Department of Community

CITY OF PARK RIDGE 505 BUTLER PLACE PARK RIDGE, IL 60068 TEL: 847/ 318-5291 FAX: 847/ 318-6411 TDD:847/ 318-5252 URL:http://www.parkridge.us

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Thursday, May 22, 2014 City Council Chambers 505 Butler Place Park Ridge, Illinois

D R A F T M I N U T E S

Meeting was called to order at 7:34P.M.

A. Roll Call

Present Staff Gary Zimmerman, Chairman Ed Cage, Zoning Coordinator Atul Karkhanis Aleicia Pratt, Administrative Assistant Linda Nagle Alice Borzym-Kuczynski Steven Nadler Salvatore Parenti City Council Missy Langan Alderman Sweeney

Absent None Others Present 7 people

B. Approval of Minutes – April 24, 2014

On a motion by Atul Karkhanis, seconded by Missy Langan, the Board unanimously agreed to approve the minutes from the April 24,2014 meeting, as submitted.

Commissioners Langan and Parenti and Chair Zimmerman abstained from the vote to approve the minutes.

OUR MISSION: THE CITY OF PARK RIDGE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN CITY SERVICES IN ORDER TO UPHOLD A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, SO OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. 1 ZBA Minutes May 22, 2014

C. Approval of Findings of Fact- None

D. Appeals- None

E. Variances

1. Variance at 111 S. Washington Ave- Case Number: V-13-09 (Major) Kiddie Academy Day Care Center, requests a variance from the parking requirement that would allow a new day care center and an existing office use with a reduction of the required off-street parking from 63 spaces 43 spaces, seeking the variance of Zoning Ordinance Section 12. Table 9.

Commissioner Karkhanis stated for the record that his firm has had business dealings with Attorney John Pikarski’s firm in the past for various architectural and business cases, but he do not see any reason not to participate in the instant case.

Tom Pikarski, attorney, 55 W. Monroe St, Chicago, gave a brief introduction of everyone involved in the project. Mr. Pikarski gave a description and background of the existing building at 111 S. Washington Avenue and the day care center that would be a tenant of the partially vacant building. Mr. Pikarski stated they are seeking a variance at the location for a reduction in parking from 64 to 43 spaces to permit occupancy by a child care center. Mr. Pikarski stated that the parking lot has never reached full capacity and at no time are there less than 14 spaces available. The proposed parking variance would be sufficient for business purpose. Mr. Pikarski also mentioned there are an additional 23 street parking spaces that are metered available in the afternoon on Washington Avenue.

Chris Commarota, Vice President of Construction, informed the Board of his involvement with the applicant, Kiddie Academy Day Care Center. Mr. Commarota has assisted in developing over 90 locations during his time. The business began in 1981, and in 1992 they began to franchise. Currently, Kiddie Academy has over 122 locations in 22 states and 7 locations in Chicago land area. Each facility delivers “education focused child care”, supported through the curriculum life essentials that are tailored to four pillars of education, which are, developmentally appropriate, character education, technology, and health and fitness. Kiddie Academy is the only child care provider accredited through Advanced Education, a nationally recognized education company. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Each franchisee reports to the franchise on a weekly basis. All owners go through a training program with initial training for staff as well.

Commissioner Langan asked about space and capacity at the location. Commissioner Langan also inquired about how many staff members would be employed.

2 ZBA Minutes May 22, 2014

Mr. Pikarski stated the maximum child capacity is 103 and there would be 13 staff members. At any particular time capacity is at 60-65%. He stated that is not common for a child to be at the Academy from open to close of the facility.

Carol Siqueira, proposed owner and operator, 7446 N. Oleander, Chicago, stated she has owned and operated the Carpentersville Kiddie Academy location for the last five years. She has received several awards from the State of Illinois and from the Kiddie Academy franchise. She has never been cited during the operation of the facility. She has performed research on child care needs in Park Ridge. There are approximately 7,000 children living in Park Ridge under the age of five years old. Kiddie Academy has an age specific curriculum, which would be implemented daily for each age group. Kiddie Academy plans on hiring from Park Ridge and surrounding areas. Ms. Siqueira explained that each candidate would be required to have a Bachelor’s degree, relevant experience in early childhood teaching and training at Kiddie Academy franchise center, and be required to complete 20 hours of continuing education on a yearly basis. Capacity would be 103 children. If capacity is reached there would be 13 teachers on site, if less than capacity, there would be fewer teachers on site.

Commissioner Kuczynski asked Ms. Siqueira if the license she carries in Carpentersville would be transferable or require a separate license for the City of Park Ridge. Ms. Siqueira stated, yes, each license would be independent from another.

Alderman Sweeney asked Ms. Siqueira if future employees will be screened for substance abuse before they are hired.

Ms. Siqueira stated that it is not part of Kiddie Academy’s hiring process; however, future employees go through an extensive background check through the State of Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). DCFS calls previous employers and calls and checks all references.

Chairman Zimmerman asked Ms. Siqueira to give a run down on day-to-day traffic flow for the Carpentersville location. Ms. Siqueira stated that from 6:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M. is the busiest time, in the morning, where parents are dropping off their children and then in the afternoon it varies greatly, from 2: 30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. being the busiest.

Commissioner Karkhanis inquired about the capacity at the Carpentersville location. Ms. Siqueira stated that the capacity is 147 and there are currently 140 enrolled. There are about 17 staff members there at any given time. In the Park Ridge location there would 13 staff members.

Commissioner Nadler asks Ms. Siqueira how many maximum parking spaces she would need for staff and parents. Ms. Siqueria stated that five or six spaces would be adequate for parents and thirteen for staff members. Ms. Siqueira stated that most families have multiple children.

Valdir Barion, as owner/representative/ on-site manager of Reliable Property Management at 111 S. Washington, Park Ridge. Mr. Barion has been involved with the listed property since 2011. He stated he has never witnessed a shortage of parking. The building is 21,000 square feet and built in 1961, and the property has changed owners four times within the last four years. The building has never had major remodeling. They would like to add storage of 500 square feet. The subject

location also has five medical/dental offices as tenants. There are 23 on-street metered parking spaces in front of the building on Washington, and there are 213 parking spaces in a lot across the street.

Commissioner Zimmerman asked about the remaining building and the occupancy. Mr. Barion stated it is about 70% occupied. The space not currently occupied would be for the Kiddie Academy.

Commissioner Kuczynski touched on the square footage and asked if Mr. Barion has notified the other tenants of the proposed project. Mr. Barion stated he has spoken with every tenant in the building. He also stated that nothing has been sent to the tenants in writing nor has there been any notice. He has shown drawings to four out of the five tenants, and every tenant is very excited about the project. Commissioner Kuczynski referred to the Zoning Ordinance Section 12 Table 9, which requires daycare centers to have one parking space for every two employees, and also two passenger loading spaces. Mr. Cage mentioned that this is probably the hashed drop off location indicated on the site plan in front of the building on Washington Avenue.

Commissioner Nadler asked if they are adding building area. Mr. Barion stated they are not adding any new square footage, the existing building would be part of the space.

Commissioner Langan asked about the fencing/martial arts classes in the basement of the building. Mr. Barion stated that it is an after school activity and they do not open until 7pm and are often very busy on Saturday’s.

Michael Wortham, traffic study engineering consultant with KOLA, explained about the existing office building and the new pick up and drop off lane. Traffic consultation recommended flipping the entrance and exit so that the drop off and exit from the car will be closer to the building. He believes it would be an improvement for the flow of traffic. The access drive will have sufficient capacity for multiple vehicles, and parking counts showed a maximum of 22 vehicles with an additional 14 parking spaces.

Commissioner Nadler inquired about the existing dentist tenant and the peak usage during evening hours and parking availability. Mr. Wortham gave the counts of various vehicles during a block of hours throughout the day. The count peaked mid-day between 3 and 4 p.m.

Commissioner Nagle inquired about the one day on the traffic study and wanted to know if Mr. Wortham thought that the one day count was sufficient enough to have accurate data on the traffic flow. Mr. Wortham indicated that he believed this was sufficient.

Commissioner Karkhanis wanted clarification on the record from Mr. Cage that the daycare in B1 Zoning is a permitted use. Mr. Cage noted that day care is a permitted use in B-1 zoning. Commissioner Karkhanis noted that the applicants are adding an addition of 450 square feet of space for the day care use, and if they do not add the addition then they can come in and open the business without impact on parking. Mr. Cage stated that it is a change in use and it that would trigger new parking requirements, as it would not meet the current code. Commissioner Karkhanis asked what was the previous use of the space and the Property Manager stated it was a call

center about ten years ago. Mr. Karkhanis asked if another business wanted to become a tenant, (other than a day care center) could they? Mr. Cage answered by saying that if it is the same use as prior, the applicant would need to prove it with some kind of documentation, to avoid going through the variance process.

Commissioner Nadler inquired about the impact of traffic, notably Whole Foods traffic. Mr. Worthman stated that Whole Foods is further up the road and would not affect the daycare traffic. Commissioner Nadler inquired about water absorption and impervious surface with the new design. Mr. Mo said he spoke with the City Engineer, Sarah Mitchell, who reviewed the drawing, but did not question the engineering portion of it. Ms. Mitchell was focusing on the parking and traffic. Mr. Cage stated that if the applicant is successful in having the variance granted, then they would submit an application that would go to the City Civil Engineer for review and approval prior to obtaining a building permit.

Mitch Mo, of Neri Architecture, 444 N. Northwest Highway, gave a description of the building. It is a partially vacant building and needs a lot of renovations. The plan is to add 450 square feet which is currently used as a ramp, improving both the site and driveway resurfacing and to update the exterior of the building by the addition of a new element on the front near the entrance. Commissioner Karkhanis ask about handicap spaces. Mr. Mo stated there will be spaces on the east side of the building and there will also will be an entrance near the playground.

Chairman Zimmerman asked about emergency vehicles, and whether there would be enough space for them to drive in and out at the drop off and pick up location in the front of the building. Mr. Mo stated they are following the 12 feet requirement of driving space required by the City of Park Ridge. The fire truck would have to pull in front on Washington. Mr. Cage said that it is something that will be reviewed through the permit process.

Attorney Tom Pikarski stated that during peak times, the current high count uses are opposite the high count times for the proposed use. When you look at the parking analyses, the peak use and available uses are higher than those of the other businesses during their peak times.

On a motion by Commissioner Karkhanis, seconded by Commissioner Langan, (voice vote) the Zoning Board of Appeals, AGREED to recommend City Council approval for Zoning Board of Appeals case number V-13-09, 111 South Washington Avenue, Kiddie Academy Day Care to all a new day care center and an existing office use with a reduction in required off street parking from 64 spaces to 43 spaces as required by Section 12.13, Table 9 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Vote on the motion as follows:

AYES 7 Nadler, Karkhanis, Nagle, Borzym-Kuczynski,Langan, Parenti, Zimmerman NAYS 0 None ABSTAIN 0 None ABSENT 0 None

F. Other Items for Discussion- Chairman Zimmerman called the City Attorney and left a message for an update on the Gillick case. Alderman Sweeney stated it remains in litigation. Commissioner Kuczynski offered to review the public records on what has been filed.

G. Citizens Wishing to Be Heard on Non-Agenda Items- None

H. City Council Liaison Report - None

I. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Date Gary Zimmerman, Chairman

These minutes are not a verbatim record of the meeting but a summary of the proceedings.