Donna Framke

The Plan Commission meeting addressed several agenda items involving public hearings and recommendations to the village board. Key discussions included a request for a variation from zoning ordinance requirements to reduce the secondary front yard setback from 30 ft to 16.7 ft for a new single-family residence at 9318 Pleasant Avenue. The hardship cited was related to the property being a corner lot of similar size to interior lots, where the required setback would result in an impractical building width. The commission noted the proposed setback would better match the character of the neighborhood, which already features nonconforming setbacks on adjacent corner properties. A second item involved a procedural transfer of ownership for United Gymnastics Academy LLC, requiring a new special use permit to operate an indoor recreation use exceeding 3,500 square feet at the former Bremantown Mall location, as the previous permit was tied to a different entity. A third public hearing concerned a special use request for a contractor's office at Tinley Crossings Corporate Center.

The meeting included consideration and approval of the agenda and the minutes from the previous regular meeting held on July 18, 2017. Key discussions revolved around the consent agenda, which involved renewing a Professional Services agreement with GovTemp USA for an interim Human Resources Director and considering several block party permit requests. The board also recognized the recent promotions of Michael Whitman to Lieutenant and William J. Turner Jr. to Engineer within the fire department, including administering their oaths of office. Further items included first reading of an ordinance concerning a special use permit for a new personal wireless service facility cell tower and adopting resolutions to authorize an intergovernmental agreement with Cook County for roadway improvements along 175th Street and surrounding roads, as well as authorizing the disposal of surplus personal property. Finally, the board considered and adopted an agreement outlining specific benefits coverage for former police officer Michael Penito. Board members provided comments on the success of National Night Out and a recent fire incident.

The board meeting included the approval of the agenda and the minutes from the November 21, 2023 regular village board meeting. A major segment involved a swearing-in ceremony for several new firefighters. Key agenda items included approving commission appointments for Fiscal Year 2024, naming Frank Diani as co-chair and Demetrius Darari as commissioner for the Advisory Commission on Labor and Development. The board also approved the appointment of Jamie Deila as Help Desk Coordinator, effective December 20th. Furthermore, the board addressed significant ordinances: approving the purchase of property located at 17366 through 17368 Court for $345,000, authorizing a contract with The Lakota Group for comprehensive planning services not to exceed $250,000, and adopting an ordinance to implement a Real Estate Transfer Stamp requirement effective January 1, 2025, with clarification that it incurs no cost to sellers or purchasers. Finally, the board granted special use approval to Paws of Tinley Park for an electronic message center sign exceeding zoning limits, and authorized a Geographic Information System (GIS) contract renewal with Municipal GIS Partners Incorporated for 2024.

Key discussions included the approval of the minutes from the Public Works and Boundaries Committee meeting of April 18, 2017. The committee addressed a 2017 hold harmless agreement for the use of a water trailer for community outreach. They discussed the extension and cost increase of a three-year concrete contract with J&J Concrete Construction due to rising material costs. The award of a fire hydrant contract was reviewed, noting that the bid came in lower than the previous year's estimate, and measures were detailed to protect surrounding areas during sandblasting and painting. Significant time was dedicated to discussing amendments to the zoning ordinance related to sign regulations. This included clarifying definitions, strengthening the purpose and intent statement while ensuring no discrimination against non-commercial speech, and reorganizing permit requirements, including specific regulations for political signs to mirror state law. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the regulation of freestanding signs and panels on multi-tenant signs, comparing options for background color and font consistency, with a preference leaning toward Option B over the most restrictive Option D. Further discussion involved options and funding for replacing a damaged downtown fountain, exploring alternatives like engineered designs or sponsorships due to budget constraints.

The meeting addressed several agenda items, including the approval of the agenda and previous special and regular village board meeting minutes. Consent agenda items involved adopting permitting standards for work in state rights-of-way, amending municipal code sections pertaining to standing committee meetings, approving the 2018 regular meeting schedule, approving an agreement for engineering services related to traffic cameras, and considering a raffle request from the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. Discussions also covered the appointment of Denise Malaya to Human Resource Director, considering an ordinance for substantial deviation of the Brookside Glen Planned Unit Development to allow for multi-family residential structures and amenities, and considering an ordinance for a special use permit for a recreational business use including group fitness classes. The Board considered an exception to the personnel code regarding dual capacity employment for Patrick Carr (Assistant Village Manager and 911 EMA Coordinator). Further items involved delaying action on approving the Oak Park Grant Program resolution and tabling two other items (Item 9 and Resolution 2017-RO-54 concerning ambulance services contract amendment). The final item involved authorizing a feasibility study concerning the redevelopment of certain property for a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.