2002-104 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - SECTION XX - SPECIAL DISTRICTS

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of November 7, 2002 Cal. No. 02-51 Petition of A.J. KRIEGER,Assistant City Manager of ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT,#1 Gary K.Anderson Plaza, Decatur, IL to amend Section XX of the Zoning Ordinance(Ord.#2002-33)to create the I-OL Institutional Overlay District. Mr. Van Steenhuyse presented the recommendation of staff: Mr. Van Steenhuyse recounted how the Commission had tabled this item at the last meeting because of concems of the effect of the Institutional Overlay District on existing residential uses. A subcommittee consisting of Mr. John, Mr. Sharpe and Chairman Anderson was formed to discuss the issues. The subcommittee met last week with Mr. Van Steenhuyse and Mr. Krieger. Mr. Van Steenhuyse said that the Committee reviewed the overlay district used by the City of Urbana in the Carle Clinic area and noted that this overlay was preceded by a hospital master plan. Staff is concemed that, because of the ever changing nature of the health care and higher education industries, that institutions in Decatur would be unwilling to provide a detailed master plan for development within the overlay district. However, it was agreed that an institution seeking the advantages (and added requirements) of the overlay district should provide some justification for the proposed boundaries. Staff has added language to SectionXX.C.2 to require this justification. The justi�cation could be as detailed as a tnaster plan or as vague as land projections based on expected employment or similar indicators. In any case, this change will require the institution to provide some information to the City and the public about its future plans. This will remove some of the uncertainty in the neighborhoods surrounding the major institutions and provide opportunities for economic expansions. Mr. John stated that his preference would be to see a master plan but he appreciated what had been said. He was in favor of the city and neighborhoods seeing an institution's plans for the area beyond their existing boundaries. Mrs. Sands stated the language referenced property contiguous to the campus but Section 4 included property across or down the street if developed in the future. Mr. Van Steenhuyse stated that if single family lots zoned R-3 are acquired for future expansion then they will remain R-3 until developed as part of the campus. It was moved and seconded(John/Nordholm)to forward Cal. No. 02-51 to City Council with recommendation for approval. Motion carried unanimously.