0:27And Chairman Wildermore.
0:31And can we get approval of minutes from the February 2nd 2026 meeting?
0:41And staff please call the roll.
1:01And now we will go to the chairman's opening statement.
1:03So good evening and welcome everyone to the March 2nd, 2026 meeting of the L Gen Planning and Zoning Commission.
1:11Tonight we'll be hearing petitions 02-26 and 03-02-25 and 0-3.
1:20I'm sorry, I'm so 02-26 and 03-26.
1:28Before we move on to the agenda, I want to briefly discuss the role of the commission and the procedure for tonight's meeting.
1:34As a reminder, the planning and zoning commission is an advisory and recommending body to city council, except in tonight's case of 03-26, where the planning and zoning commission is the determining body for the requested variation.
1:47The job of this commission is to review development proposals and determine whether a proposal meets the applicable standard of review.
1:54So for the process tonight, we will first hear from city staff, followed by questions the commission has for staff.
2:01Then we will invite the applicant to provide a brief overview of their proposal, and the commission will then ask questions of the applicant.
2:08And after that, we will open the hearing for the public comment portion of the hearing.
2:13And then during public comment, please come forward, state your name and add and address, and also spell your name.
2:20Public comment should be addressed to the commission, who will keep notes on the questions, concerns raised, and then city staff and the applicant will have the opportunity to address those questions.
2:30And in the interest of time, we ask that those testifying do not reiterate points that have already been made.
2:36So with that, at this time, um we will then move ahead with the agenda.
2:40And those of you that wish to speak tonight should now stand and take the oath from the court reporter.
2:57All right, we'll look to staff uh to start with our first petition, which is 02-26.
3:07You have proof of proper notice.
3:09We do have proof of proper notice.
3:23So good evening, everyone.
3:25The first petition before you tonight is the application by International Church of Four Square Gospel as applicant and B and K building partnership declaration of trust as the property owner who are requesting a conditional use to establish a church within the existing building at the property, commonly known as 85 Market Street.
3:46As usual, we'll start with the general overview of the site location, the subject property outlined here in yellow.
3:53It has a red shade over it, so it means it's zone AB area business district.
3:58This is a 21,000 square foot property.
4:05As you can see, the property to the east and to the south have the same shade over them, so they're both zone A B area business.
4:12To the east is a uh one-story multi-tenant office building, and then to the south is the Julasco.
4:20To the west are single family homes on RC1, and then immediately to the north are multifamily residences that are zoned MFR, multi-family residence district.
4:31So the subject property here is a bird's eye view looking north.
4:36Uh as I it's improved at a uh a split uh two-story building uh that uh includes a parking lot with 23 parking spaces, the access to the part the two access driveways to the property.
4:52Uh there's a full access driveway from North Lyle Avenue, and then there's a second full access driveway that is shared with the property to the east.
5:03The property is partially occupied with an attorney's office.
5:07So the applicant is requesting approval to establish a church within the existing building.
5:14They are looking to renovate the space primarily on the interior.
5:18They would create a sanctuary with 88 seats.
5:23And then the lower level that is here on the right would be renovated to include three sort of smaller classrooms that will be used for various church functions.
5:34One of those would be the Bible study.
5:46They typically expect about 45 attendees for those Sunday services.
5:51The other services are provided on, or I should say the functions are on Wednesdays when they have a Bible study in the evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
6:00The exterior changes to the site are really limited.
6:04They are proposing to enclose a vestibule of the front entrance.
6:08And then the sanctuary would have two exit doors on the west side of the building, and then with two sidewalks connecting to the to the public sidewalk along North Isle Avenue.
6:28They do not provide Christmas service that is provided at the church in Chicago.
6:37The proposal is required to meet the standards for conditional use.
6:40We have provided our overview of the standards in the pack and all applicable standards have been satisfied.
6:47And therefore, staff recommends approval subject to the conditions in the packet.
6:54All right, thank you.
6:54Um I'll start on my right with uh Commissioner Gasco.
7:04No questions, thank you.
7:07Um the parking requirement.
7:11I know that's a sanctuary, um, so 80 something equals 23, which it covers, but does the the other stuff in their count like the employees or staff are you know?
7:24Yes, so the parking requirement is based on the number of seats in the sanctuary plus one per employee.
7:30They only have one employee, the the pastor, so the with the number of seats and the one employee they're required to have 23 parking spaces, and they have that, so they meet their parking requirement.
7:39Okay, and um you said it is an attorney, the attorney is aware of all this going on.
7:45The existing attorney's office in there, yes, they're the ones that are selling the property to the oh, so he's leaving.
7:59Commissioner Brabell.
8:01I have any questions for staff.
8:04Uh, we'll now invite the applicant to come forward.
8:13Uh Commissioners, my name is Scott Richmond, and I'm here on behalf of the petitioner International Church of the Four Square Gospel.
8:20Uh, I am pleased to be here tonight with Sean Aena and uh from the church and Carissa Wendt from Kobu Architecture, uh, who are both here tonight.
8:30If you have any specific questions, um I think Demir covered it, covered over pretty well.
8:36Currently, there's about 45 members of the church where they currently are at 601 Hill Avenue as a much smaller building, they're essentially maxed out in that building, and so the property at 85 Market Street will allow them to be a lot more comfortable, provide more room for kids to have learning areas, um, and allow their congregation to expand over time.
9:01Um we have uh plenty of parking right now, and that will cover the 88 uh the 88 person sanctuary, but they're not even at that level, they're only about 45 or so right now.
9:15Um so uh with that I won't take up much more of your time.
9:19If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
9:25I will start on my left with Commissioner Brable.
9:28Um, just one question.
9:30Um, I read that um there was like an agreement or something that you're they were seeking with park regarding the parking with Jewel.
9:38Yeah, so one of the issues that came up is is one day a year they have an anniversary event.
9:44There may be more than 88 people there, not significantly more, somewhere between you know maybe 90 and 100 at most.
9:53Um so what we've done is begun exploring because jewels right across the street, um begun exploring the opportunity just to for that one day a year park.
10:03Um there isn't a formal agreement in place, and and if we weren't able to get that, we would apply to the city for a special event to be able to park on the street or something just for that day.
10:14It's only a one-day thing, and at Christmas time, like Demir had said, their uh their church meets at the downtown Chicago location.
10:22That's where all the churches come together that are part of the four-square gospel church.
10:27Um just wanted to say that uh the design is nice.
10:30I like the use of the space.
10:38I have no questions.
10:39Uh welcome to the neighborhood.
10:44No questions really, but I on a personal note.
10:47I think it's exciting to see a place of worship growing enough to expand in the community, so I'm happy to hear that.
11:01I don't have any questions either.
11:03Thank you very much.
11:08I will now open up uh this portion uh to for public comment if there's any members of the public that want to speak on behalf of this petition.
11:25Chairman Cox, you sure you don't want to come up and say anything?
11:31Um always good to see a former chair in the crowd.
11:34Um with that, I'll close the public uh public comment portion and we will look to staff for any final comments.
11:42Nothing further to add.
11:43Staff recommends approval subject to the conditions in the packet.
11:47Is there a motion from the commissioner?
11:54Uh I move to approve petition 02-26, subject to the terms and conditions outlined in our packet.
12:06Staff please call the roll.
12:07And just to clarify, the motion is to adopt those findings in the packet as the findings of the commission.
12:12Of course, absolutely, thank you.
12:14Thank you, Commissioner Jones.
12:21Commissioner Abwali?
12:22Commissioner Bosque?
12:24Commissioner Agasca?
12:28And Chairman Willemoth.
12:30Uh motion is approved, 720.
12:34Continue working with staff.
12:35But thank you so much and welcome.
12:40All right, we will now move on to petition 03-26.
13:00So this petition, the commission is the determining body.
13:04So this will be not a recommendation of council, but a final determination.
13:09So this second petition before you, and again, we have provided the required notices in this one as well.
13:14This is the application by Zach Zelinski as applicant and Michael Cool as property owner.
13:20We're requesting a variation from the section 19.20.135 site design.
13:26Pursuant to section 19.12800, authorized site design variations.
13:32To permit the construction of an attached three-season sunroom, approximately 27 feet from the rear property line, where a minimum 30-foot rear yard setback is required for the property, commonly known as 687 Carleton Drive.
13:49And again, we'll start with the general location of the subject property.
13:53This time outlined it red.
13:55It's on the east side of Carlton Drive.
13:57This is just north of Jefferson Avenue.
14:00The property is zoned RC1, residence conservation district.
14:05It's about 11,500 square feet in area.
14:10As you can see, the properties that are north, south, and to the west across Carlton Drive, all have the same yellow shade.
14:16Those are all zoned the same, RC1.
14:18And those are all improved single family homes.
14:21In the back of the home are two family residences.
14:25Those properties are zoned TFR to family residence district.
14:30So the subject property is improved with a single family home, a two-story home with a two-car attached garage.
14:38The photo up the top right.
14:41So the applicant is requesting approval to construct a new sunroom addition in the back of the existing home.
14:49The proposed sunroom would replace the existing sunroom seen here in the two photos.
14:56In the exact same location, exact same size.
15:04And the proposed sunroom shown here in the drawings would be very similar to the existing one.
15:12The proposed sunroom would be 27.6 feet from the rear property line where 30-foot setback is required.
15:20This property is unique in that the this subdivision has a 30-foot rear or 30-foot street yard setback instead of a 25-foot street yard setback that's normally found in the RC1 district.
15:33And because of that, that reduces the rear yard on the property.
15:46So there the proposed addition is 12 and a half feet deep by 10 and a half feet wide.
15:54Again, same as the existing sunroom.
15:56That's about 131 square feet.
15:59Again, 27.6 feet from the rear property line.
16:02The existing sort of landing that's four feet wide that's outlined in purple would remain.
16:14And here are a couple photographs of a similar sunroom that was constructed on the property adjacent to the south.
16:20That property also went through the variance request a few years back with the same contractor.
16:27They received the variation and they they constructed the sunroom subsequently.
16:58Um would be code compliant with the trench foundation that's tied into the foundation of the home.
17:05And here's that requested variation again summarized 30 foot required and 27.6 feet.
17:13The requested variation is required to meet the standards of approval, which are provided in your packet.
17:20We have gone through the standards.
17:22We believe that all applicable standards are satisfied.
17:25And therefore, staff recommends approval.
17:27Again, the planning and zoning commission is the final determining body on this case.
17:31With that, I'm happy to answer any questions, and the applicant is here as well that can address the commission.
17:37Um I will start on my right with uh Commissioner Gaska.
17:49No questions, thank you.
17:57I have no questions.
17:58Commissioner Vruble.
18:00I don't have any questions either.
18:02Uh now invite the applicant to come forward.
18:14Um, my name is Zach.
18:16I'm with the general contractor at MV Home Services.
18:18I feel like the Mirror did a pretty good job explaining what we're doing.
18:21You know, we're just taking the existing sunroom, tearing it down and building a new one.
18:26We're not changing the existing footprint of the property or anything like that.
18:30So I don't really have too much to add, but I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any.
18:35Uh Commissioner Bruble.
18:38Just want to say I like how you're gonna do the design to make it look like it was part of the house.
18:47No, I have no questions.
18:52Just out of curiosity, what what made you come to the city to request a variance?
18:58I mean, you in my head, you're just replacing the existing um just because of the setback issue.
19:05We you know, kind of if we wanted to build one of the same sides, we had to go through the process and everything.
19:10So we just you know took the proper steps and did what we had to you know do and get in front of the board and everything.
19:15Was that the one that's there?
19:17Is that a conforming was that a uh conforming structure?
19:22Uh I I guess not, but no, yeah.
19:25We didn't we didn't we didn't build that one, so yeah, yeah.
19:29I was just curious about it.
19:30Okay, thank you very much.
19:32Commissioner O'Wale.
19:33That was actually my question.
19:34So the current one is 27.6 feet back.
19:38It's the same size, it's the same setup.
19:41No more the questions.
19:43No questions, thank you.
19:47No questions either.
19:48The design looks really nice.
19:49Uh really appreciate you going through the process.
19:53Thank you for having us.
20:00Um, I will now open uh uh this portion of the hearing open open to public comment.
20:03Is there any members of the public that wish to comment?
20:09Seeing none, I will close the public comment portion and look to staff to close out with any final comments.
20:16Happen to have staff recommends approval.
20:18All right, sounds good.
20:19Is there a motion from the commission?
20:21I move to approve that petition three-26 subject to the conditions outlined within our packet and to adopt as the findings of the commission.
20:32Those findings also in our packet.
20:35I second staff please call the roll.
20:39Commissioner Abuali?
20:50Commissioner Bruble?
20:51And Chairman Wildermouth?
20:53Uh motion is approved.
20:57Thank you very much for coming.
21:01Is there we will now move on to other business?
21:23Is there any other business?
21:25Staff does not have other business.
21:28Uh we will now move on to public comment.
21:35Seeing no public comment, we will now move on to summary of pending development applications.
21:44Wildermooth, uh, just an update on the items that were at the planning and zoning commission uh last month went to the city council uh at the last council meeting, and um all four items uh received uh approval under consideration, those being the new elementary school at 850 North Grove, the uh entertainment venue for the seven o'clock tower plaza, the Caselara Place, the banquet hall, part of the new uh Indian fusion restaurant and the old Golden Corral, and then also a text amendment that would allow mural signs in the NB and the CF districts, all of those again received uh approval by the city council.
22:22The final uh approval of the ordinances for all those is expected at the next council meeting on March 11th.
22:29Um we have you might have noticed we have received uh an application for the self-storage facility that was some time ago proposed at 2401 Weld Road.
22:41Uh it's a totally new project.
22:44Um, I think it was a uh five building proposal, all five uh five one-story buildings, sort of a traditional self-storage building.
22:56This time around, it's a one three-story building uh that would have all interior storage units.
23:03So that's going to review.
23:05Um that one is kind of up note.
23:07The applicant apparently has worked with those neighbors to the west, which are unincorporated King County, that have been fairly vocal against the proposal back in 21.
23:18Um, so it sounds like they are much more amenable to this current proposal.
23:25And then we've also received uh uh the first phase for the Pinkary Creek subdivision.
23:30So that's pretty exciting.
23:3269 single family homes uh that's also going through review.
23:38Hopefully, that will break ground sometime this year.
23:40So I think that's about it, unless there's any questions.
23:46Any commit any questions from the commission?
23:50Um I noticed the temple we uh talked about went to city council and it was approved, but it's on pending commission.
23:57So what happens is the every item has to go to council twice.
24:00So first time goes under consideration.
24:03If it receives a positive vote, then the the the item moves on for the ordinance approval.
24:09Um in this case, once it received approval under consideration, uh they have to petition the Cook County Circuit Court to amend that consent decree before the city council grants the final approval by ordinance.
24:23So that may take some time.
24:24Uh I think they do they do have about a year or so to kind of get it done.
24:29Um it's pending on our commission items.
24:32Are is it coming back here?
24:34It's just that that that petition has not been done.
24:38It's still in the in the review process, so they still need to receive that final city council approval.
24:43So that's why it's still on.
24:44So any item that has gone through city council even once is still on here if it hasn't gone through full council approval or not.
24:51So any other any qu any other questions from the commission?
24:57Commissioner Bruble?
25:00Um it's not related to anything except for um with that sunroom.
25:02So isn't it though once you take out a permit?
25:05Just from my own understanding, I mean you you're required to bring everything up to code, right?
25:11So once he took out the permit, then he would yeah.
25:16So the they'll have to to issue the permit, the the drawings and the project has to comply with all life safety and building codes, including the zoning ordinance.
25:23So they're you know that was not going to be the case, so they needed a variance for that.
25:27So just want to make sure I had that understood.
25:33Any other questions from the commission?
25:38All right, thanks, Demir.
25:39Um we will now move on to the next item, which is adjournment.
25:46A motion to adjourn the meeting for tonight.
25:52The staff please call the roll.
25:54That was Commissioner Boske?
25:59Commissioner Abwali?
26:08And Chair Wildermouth?