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TY oO
I F
WEST C HICAGO
WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET
Approved 4.2.24
PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
March 5, 2024 7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Establishment of a Quorum
Vice Chairperson Kasprak called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call found Vice
Chairperson Kasprak, and Commissioners Banasiak, Billingsley, Henkin, Slattery, and Terrazas
present. Chairperson Laimins was absent. With six members present, a quorum was established.
Staff in attendance included City Planner John Sterrett.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Chairperson Kasprak led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Chairperson’s Comments
None.
4. Public Comment
None.
5. Approval of draft meeting minutes from February 6, 2024
Commissioner Banasiak made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Slattery, to approve the draft
meeting minutes of the February 6, 2024 Plan Commission meeting with additional language
clarifying that the Plan Commission voted on the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations text
amendment while continuing the discussion on the Design Standards text amendment to the next
meeting. With a voice vote of 6 ayes the motion carried.
6. Public Hearing of Case PC 24-04 — Zoning Text Amendments
Commissioner Billingsley made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Banasiak, to open the
continued public hearing. With a voice vote of all ayes, the motion carried.
Mr. Sterrett was duly sworn in. Mr. Sterrett stated that during the February 6" meeting, members of
the Plan Commission agreed with the concept of expanding the type of building materials permitted
but wanted a provision added that would allow the Zoning Administrator flexibility in approving
materials that may not be listed in the Design Standards, such as emerging and improved building
materials, provided that they meet the purpose and intent of the design standards. For this reason,
the discussion of the proposed zoning text amendment was continued to the March 5" Plan
Commission to give staff time to draft language reflecting the members’ comments. Staff has done
so.
With all members of the public having had the opportunity to speak, and with all Plan
Commissioners having the opportunity to question staff, Commissioner Banasiak made a motion,
475 Main Street T (630) 293-2200
West Chicago, Illinois F (630) 293-3028 Ruben Pineda Michael L. Guttman
60185 westchicago.org MAYOR CITY ADMINISTRATOR

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seconded by Commissioner Henkin, to close the public hearing. With a voice vote of all ayes, the
motion carried and the public hearing was closed.
7. Review and Recommendation of Case PC 24-04 — Zoning Text Amendment
The Plan Commission deliberated the proposed Zoning Text Amendment. After a brief discussion,
Commissioner Billingsley made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Terrazas, to recommend
approval of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment with the following changes:
1. Unstrike the sentence “No mansard roofs shall be permitted” and add the wording “for
commercial structures” after the sentence; and
2. Add the wording “for multi-family residential dwellings units” to the sentence “All
materials used shall be compatible as a group with the surrounding structures.” after “All
materials used”.
A roll call vote found Commissioners Billingsley, Terrazas, Banasiak, Henkin, and Slattery, and
Vice Chairperson Kasprak voting “aye” and no one voting “no”. With a roll call vote of six (6)
“aye” and zero (0) “no”, the motion carried.
8. Public Hearing of Case PC 24-05 — Zoning Text Amendment
Commissioner Banasiak made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Henkin, to open the public
hearing. With a voice vote of all ayes, the motion carried.
Mr. Sterrett was duly sworn in. Mr. Sterrett stated that signs that are used by Government Facilities
are exempt from the requirement to obtain a sign permit. These signs, however, are still subject to
other signage regulations such as the total number of signs permitted on a Government Facility
property as well as the size of each individual sign. For example, a Government Facility is limited
to only one freestanding sign on a property. This can be problematic given that signs for a
Government Facility contain information that benefit the public and often require multiple signs or
signs that may require a larger area than what is permitted. For instance, a public school may
require more than one freestanding sign to provide information at various points on a property.
Current regulations, however, prohibit this from occurring. The City’s signage regulations are
effective at regulating commercial businesses, which use signage to advertise or promote services or
products of a business. Government uses, however, have different priorities than commercial
entities and are necessary to provide the public with important information.
Staff is therefore proposing a Zoning Text Amendment that would further exempt signs for a
Government Facility from the maximum number of signs and from the maximum size of an
individual sign. It is not uncommon for municipalities to exempt government signs from most sign
regulations. All signs would still be subject to visibility requirements to ensure vehicular and
pedestrian sight lines are not obstructed by any sign. Staff is also proposing an amendment to the
definition of Government Facility, which currently only mentions “units of government”, to include
“public schools” to make clear that public school signs are also exempt from certain sign
regulations.
Members of the Plan Commission were apprehensive to completely eliminate regulations for
governmental units citing potential negative impacts as a result. Commissioner Banasiak made a
Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals
March 5, 2024
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motion, seconded by Commissioner Henkin, to continue the hearing pending additional information
on existing governmental signs that do not meet sign regulations.
9. Petition Updates/Staff Report
Mr. Sterrett provided a brief update on upcoming projects and previously approved projects.
10. Adjournment
With no further business to discuss, Commissioner Henkin made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Billingsley to adjourn the meeting. With a voice vote of all ayes, the motion carried
and the Plan Commission, at 7:42 p.m., adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Sterrett, City Planner
Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals
March 5, 2024
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