ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to Concur with a Recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission and Staff to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending Special Use Ordinance No. 14,967 in a Class O-2 (Exclusive Office Park) District for a Financial Institution with a Drive-up Facility to Add a 70 Square Foot Freestanding Sign for the Property Identified as N. KNOXVILLE AVE. (Parcel Identification Nos. 14-08-277-011 and 012), 7555 N. KNOXVILLE AVE. (Parcel Identification No. 14-08-277-013), and 7535 N. KNOXVILLE AVE. (Parcel Identification No. 14-08-277-014), Peoria, Illinois. (Council District 5)
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BACKGROUND: Petitioner William Merritt is requesting to add a 5-foot tall, 70 sq. ft. in size, freestanding sign located along the frontage of Knoxville Ave.
At their October meeting, the Planning & Zoning Commission found that the request met the Findings of Fact and voted 5 to 0 TO APPROVE, with the following condition of approval:
1) Remove gravel/rock mulch within and adjacent to the parking lot.
During discussion, the Petitioner’s representative stated that gravel mulch had been removed from the parking lot islands, therefore the Commission assumed the requested waiver to allow the gravel mulch to remain was no longer required and did not discuss any further. Following the meeting it was determined that the entirety of the gravel had not been removed, only a small portion. The Petitioner’s representative misunderstood the location of the gravel to which the requested waiver applied. As a result, the Petitioner requested reconsideration of the waiver to allow the gravel mulch to remain within the parking lot.
At their November meeting, the Planning & Zoning Commission found that the request met the Findings of Fact and voted 4 to 0 TO APPROVE with the following condition of approval:
1) Remove gravel/rock mulch within and adjacent to the parking lot.
See the attached Planning & Zoning Commission case packet and meeting minutes for detailed information regarding the proposed freestanding sign.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS (at the Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting: None
IMPACT IF APPROVED: A freestanding sign, 5 feet in height and 70 sq. ft. in size, may be constructed on the subject property. The gravel mulch located within and adjacent to the parking lot must be removed.
IMPACT IF DENIED: A freestanding sign will not be constructed on the subject property. Enforcement action may be taken to remove the gravel rock mulch.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Grow employers and jobs.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development