A regular meeting of the City of Washington Planning Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Training Room at Fire Station No.1, by Chairman Mel Joos.

Answering present for Roll Call were Commissioners Jeff Fuerst, Mike Brown, Bill Hartter, Mel Joos and Doug Wilson. Commissioners Bill Bradle, Jeff Borders, Gary Moehle and Arnie Wiltz were absent.

Also present was P&D Director Jon Oliphant, City Clerk/Planning Commission Secretary Carol Moss, Steve Lirtzman of Midwest Holdings L.L.C., and residents of Chestnut Lane.

Commissioner Hartter moved and Commissioner Brown seconded to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2007 Planning Commission meeting as presented. 
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

The agenda was reviewed and stood as presented and there was no Old Business.

A Public Hearing for the purpose of hearing a Special Use request of OSF Healthcare System and Midwest Holdings LLC was opened for comment at 6:31 p.m. Chairman Joos provided a copy of the site plan and landscape plan to members of the audience and Steve Lirtzman, representing Midwest Holdings, told those present that what is proposed is an assisted living facility of 61 apartments. Health care will be provided 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Three meals per day will be provided. This is a private pay, upscale facility employing approximately 30. The facility will have a movie theater, chapel, gated courtyards among other amenities and will be an excellent transition from residential to commercial. Deliveries are received once or twice a week but are done by small box trucks. This is a for profit facility so property taxes will be paid, and there will be no burden to the schools. Midwest Holdings has facilities in Rockford, Belvidere and Sycamore. They built the first free standing facility of this type in Illinois. They select their locations carefully and they are particular of where they build a facility. Staff is hand picked and Lirtzman and his two partners know everyone who resides in the facility, and they make it a point to know everyone who works in the facility. Lirtzman stated that the site plan and the landscaping plan presented are both very preliminary. There has not been any engineering done at all, at this point. The landscape plan is their standard plan and they are aware that a buffer is needed in the rear. That still has to be engineered. Lirtzman passed a number of photographs of other facilities to give an idea of what the Washington facility will look like.

John Blind, 1930 Chestnut, said he is concerned about where storm water will drain. Chairman Joos indicated that the Planning Commission and staff do not deal with storm water, but the City Engineer will monitor that with the Final Plat. Storm water and run-off will be dealt with and all requirements will have to be met. He went on to say that he believes that detention was taken into consideration at the time of the Preliminary Plat for the entire area. Chairman Joos asked Mr. Blind if he has a berm behind his house and Mr. Blind replied he does. An unidentified gentleman in the audience stated that behind 1913 and 1914 Chestnut there is a swale and that is where the water goes. Mr. Blind noted that heavy rains have caused running water in his rear yard and said he does not want to add to that.

Mr. Lirtzman asked where OSF drains to now, saying as he understands things OSF has a comprehensive drainage plan at various locations on this property. The assisted living facility will have a number of drains that will go into the drains of OSF.

Chairman Joos indicated that storm water drainage was put into place and provided when this property was first platted. The new bank under construction will drain under the road and to the east. The majority of the water on the north side of St. Clare runs off toward the northwest.

Commissioner Fuerst stated that as he remembers, there are several shallow, wide overflow ponds with piping. Everything on the south side goes to the north. He stated that he expects that Midwest's engineer will work on the drainage issue. Mr. Blind stated that there is a pretty good sized retention pond already on the property. Chairman Joos said that he is confident that the City Engineer and staff will look out for the resident's well being regarding storm water.

Mr. Blind asked if the parking lot will have drains and Lirtzman replied they have not gotten that far yet, but they will do whatever is required.

John Janes, 1926 Chestnut, asked about exterior lighting and Lirtzman replied they will use box lighting directed down. Fixtures will be on residential type poles similar to residential yard lights so there should not be a lot of light spread, especially in the back, where residential sconce style will be used. Mr. Janes also asked about how close the building will be to his house and Commissioner Fuerst pointed out that there is a thirty foot easement on the rear of the property, plus it will be approximately forty foot to the rear of the building. There will be a landscape berm in the rear also, so depending on where Mr. Janes' house is located, it could be almost 100' from building to building. Chairman Joos pointed out that City Engineer Newman will look at what type of lighting is proposed because the City has requirements as far as fixtures, etc. Lighting will have to be according to requirements. Lirtzman noted that some communities even regulate candlepower. He also noted that there will be a courtyard on the back and on the side so there will be residential lamps on poles.

Commissioner Fuerst asked about resident vehicles and Lirtzman replied there will only be 10-17 vehicles at the most. The average residency age is 80 years old.

Commissioner Fuerst asked about building material and that there is something in the code that says there has to be different materials used other than vinyl siding. He questioned this because the pictures that were passed around all showed a structure that was simply vinyl sided. P&D Director Oliphant answered that the Building Design Guidelines will come into play with this structure, and the exterior will have to be 35% decorative masonry on the front. Christian Village could do full vinyl siding because it is still zoned residential and building design guidelines do not apply to residential.

The public hearing was closed at 6:58 p.m.

Commissioner Wilson asked if the special use is granted to the petitioner and P&D Director Oliphant replied it goes with the property, not the owner. Midwest could sell the property and it could be used as is but if the use changed the owner would have to come back before the Planning Commission.

Finding of Facts - The Commission heard the Special Use request and found that application was made by the owner of the property located at Saint Clare Crossing; proper fees were paid; a public hearing was held on June 6, 2007; proper notice was given per publication in newspaper and letters sent to adjoining/adjacent property owners; all interested persons were given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing; there were no registered "interested parties"; there were no objections to the granting of the Special Use; a plat was presented showing the subject property and all adjacent properties; the Special Use if granted will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety or general welfare; the Special Use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity, nor substantially diminish or impair property values; it will not impede development of surrounding property; adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, or necessary facilities will be provided; adequate ingress/egress will be provided to minimize traffic congestion in public streets; the Special Use will conform to all other applicable regulations of the zoning district.

Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Wilson seconded to approve the Special Use request of OSF Healthcare System/Midwest Holdings L.L.C. for an assisted living facility on Lots 2 and 3 of Saint Clare Crossing , as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 5 Hartter, Fuerst, Wilson, Brown, Joos 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Chairman Joos said that he believes this will be a good addition to the City and good for the neighborhood.

Commissioners Comments - Commissioner Fuerst commented regarding the minutes of the last meeting. He stated that the minutes were very well done, he read through entirely and the minutes were complete and very thorough.

Commissioner Fuerst also commented that his company is doing roads in a subdivision outside the corporate limits of Washington but within Washington's one and a half mile jurisdiction. He pointed out that the contractors are following requirements that were discussed at the last meeting and the contractor's engineer is the one who is making sure that those requirements are being followed. Proof roll had been done and it is proof roll that tells the story.

At 7:11 p.m. Commissioner Wilson moved and Commissioner Fuerst seconded to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.