Report and Recommendation from the Zoning 8:20 p.m.
Board of Appeals for a Variance from the Front Yard Setback Requirement
for Property Located at 291 Mills Court (First Reading, and if desired
by the City Council, Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY PLANNER PETER COUTANT (604-5655)
On December 19, 2005, the Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing to consider a
request for a front yard setback variance for a new residence located at 291 Mills Court. The
existing house has been approved for demolition by the Building Review Board. The petitioner
is requesting a front yard setback variance to allow the new house to be setback from the
street a distance that is generally consistent with the prevailing setback of other residences on
the street. Only a front yard setback variance is requested. This project conforms to all other
bulk and zoning setback requirements.
The required front yard setback is 40 feet. The proposed house is setback 25 feet from the
front property line. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval of
the variance request. There were no objections from surrounding property owners to the
request. The Ordinance, including the finding of fact and site plan, is included in the packet
beginning on page 20.
February 23, 2006 Agenda Page 3
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval of an ordinance
authorizing a variance from the front yard setback requirement to allow the proposed
residence to be setback 25 feet from the front property line.
3. Consideration of a Report and Recommendation from the Zoning 8:25 p.m.
Board of Appeals for a Variance from the Front Yard Setback
Requirement for Property Located at 297 Mills Court (First Reading,
and if desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY PLANNER PETER COUTANT (604-5655)
On December 19, 2005, the Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing to consider a
request for a front yard setback variance for a new residence located at 297 Mills Court. The
residence at 297 Mills Court contained a Log Cabin, believed to have been constructed in the
1860s. The cabin has now been moved to a site in Lake Bluff where it will be restored.
The petitioner is requesting a front yard setback variance to allow the new house to be setback
from the street a distance that is generally consistent with the prevailing setback of other
residences on the street. Only a front yard setback variance is requested. This project
conforms to all other bulk and zoning setback requirements.
The required front yard setback is 40 feet. The proposed house is setback 25 feet from the
front property line. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval of
the variance request. There were no objections from surrounding property owners to the
request. The Ordinance, including the finding of fact and site plan, is included in the packet
beginning on page 33.
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval of an ordinance
authorizing a variance from the front yard setback requirement to allow the proposed
residence to be setback 25 feet from the front property line.
4. Consideration of a Report and Recommendation from the Zoning 8:30 p.m.
Board of Appeals for Variances from the Side Yard and Rear Yard
Setback Requirements for Property Located at 902 Oakwood.
(First Reading, and if desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY PLANNER PETER COUTANT (604-5655)
On November 28, 2005, the Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing to consider a
request for a side yard setback variance to allow construction of an addition at the rear of the
house, and a side and rear yard accessory structure setback variance to allow replacement of
an existing detached garage at the rear of the property. The petitioner is requesting a variance
from the setback requirements to allow construction of an addition to the existing residence as
part of an overall plan to renovate and expand the home.
The petitioner’s property is located in the R1 Zoning District. The required side yard setback is
10 feet. The existing residence was constructed prior to the current setback requirements.
The residence is nonconforming with respect to the north side yard setback and is located 2.96
feet from the property line. The petitioner is proposing to expand the residence by constructing
a two-story addition at the rear of the house. The proposed addition on the north side of the
house will be positioned flush with the side wall of the existing residence and will not encroach
further into the setback than the existing house.
February 23, 2006 Agenda Page 4
A new detached garage is proposed in approximately the same location as an existing
nonconforming garage. The accessory structure setback requirement is 5 feet from both the
rear and side property lines. The proposed garage is setback 3.45 feet from the side and
approximately 4 feet from the rear property lines.
There were no objections from surrounding property owners to this variance request. The
Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval of the variances as
submitted. The ordinance, with site plan and findings, is included in the Council packet
beginning on page 46.
Recommended Action: Waive first reading and grant final approval of an ordinance
authorizing a side yard setback variance to allow the proposed addition to be setback
2.96 feet from the north property line, and a side and rear yard accessory structure
setback variance to allow the proposed detached garage to be setback 3 feet from the
south side property line and 4 feet from the rear property line, subject to the conditions
of approval.
5. Consideration on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the 8:35 p.m.
City Code to Provide Indemnity Protection to its Officers, Officials
and Employees (First Reading)
PRESENTED BY CITY ATTORNEY VICTOR FILIPPINI
At the October 2005 Committee of the Whole meeting, the City Council had discussions on the
possibility of adopting an ordinance that would provide indemnity protection and defense for
City officials. Following a request by Alderman Widman, the attached ordinance beginning on
page 56 has been prepared for your review and consideration. The proposed ordinance also
includes all city employees as well.
Recommended Action: Grant first reading approval to an ordinance amending Chapter
2 of the City Code to provide indemnity protection for City Officials and City employees.
NEW BUSINESS 8:55 p.m.
1. Approval of Leases for the Grove School Cultural Campus
PRESENTED BY MANAGEMENT ANALYST, CARINA WALTERS (615-4281)
In March 1998, the Grove School Blue Ribbon Committee was appointed and charged with identifying
uses for the property that would be in the best interest of the entire community. Lake Forest
Symphony has been occupying one of the buildings on the site. Temporary use permits were
approved for the Lake Forest Symphony/Music Institute to occupy one of the buildings on a short-term
basis. The City Council has previously approved an ordinance creating a special use permit to allow a
cultural campus at Grove School.
At this time, the City Council is asked to consider the approval of two long-term uses as follows:
Organization Building Lease Term
Lake Forest Symphony/Music Institut Volwiler Hall five years
Lake Forest Symphony/Music Institut Bennett Hall five years
The proposed leases are consistent with the guidelines developed by the Grove School
Subcommittee of the Finance Committee (Alderman Henry, Gallagher) that reviewed the
February 23, 2006 Agenda Page 5
leasing structure and financing of improvements to the Grove School property. The original
Volwiler Hall lease was approved by the City Council in February 2000 and the Benett lease
was executed in January 2002.
Copies of the proposed leases are attached beginning on page . The highlighted areas in the
proposed leases reflect language changes which have been updated since the previous leases.
Recommended Action:
a) Approval of the lease with the Lake Forest Symphony/Music Institute for Volwiler
Hall for the period of January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010; and
b) Approval of the lease with the Lake Forest Symphony/Music Institute for Bennett
Hall for the period of January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010.
2. Consideration of a Boundary and Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of
Mettawa relating to the Disconnection and Annexation of the Dalitsch Property
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
ADJOURNMENT 9:15 p.m.
Office of the City Manager
February 16, 2006
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.