Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee met June 22.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present:

Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Ms. Peters, and Mr. Payton

Members Absent:

Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Tholen, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Hildebrand, Mr. Ritter, and Ms. Dunbar

In Attendance:

• Board Members

Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Liehr

• Department Heads

Delbert Skimerhorn

• Media

None

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Olthoff, at 9:00 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

Wesley Sons commented on zoning issues.

3. Approval of Minutes: May 18, 2017

A motion was made by Mr. Payton to approve the minutes, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Building – Delbert Skimerhorn

• Building Report – May 2017

Mr. Skimerhorn reviewed and discussed the building report with the committee.

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to approve the building report, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

5. Zoning – Delbert Skimerhorn

• ZBA Case#17-01; request for a Special Use Permit to Section 121-99.c.22 (Campground) in the A1-Agricultural District and Variances to Section 121-281.c (Accessory Structure Location) and Section 121.286.c.1 (Number of Driveways) on a parcel generally situated in Section 01 of Pembroke Township. The petitioners are Alejandro Gomez, Jr. and Alberto Sebastian, property owners and applicants.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that this case was originally presented to the PZA Committee in April. At that time, the committee sent it back to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for further consideration. He proceeded to once again review the points of the case with the committee. The original ZBA hearing voted 4-0 to approve, with conditions. On April 20th, PZA reviewed the case and sent it back to the ZBA because they had concerns about the well and the term “friends” in one of the conditions. Since that time, we have learned from the Health Department that campgrounds, even a private campground of this nature, have to be licensed by the State of Illinois, and they have a very stringent and lengthy list of requirements for that permit. One of those is proper drinking water and a well. We believe that will alleviate PZA’s issues with the well when they apply for the State permit. We’re at Step 1 right now, and that is to obtain proper zoning, which would be the special use permit and they need a variance for the driveway. Step 2 is to apply for and obtain a State permit for a campground. That will include that all buildings on the site must be designed by an architect. That will be reviewed by the State, and the State will review the septic system or the sanitary sewer system, whichever that turns out to be, the well, and the entire site plan. Step 3, if they get that approval, would be to apply to the County for the proper building permits, the entrance permit, the Health Department for the well permit and the septic permit, and get it all constructed and installed properly. That would be Step 4, to finish the construction of the site. Step 5 would be the final inspection and the occupancy permit. The owners have a long way to go to establish a campground, and we are at Step 1. If, for some reason, the PZA Committee were to approve the special use permit and, for whatever reason, the State permits were not obtained, the special use permit would be null and void in 12 months from the date the County Board approved it. If the site was not constructed within 12 months, it would also go away. He just wanted to try and alleviate some of the confusion that there may have been about where we’re at. The PZA Committee is not approving the entire site plan, what type of well is going to be there, or what type of septic system. The ZBA, at their second hearing, voted 5-0 to approve again, but they did modify one of the conditions.

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to concur with the Zoning Board of Appeals’ findings as deliberated, with modified conditions, and Mr. Payton seconded it.

Discussion:

Mr. Wheeler stated that he appreciated Mr. Skimerhorn explaining the process as that alleviates any concerns that he had. He asked if Mr. Skimerhorn could sense the applicants’ desire to go through the whole process.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that, yes, they do seem willing to do so. They have not applied to the State yet because he thinks they were waiting to see how this meeting went. There’s no reason to spend the money for the State application if they’re not going to get zoning approval.

Original motion carried with a voice vote.

6. Planning

• 50th Anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966

Mr. Skimerhorn informed the committee that our Historic Preservation Committee has been recognized by the National Park Service who sent us a certificate as part of the 50 th Anniversary celebration of the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Reappointment of Michael Donahue to Kankakee County Historic Preservation Commission Mr. Washington made a motion to approve the reappointment, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

7. Old Business

• Reminder of H & B and PZA Committee Meeting Date Changes Effective July 2017

Mr. Olthoff reminded the committee about the Highways & Buildings and PZA Committee Meetings date changes effective in July.

8. New Business

9. Adjournment

Mr. Payton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:27 a.m., and it was seconded by Mr. Mulcahy. Motion carried.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/pza_62217.pdf