City of Princeton Planning Commission & Zoning Board of Appeals met March 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
PRESENT: Bill Cass, Chair; Rodney Lange, Jim Scruggs, Matt Keutzer, Michael Wendt, Pete Nelson (Zoning Administrator, pro-tem)
ABSENT: Ian Cardosi, Jackie Davis
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bill Cass at 5:30PM, in the Princeton City Hall Council Chambers.
I. BUREAU COUNTY ADVISORY PETITION – Kory Rokey Variance Requests
Petitioner, Kory Rokey submitted a request to the Bureau County Board of Zoning Appeals for multiple variances for a project on U.S. Hwy. 6 and 1800 East St. The petition asked for a 2 ft. rear yard variance on the South, a 5 ft. side yard variance on the East, and a 10 ft. front yard variance on the North. The justifications for the requests are to shape the uses on the property in a manner that maximizes the commercial viability of the property. Lange asked what the use was going to be, to which Nelson mentioned only hearsay, that a biker bar type of development was being sited there. Keutzer asked if there are any obvious obstacles or hindrances that prevent the owners from observing existing codes.
A discussion continued regarding the wisdom of granting the variances to the detriment of neighboring property being harmed by excessive noise, and possible detriment to safe visibility by signage blocking the view of entering U.S. Hwy. 6. Thereafter, commission members discussed which item to check-off on the petition in order to respond to the Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals.
Motion was made by Jim Scruggs (2nd Matt Keutzer) to mark item “D” on the petition response, which indicates that the city objects to the granting of the variances. The Commission stated that the variance requests were excessive for the structures and a potential safety hazard for the placement of the sign. Members Scruggs, Lange, Wendt, Cass, and Keutzer voted Aye. Cardosi and Davis were absent. Motion approved.
III. OLD BUSINESS
Nelson mentioned that the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission has been meeting regularly in order to develop new guidelines for owners of structures in the North End and South End Business Districts, which were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. Once they have more to recommend, they would like to have a series of joint meetings with the Plan Commission to construct language into the Land Development Code.
Also, Keutzer asked about the implementation of code enforcement. Nelson replied that the heavy enforcement tasks may be contracted out and it is still under review but nearing a decision. Nelson continued that demolition may not be the primary remedy, but that preservation incentives may result in better long-term value to the tax base.
Lange asked about the allowance of LP gas tanks in town, specifically on West Peru St. Nelson responded that LP codes are addressed in the International Fire Code 2003, as adopted by the city.
The Fire Chief will review this development.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Michael Wendt, (2nd Matt Keutzer) to adjourn to the April 6, 2018 Noon Lunch Meeting at City Hall with the Regular Meeting to follow on Tuesday, April 10,, 2018 at 5:30PM at City Hall, Council Chambers. Motion approved by unanimous voice vote. Adjournment at 6:27 p.m.
https://www.princeton-il.com/meeting-minutes/570/planning-commission-and-zoning-board-of-appeals/03-13-2018/
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