HUNTLEY – DORA is coming to Huntley!
Not the children’s cartoon character, but the new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) Special Events.
Barb Read, Village Special Events Manager, presented a resolution “designating the Village Sponsored Special Events area as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.” This allows for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the town square, but only during village sponsored events.
DORA would allow outdoor alcohol during the seven Concerts in the Square, two Ladies Night Outs, three First Fridays on the Square, the September 10 Hootenanny Glow 5k, and the Very Merry Huntley on December 3.
Thomas Stillwell Huntley Birthday
Mayor Hoeft read a proclamation in recognition of Thomas Huntley’s 215th birthday and the placement of a permanent granite marker in the Huntley cemetery at the Huntley family plot.
Public comment
George Cochran, the General Manager of the yet to open Hampton Inn on Route 47, gave an update on the status of the construction. “I’m here to advise the board on the status of the construction.” He added, “it is our expectation to have the property open by mid-June. Supply chain hurdles and not enough electricians have slowed some of the development,” he concluded.
Bills paid
Of the $679,802 non-payroll disbursements, the largest single payee was the Huntley Community School District 158 for the January and February impact fees of $85,602. In addition, $69,885 was paid to C.B. Burke Engineering for engineering services on a wide variety of projects. $32,583 was paid to Dahme Mechanical for equipment at the West Wastewater plant; snow removal expense of $32,571 were paid to the Langton Group; 500 tons of road salt cost $26,848; Clarke Mosquito Control received $25,785; the Filippini Law firm received $19,381 for legal services; more than $17,700 was paid for gasoline and diesel fuel; Ruekert & Mielke received $15,000 for Civil Engineering services.
Sun City parking signs
Timothy Farrell, Director of Public Works and Engineering, presented a proposal for additional signage on Sun City Boulevard “to enhance drive awareness of the designated on-street parking condition on the westbound traffic lane between Del Webb Boulevard and Crestview Drive.”
Eight signs are proposed “on Sun City Boulevard to create additional driver awareness” of the parking lanes added Farrell. “No official actions tonight, just comments about the plan,” he concluded.
When asked, Police Chief Porter reported that “there have been no accidents” or “increased violations in that area.”
Trustee Ronda Goldman asked, “Why are we doing this?”
Village Manager David Johnson responded, “This is being brought forward at the request of multiple Sun City residents.”
Goldman, a Sun City resident replied, “I think it’s overkill, but that’s my opinion.”
Trustee Westberg added, “If this were anywhere else in the Village, we would be requiring them to build parking lots to make it adequate and safe.” He continued, “we’re putting more band-aids on and they need to build a parking lot, plain and simple.”
Trustee Leopold said that Horizon, the owners of the vacant farm land on the south side of Sun City Boulevard ”would sell it to us (Village of Huntley)for ten dollars.”
The consensus of the board was that the problem would continue and that a parking lot is the best solution. The board did agree to spending approximately $1,000 for the proposed signs.
Goldman concluded, “I think it’s a waste of money.”
South Donald Drive rezoning review
Charles Nordman, Director of Development Services, presented for review a “proposed plan to rezone two acres on South Donald Drive to allow for the construction of 24 townhomes in two buildings.” He continued, “The developer is requesting a rezoning to “R-5 Multiple Family Residences from R-1 single family residential housing.”
Nordman pointed out that “to the east of the site is Village-owned property that includes Park District athletic fields and the Village’s wastewater treatment plant.”
He reminded the board and the pubic in attendance, that “this is a conceptual review and that no action will be taking at this meeting.”
Mayor Hoeft invited public comment on the proposal. Traffic concerns were presented by local residents Ty Barton, Alan Eddie, Randy Peters, and Pat Mullins. All spoke against the rezoning.
Goldman pointed out that “the residents of GreenTree apartments, on the north end of Donald Drive, are elderly or disabled or both and they are very worried about traffic coming by those buildings.” She concluded, “I’m dead opposed to that development on that street.”
Westberg commented, “I like the project, but not the location. The two acres are too small” for 24 townhomes.
Trustee Holzkopf asked, “How many homes could be built on the 2-acre property.” Nordman said “two.”
“The issue that I have is not with the project itself, but with the location” she added. “I don’t think it’s safe with the traffic issues in that location.” she concluded.
Trustee Kanakaris asked “can there be lower density?”
Leopold added, “I like the development, but not there.”
Hoeft invited the developer to “consider the input from the board and to make adjustments and return in the future if they still wanted to pursue the project.”
Tommy’s Car Wash
Nordman next presented an Ordinance approving a special use permit “for a 4,551 square foot car wash at the southeast corner of Route 47 and Regency Parkway. Access would be off the recently developed Private Access road.”
He continued, “A Special Use Permit for a Car Wash in the ‘B‐3’ District is required to accommodate the construction of the car wash pursuant to Section 156.039 (B)(2) of the Zoning Code.” Nordman added that at the December 2, 2021 conceptual plan review, the board expressed concerns “regarding the location of the car wash in Huntley Crossings Phase II and its proximity to the new car wash proposed near at the Northwest corner of Route 47 and Kreutzer. The builder explained that given the population and traffic counts, a second car wash can be supported.”
Leopold said that he had “no problem with the car wash” and expressed his displeasure with “the landscaping on the properties north of Regency.” Keith Zimmerman, Tommy’s car wash owner, gave assurances that “we can make sure that any landscaping on our property is well maintained.”
The motion was unanimously approved to issue the required special use permit for the car wash.
11011 Woodstock Street Purchase and Sale Agreement
The purchase of the house at 11011 Woodstock Street is required for the redevelopment of the old Huntley Fire Station One at 11808 Coral Street. The Woodstock Street house would be purchased for $260,000 and demolished. The southern portion of the Woodstock Street property would then be used for the construction of a new parking lot.
F-350 Truck purchases
The board voted to purchase two Ford F-350 trucks from Huntley Ford for a total cost of $118,170 which includes snow plows, and other accessories. These trucks would replace two older similar models that are being sold.
Gateway sign upgrade
Barb Reed, of the Village Manager’s Office, presented a resolution to “purchase an upgrade to the Village Gateway sign at Route 47 and Main Street.” The resolution would “waive the formal bidding process and authorize the purchase of the upgrade from the Aurora Sign company for $28,456.” The upgrade will improve the sign’s appearance and simplify programming of the sign.
