WILMETTE PARK DISTRICT Lakefront Committee Meeting Monday, February 5, :30 p.m. Mallinckrodt Community Center

Transcription

1 WILMETTE PARK DISTRICT Lakefront Committee Meeting Monday, February 5, :30 p.m. Mallinckrodt Community Center I. Meeting Called to Order Members of the Committee: Commissioner Ryrie Pellaton, Chair Commissioner Bryan Abbott Commissioner Shelley Shelly Staff: Superintendent Kathy Bingham Superintendent Jerry Ulrich II. III. IV. Approval of Minutes A. January 25, 2018 Recognition of Visitors Communications and Correspondence A. Beach House Parking Lot Landscape Concern V. Unfinished Business A. Lakefront Project Update VI. VII. VIII. New Business A. Park Permit Highcrest Middle School June 14, 2018 Private Rental July 21, 2018 Boy Scouts June 11, 2018 Managers Reports Adjournment If you are a person with a disability and need special accommodations to participate in and/or attend a Wilmette Park District public meeting, please notify the Director s Office at Revised: 2/2/2018 9:20 AM

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3 WILMETTE PARK DISTRICT Lakefront Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 25, :30 p.m. Mallinckrodt Community Center Attendees Present Commissioners/Committee: Chair, Ryrie Pellaton, Shelley Shelly, Bryan Abbott Staff: Kathy Bingham, Jerry Ulrich Staff: Director Wilson, Carol Heafey, Sean Flynn, Libby Baker, Katy Bradford, Anna Grubisich Attendees Absent None I. Meeting Called to Order Meeting called to order at 6:40 p.m. II. III. IV. Approval of Minutes A. Commissioner Abbott moved and Commissioner Shelly seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2018 Lakefront Committee meeting. All voted yes, the motion carried. New Business A. Park Permit Request Superintendent Bingham reviewed the park permit request from Rose Hall Montessori School. The Committee approved the request. Recognition of Visitors The Attendance Sheet will become part of the permanent record. Sarah Lyke, 819 Michigan Ave., Wilmette expressed her dissatisfaction with the maintenance shed and inquired if any part of the proposed lakefront project will preclude the park district from doing any improvements to the maintenance shed in the future. Commissioner Pellaton responded that it will not. She also asked if any temporary improvements could be made to beautify the area and suggested the use of less skilled labor. Commissioner Pellaton responded that painting is the only planned improvement for now. He also added that there is liability involved with the use of volunteers. Commissioner Abbott commented that adding landscaping would meet his approval. Roni Crystal, 250 Vista Ct., Wilmette requested to show a slide with a new drawing of the parking lot. Commissioner Pellaton thanked Mr. Crystal for his efforts and stated that the Committee is not interested in pursuing his proposal. Page 1 of 3

4 Lakefront Committee Minutes January 25, 2018 Mr. Pellaton explained that the original drawings were reviewed by the traffic engineers. He referred to a memo from the engineers that was distributed at the meeting that explained the ways Mr. Crystal s proposal does not address the Committe s goals for the parking lot. V. Communications and Correspondence None VI. Unfinished Business A. Lakefront Project Andy Tinucci presented the Committee with the most recent drawings of the proposed lakefront project. He gave an overview of the project progression and the specific areas being addressed: bike/pedestrian access, vehicular access, and entrance to sailing, circulation, views, number and size of new trees, parking, and drainage. Andy also described the design and composition of the buildings and the associated amenities such as bike racks, benches, board walks, foot rinse stations, shade structures, and ventilation. Lastly, Andy provided an update on the cost projections. Andy answered questions and the Committee shared their concerns and opinions with the number and location of bike racks, drainage and cleanliness in the bathrooms, lighting and ventilation of the bathrooms, gated access to the sailing beach, costs for the walkway and concession area, the width of the walkway, plant species, bird nesting, shade and rain cover, and overall design colors. Tanja Chevalier, 789 Michigan, Wilmette expressed her satisfaction with the location of the bike racks and feels that the proposed vegetation choices break up the monotone colors of the design. She also asked for clarification on the proposed costs of the concession area. Andy responded that the intent of the project is to carry the costs for the finishes of the kitchen, as well as the equipment with the value of the kitchen equipment identified so we can decide if it goes in now or gets pulled. He will be confirming what the $250,000 includes. Mary Shea, 735 Michigan, Wilmette inquired if the wooden trellis area would eventually fade asked what material will be use for the fenced walkway and the parking lot surface. She also expressed her embarrassment with the maintenance shed and work area and her interest in improving the area. Andy described the materials that will be used in the design and explained that permeable pavers are not required in the parking lot. In response to a question from Mr. Crystal, staff replied that there will be a security gate at the entrance to the sailing beach. Page 2 of 3

5 Lakefront Committee Minutes January 25, 2018 Sara Lyke stated that she loves the overall design. She asked about all the trees in the parking lot and stated that she wants to make sure we aren t losing sight of the views of the lake from the bluff. Commissioner Pellaton commented on the village s requirement regarding trees. Ms. Lyke expressed her concern about losing the views from the bluff. She would like the park district to ask the village to consider a compromise in the variety of trees. Commissioner Pellaton asked Andy for guidance in moving the project forward. Andy replied that he would like the Board s approval of the design so the next steps can be taken. Commissioner Pellaton added that upon approval of the Board, the Committee would like to make a concerted effort to share the plan and timeline. Commissioner Shelly moved and Commissioner Abbott seconded a motion to recommend the proposed schematic plan to the full Board. All voted yes, the motion carried. Andy will attend the next Lakefront Committee meeting and will also attend the February 12, 2018 meeting to present the proposed plan to the full Board. VII. Adjournment There being no further business to conduct, the Lakefront Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m. Minutes Approved on: Committee Chair Department Head Page 3 of 3

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7 From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Stephen Wilson Libby Baker Fwd: Beach House Parking Lot Landscape Concern Thursday, February 01, :39:37 PM Lake Pictures.pdf For the lakefront packet. Steve Wilson Executive Director Wilmette Park District Original message From: "Lyke, Sarah R" Date: 2/1/18 9:39 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Shelley Shelly Bryan Abbott Ryrie Pellaton Cc: Stephen Wilson Amy Wolfe Stephanie Foster Gordon Anderson John Olvany Subject: Beach House Parking Lot Landscape Concern Dear Lakefront Commissioners: We are writing to request that the Park District ask the Village for a minor variance of the zoning code tree size requirement for the beach house parking lot. This would enable the Park District to substitute some smaller trees and bushes in select areas (without any less green space or change to the lot design), to preserve the sweeping lake views and open feel of the Gillson beach bluff. In the past year, the Park District has been successful in trimming back overgrown trees and opening up the views from the bluff, between Washington and Lake Avenues (see attached pictures). As you know, this is the only part of Gillson where it is possible to obtain an expansive view of Lake Michigan, Wilmette s greatest treasure. Many walkers, joggers, bikers and birders enjoy the lake views from this lovely part of the park without having to go down to the crowded beach parking lot. We were dismayed to hear that after spending so much time and money to improve the beachfront experience, the Park District is considering installing landscaping based on boilerplate Village requirements for a parking lot anywhere in town. The requirements are the same whether the parking lot is front of a highway or in front of spectacular Lake Michigan, and greatly limit the architect s flexibility to tailor a design with full consideration of the surrounding location. Planting 32 new trees at a proposed height of 30 feet each will block a substantial portion of the bluff lake views. Rather than showcasing the lake and new beach house, the parking lot trees will effectively block all but a narrow area. (It would also be nice to have a few low-

8 slung evergreen bushes to provide color in the lot year round.) Obtaining a variance would give the architect flexibility to preserve the beauty of the bluff (a destination in and of itself), while addressing the drainage and beauty of the parking lot (a temporary pass-through). Indeed, we believe the bluff will only increase in prominence and usage as bikers and pedestrians are directed down the center path. As stewards of the lakefront, and after all the work on the lakefront design, please consider advocating for and celebrating -- lake views from all parts of the park! Based on our discussions with the Village, the variance process was designed for special circumstances such as this, and the Village would be happy to work with the Park District. We would be glad to help in any way possible, but the Park District must make this request if it wishes to continue to showcase the lake. Thank you for your consideration. Sarah Lyke & Dan O Bara, 819 Michigan Avenue Sara & William Cotter, 831 Michigan Avenue Sarah & Richard Doran, 835 Michigan Avenue Kedric & Maura Chamberlin, 1212 Cleveland Street Peter & Ashley Cladouhos, 2209 Beachwood Avenue Elizabeth Nelson, 423 Maple Avenue

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