West Cook News

Village of Indian Head Park Planning and Zoning Commission met January 8. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:

Call to Order –Chairperson, Noreen Costelloe

 Roll Call: Present (and Constituting a Quorum):

Commissioner Greg Scovitch

Commissioner Danielle Svestka

Commissioner Robert Tantillo

Commissioner David Anderson

Commissioner Diane Gormely-Barnes

Absent:

Commissioner Rachel Thompson

Also in Attendance:

Mayor Tom Hinshaw

Trustee Rita Farrell-Mayer

Trustee Chris Metz

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Chairperson Costelloe and the Planning and Zoning Commission members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Minutes of the Planning and Zoning December 8, 2018 meeting will be approved at the February 5, 2019 meeting.

Discussion on Enclosures for Housing Domestic Animals, Sec.  42-15 of The Village Municipal Code:

Chairperson Costelloe began the discussion by asking if the Commissioners have any thoughts on the subject and added she did not know of anyone in the Village who has an animal housing enclosure. Commissioner GormerleyBarnes stated the house she purchased on Hiawatha Lane had a structure similar to a domestic animal house attached to the back of the garage for the previous owner’s three dogs. Commissioner Svestka stated in her opinion, if the Village keeps the Domestic animal housing code as it currently is, it may give residents the opportunity to have a farm animal in a housing enclosure. Commissioner Svestka added that a cement base is required for domestic animal housing enclosures, and it is her opinion the cement bases may create more impervious space in the Village, which she believes already has drainage problems. Commissioner Svestka also suggested the Village discourage the practice of dogs living outside. Commissioner Gormerley-Barnes suggested defining the term domestic animals in Section 42-15. Commissioner Svestka stated if the Village will view the Animal housing enclosure code as a possible alternate to a dog turn around area, she suggests Section 42-15 be revised to apply some of the parameters of the existing code, but not all of them. Commissioner Scovitch stated that the Domestic housing code requires connection to the sanitary sewer so not to cause a negative impervious situation, which would contribute to general run off, and the required running water allows for maintenance of the housing. Commissioner Scovitch asked if animals need to be registered in the Village. Recording Secretary Crowley answered that dogs need to be registered in the Village. Commissioner Anderson stated he believes due to cultural changes in the past fifty years people are not utilizing domestic animal houses as often as in the past, which he believes is why Village Codes should be reviewed for necessity periodically.

Commissioner Svestka mentioned that other communities like Brookfield for example experienced a change in their population and recently amended their code to allow backyard chickens. Commissioner Gormerley-Barnes noted that she would like to know how other Communities handle animal housing enclosures. Commissioner Gormerley-Barnes added the Village allows fences for safety issues for example, around pools and mandates the size and design. Maybe there is some kind of middle ground for people concerned about their small children or their animals against the wild life at night. Commissioner Scovitch explained that not all people have dogs as pets; some people have them as utility or hunting animals, bred solely to hunt. It is Commissioner Scovitch’s opinion the Domestic animal housing enclosure code is tailored for this instance. Chairperson Costelloe noted that this is a good ordinance to have in place for the hunting animals, and added with this in mind the Village will need to decide how they feel about other animals other than dogs in the enclosures. Commissioner Svestka suggested defining what type of animal is allowed in the enclosures, and create a sub section of this Code to include dog relief for the residents who want a pervious turnaround area for their pets, without having to follow all of the more stringent requirements as listed in the Domestic animals housing enclosure code 42-15. Mayor Hinshaw stated that the Village code Section 4-2 Certain animals and stables prohibited. States; No cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, poultry, or swine shall be kept or harbored in the Village, and no stable shall be maintained in the Village. Chairperson Costelloe asked the Commission if there is any objection to the Domestic animal housing enclosure ordinance as it is, and there were none. Commissioner Svestka noted she does not object to Section 42-15, but would prefer to see revisions to it. Resident Nancy Pritz asked to share her opinion with the Commission, which is that she believes the Domestic animal housing enclosure Section 42-15 is overly restrictive. Commissioner Anderson stated this code was written before invisible fencing, which serves as an alternate if the resident chooses. Commissioner Scovitch added that a resident may apply for a variance to the housing enclosure if they choose. Chairperson Costelloe stated they have not been called upon to amend Section 42-15 of the Municipal Code, and suggested they table the discussion until after the fence issue is over. The Commissioners were in agreement. Chairperson Costelloe asked if there were any more comments and there were none.

Ordinance No. 64-1 Fencing -Interest Group Update from Representative, Nancy Pritz :

Ms. Nancy Pritz began her update, by stating the Ordinance No. 64-1 Interest group, created a Facebook site to include a Survey Monkey, and she passed out copies of the survey to the Commissioners. Ms. Prtiz added the group also advertised the Survey Monkey via the Indian Head Park residents Facebook page, District 106 Facebook page, Next Door site, along with texting and emailing. The Fence interest group will also be going door to door. Ms. Pritz began to explain the survey. Ms. Pritz noted the group listed a separate question on the survey for the Wolf Road properties since their situation is a greater safety issue than the other residential area West of Wolf Road. Ms. Pritz noted they received one hundred fifty-four responses, and some residents answered multiple times. Ms. Pritz read aloud the current survey results as follows; seventy percent in favor of Wolf Road fences, residential property other than Wolf Road was forty-two percent in favor of, and fiftyeight percent against, would like the option to build a fence on your own property was forty-one percent in favor of, fifty-eight percent not, if fencing is allowed in Indian Head Park, would you prefer the Village have stringent restrictions, and requirements to the type of fencing, overwhelmingly eighty percent in favor of. Ms. Prtiz concluded by noting most respondents were west of Wolf Road, and she included commentaries on the back of the survey. Ms. Pritz explained that the next step is an Open Forum covering the survey results, and allowing for questions and opinions, at the Village Hall on January 30, 2019. Ms. Pritz mentioned interest in looking into the fences that are currently in the Village that are thought of to be grandfathered and may be past the ten years allotted.

Ms. Prtiz invited everyone to attend the open forum to voice their opinions and concerns. In conclusion Chairperson Costelloe complimented Ms. Pritz and the Interest group on their thorough handling of their issue.

Audience Comments:

None

Adjournment:

There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Svestka motioned, seconded by Commissioner Gormely-Barnes, to adjourn the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 8:15 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

(6 Ayes-0 Nays-1 Absent). 6-0-1

http://www.indianheadpark-il.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01082019-206