VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON HILLS

PLAN COMMISSION MEETING

September 14, 2009

 

The regular meeting of the Village of Barrington Hills Plan Commission was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Stieper.

 

Commission Members Present: Kenneth Bosworth

                                                            Jason Elder

                                                            Peter Grande

                                                            Julie Joyce

                                                            Lou Anne Majewski

                                                            James O’Donnell

                                                            David Stieper, Chairman

 

                                     Absent:            George Gottlieb

                                                            Patrick Hennelly

 

Clerk Karen Selman administered the oath of office to Jason Elder as Plan Commissioner filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Joseph Messer.

 

PREVIOUS MINUTES:  Commissioner Majewski made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Grande, to approve the July 13th Minutes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

PORTER SCHOOL SUBDIVISION:   Robert Kosin introduced Special Counsel Gerald Callaghan, Daniel Strahan from the office of the Village Engineer, and Gary Asmussen, property owner of the Porter School subdivision.  The subject to be discussed will be the owner’s request to vacate the drainage easement on Lot 4 that is 20 feet wide running east to west.

 

Dan Strahan advised the Commission that upon reviewing the site conditions and engineering plans, he would have no objection to vacating the easement as requested.  He stated that the initial plan for this easement was to allow for the creation of an overland flow path to direct surface water into a detention easement on Lot 5.  That overland flow path was never created, and shortly after the subdivision was recorded the adjacent drainage easement on Lot 5 was vacated by Village Resolution 01-1 approved January 22, 2001.  As a result, the easement on Lot 4 has no current public use and its need in the future is highly unlikely as currently this area sheet drains directly into Flint Creek. 

 

Mr. Strahan pointed out that this parcel is in Lake County and subject to its stormwater management requirements rather than any of the Village.  He also noted that since some of the Village is located in Cook County, which has no such ordinance, Barrington Hills is considering bringing all the Village under a single ordinance, perhaps that of Lake County.

 

Special Counsel Callaghan said the easements on the plat are tied into the Covenants, which run to the Village and the homeowners association.  He agreed it was advisable to vacate this easement if it was not necessary.  If vacated, the Village would have to consent to amend the CCR’s and also be a party to the instrument of vacation.  If the Commission agrees to the petitioner’s request, he would have documents prepared for such vacation incorporating consent of both the homeowners association and the Village to be submitted at their next meeting.

 

The owner was questioned about another drainage easement toward the north of this property.  Mr. Asmussen responded that because some water still flows through that easement from time to time, it didn’t need to be vacated.  Mr. Strahan said a topographic of that site verifies the need for that easement.

 

Motion:  Commissioner Bosworth made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Majewski, to authorize Special Counsel to proceed with vacation of the easement on Lot 4 of the Porter School Subdivision.  Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

 

 

Other Business:  Robert Kosin brought the Commission up to date on the Village’s application to become a Dark Sky community.  It was his understanding the national Dark Sky membership thought it unlikely such designation could be approved given the Village’s proximity to the Chicago metropolitan area. 

 

This month a bus tour was given to representatives of the local and state Dark Sky Association.  In a northeast area of the Village, the lights of that bus were turned off and those representatives were able to observe still visible remnants of the Milky Way.  They were all impressed, and the Village will continue its quest for this distinctive designation.

 

Mr. Kosin advised the Commission that on October 24th between 6:00 and 8:00 pm the Barrington Area Library will be concluding the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy with the event “Galilean Nights.”  He added that the surface of the moon will be visible on that day… as it was 400 years ago when first observed by Galileo.

 

Trustee’s Report:  No report.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m. after being so moved and seconded.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Lou Anne Majewski

Recording Secretary