Dan Duffy, Administrator - Village of Minooka | LinkedIn
Dan Duffy, Administrator - Village of Minooka | LinkedIn
Village of Minooka Planning & Zoning Commission met March 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order by Chairman Friant at 6:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of allegiance was led by Chairman Friant.
3. ROLL CALL
| Name | Title | Status |
| Dan Friant | Chairman | Present |
| Steve Bryce | Commissioner | Present |
| Casey McCollom | Commissioner | Present |
| Mark Skwarczynski | Commissioner | Present |
| Bob White | Commissioner | Present |
| Bob Wilson | Commissioner | Absent |
| Dan Wittenkeller | Commissioner | Absent |
4. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 11, 2025 MINUTES
Motion was made by Commissioner McCollom to approve the February 11, 2025 Planning and Zoning Minutes as presented. Commissioner White seconds.
MOTION CARRIED by the following roll call vote:
| RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Commissioner McCollom SECONDER: Commissioner White AYES: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Wilson, Wittenkeller |
Community Development Officer Guldenbecker provided an update that there is a data center inquiring about a location near Holt and Ridge to Wildy Rd. No commitments just yet, so more info to come.
6. OLD BUSINESS – None
7. NEW BUSINESS
a) Public Hearing on the question of whether to recommend approval of an amendment to Section 5-11-6(E) of the Village’s zoning ordinance to permit:
• Aggregate sign area variances up to 2,372 ft2; and
• Ground sign area variances up to 215 ft2; and
• Pole sign area variances up to 636 ft2.
Motion was made by Commissioner Bryce to open the Public Hearing on the question of whether to recommend approval of an amendment to Section 5-11-6(E) of the Village’s zoning ordinance to permit aggregate sign area variances up to 2,372 ft2; and ground sign area variances up to 215 ft2; and pole sign area variances up to 636 ft2.
Commissioner McCollom seconds.
Ayes: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Wilson, Wittenkeller
Motion carried. Public Hearing opened at 6:04 PM.
Public Notice was published on February 15, 2025 in the Joliet Herald News, on February 19, 2025 in the Morris Herald News, and on February 20, 2025 in the Kendall County Record
Interested persons wishing to provide testimony were sworn in by Chairman Friant.
Community Development Officer Guldenbecker provided an overview. Village Staff, with the assistance of the Village attorney, have been working with the operators of Green Township Hospitality, LLC to review their application for variances regarding signage square footage at their proposed hotel development. The petitioner has obtained a holiday Inn Express Franchise and Candlewood Suites license and would like to construct a dual-brand hotel which would require additional signage. Their request for variance exceeds what is currently allowed by ordinance. This ordinance amendment and variance request are driven by the unique nature of the development, a dual brand hotel, essentially doubling the need for signage. Given the site plans and the scale of the development, staff believe that the proposed signage is reasonable and will not negatively impact the surrounding area. Regarding the proposed amendments and associated variances, current aggregate limit is 1,320 ft2 but in this case signage for both brands and future tenants the developer is requesting 2,372 ft2. The ground sign variance currently allows for 200 ft2 but in this case signage for both brands and future tenants is required and the developer is requesting 215 ft2. Pole sign variance currently allows for 600 ft2 but in this case signage for both brands and future tenants the developer is requesting 636 ft2.
Attorney Santschi further explained the first public hearing is for the text amendments to create a variance option. The second public hearing was for the variance request from Green Township Hospitality, LLC.
Commission expressed concerns over the total proposed aggregate increase. Commission reviewed with Sejal Patel, petitioner for Green Township Hospitality, LLC the dual brand partnership, requirements for signage and possible compromises on decreasing total aggregate in different ways. Discussions included the possibility of removing the three additional future tenant cabinets on the monument sign and removing one of the building signs facing Grainger. Letterset calculations were also discussed and the possibility of minimizing the building signs to a point that would decrease the aggregate sign area aggregate to a more comparable amount.
The petitioner, following discussions with the Commission, indicated a desire to amend their ground sign variance request that the final dimension of said sign would consist of an aggregate sign face of two hundred square feet (200 ft2) and a maximum height of eighteen feet (18’). Petitioner also expressed a willingness to work with staff on building signage.
Mayor Offerman stated it would be nice to have side by side examples for comparative building signage to review.
No other questions from the Commissioners or public were received. Chairman Friant asked Commissioners if they had enough information to make a decision or if there would be a motion to continue the public hearing.
Motion was made by Commissioner McCollom to (1) recess and continue the public hearing to April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Board Room, 121 East McEvilly Road, Minooka, Illinois, for further consideration of the proposed text amendment to expand the variance authority for the aggregate sign area limits (Section 5-11-6(E)(5)(a)) and (2) close the public hearing as to all other matters.
Commissioner White seconds.
Ayes: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Wilson, Wittenkeller
Motion carried. Public Hearing partially closed at 7:38 PM.
Based on the evidence presented and the reasons set forth in the Planning and Zoning Meeting and recommendation sheets, Commissioner White motioned to recommend (1) approval of the proposed text amendment to expand the maximum variance authority for the aggregate sign area of pole signs from 600 ft2 to 636 ft2 and (2) denial of the proposed text amendment to expand the maximum variance authority for the aggregate sign area of ground signs from 200 ft2 to 215 ft2.
Commissioner Skwarczynski seconds.
MOTION CARRIED by the following roll call vote:
| RESULT: (1) APPROVED / (2) DENIED
MOVER: Commissioner White SECONDER: Commissioner Skwarczynski AYES: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White ABSENT: Wilson, Wittenkeller Finding of Fact and Recommendation for Approval attached. |
• A variance from Section 5-13-16 of the Village of Minooka Zoning Ordinance regarding signage size and height requirements in order to install a multi-tenant monument sign; and
• A variance from Section 5-13-16 of the Village of Minooka Zoning Ordinance regarding signage size and height requirement in order to install a multi-unit pole sign.
Motion was made by Commissioner White to open the Public Hearing and Consideration of Case 2023- 3 on the question of whether to recommend approval of the following zoning variances, a variance from Section 5-13-6 of the Village of Minooka Zoning Ordinance relating to the limit on the aggregate total square feet on signs; a variance from Section 5-13-16 of the Village of Minooka Zoning Ordinance regarding signage size and height requirements in order to install a multi-tenant monument sign; and a variance from Section 5-13-16 of the Village of Minooka Zoning Ordinance regarding signage size and height requirement in order to install a multi-unit pole sign.
Commissioner Bryce seconds.
Ayes: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Wilson, Wittenkeller
Motion carried. Public Hearing opened at 7:40 PM.
Public Notice was published on February 15, 2025 in the Joliet Herald News, on February 19, 2025 in the Morris Herald News, and on February 20, 2025 in the Kendall County Record. Notice of Public Hearing were mailed on February 18, 2025 to 2 property owners located within two hundred and fifty (250) feet of the subject property.
There were no interested persons wishing to provide testimony.
Subject property is 6 acres (with approximately 3 acres for proposed hotel development, Parcel 4, Lot 3) currently zoned B-2 and located at 651 Grainger Way, Minooka, IL 60447, PIN #03-02-200-029.
Commission, with direction from Attorney Santschi, requested comments of earlier public hearing be incorporated into this public hearing. No additional updates were received from staff.
No other questions from the Commissioners or public were received. Chairman Friant asked Commissioners if they had enough information to make a decision or if there would be a motion to continue the public hearing.
Motion was made by Commissioner McCollom to (1) recess and continue the public hearing to April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Board Room, 121 East McEvilly Road, Minooka, Illinois, for further consideration of the request for an aggregate sign area variance up to 2,372 ft2 and (2) close the public hearing as to all other matters.
Commissioner Bryce seconds.
Ayes: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Wilson, Wittenkeller
Motion carried. Public Hearing partially closed at 7:44 PM.
Based on the evidence presented and the reasons set forth in the Planning and Zoning Meeting and recommendation sheets, Commissioner McCollom motioned to recommend to the Village Board the approval of the requested sign variances to allow (1) a ground sign with a maximum height of 18 ft and a maximum area of 200 ft2 and (2) a pole sign with a maximum height of 80 ft and a maximum area of 636 ft2 pending legal, final engineering and site plan review.
Commissioner Bryce seconds.
MOTION CARRIED by the following roll call vote:
| RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Commissioner McCollom SECONDER: Commissioner Bryce AYES: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White ABSENT: Wilson, Wittenkeller Finding of Fact and Recommendation for Approval with Exhibit 1 attached. |
Based on the evidence presented and the reasons set forth in the Planning and Zoning Meeting and recommendation sheets, Commissioner McCollom motioned to recommend to the Village Board the approval of the preliminary and final plat for Green Township Hospital LLC-Holiday Inn Express, pending legal and final engineering approval.
Commissioner White seconds.
MOTION CARRIED by the following roll call vote:
| RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Commissioner McCollom SECONDER: Commissioner White AYES: Bryce, McCollom, Skwarczynski, White ABSENT: Wilson, Wittenkeller |
9. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Commissioner Bryce to adjourn the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Commissioner White seconds.
MOTION CARRIED with all ayes. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.
https://events.minooka.com/Village/Detail/2025-03-11-1800-Planning-and-Zoning-Commission-Meeting3/5a2f0057-bc3d-4de9-9017-b2ba010b3bf4
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