Winnetka Council Roundup: BP Station Approved and Affordable Housing Debated

Missed the meeting on Tuesday? Patch has you covered. 

For close to five hours, Winnetka village council members debated issues buzzing around the community in recent months.

Property Maintenance Code Sent Back for Tweaks: A standard version of a rental and commercial property ordinance was not voted on after some council and audience members flatly said they it did not appear ready. While the basics of the code are agreed upon, requirements for property owners and enforcement were debated. Trustee Richard Kates worried the current code could open the village up to legal issues, since he didn't think it left room for discretion, something community development director Michael D'Onofrio said it does allow. Business owner Jim Sayegh wanted the commercial aspect removed from the code, and suggested a standard landlord-tenant agreement be adopted in Winnetka instead. Trustee Rintz, who is also a commercial and residential property developer, appeared angered by Sayegh's comments, saying that Sayegh shouldn't be "representing himself as the authority."

No Decision on Affordable Housing: Council members reached no consensus on affordable housing, after deciding that there hadn't yet been a consensus. Affordable housing components include coach house rentals, zoning changes, a community land trust and housing trust fund. The council decided that while nothing has been adopted or rejected at this point, they will discuss affordable housing at a later date, possibly in November, in one large meeting. Trustees agreed to work on a decision before March's non-binding referenda, and take the Winnetka Caucus' survey results into consideration. The survey is due Sept. 14.

BP Special Use Permit OKed: The village board voted to allow a special use permit for the BP service station at 1025 Tower Rd., which will let the operator expand the gas station's convenience store. However, planning and design boards placed conditions on the permit, including the prohibition from selling hot food, the need for ballards (posts) to clearly mark the entrances to the station, restricted left turns and limits on the times of delivery. After discussion, the council decided to allow larger vehicles to turn left out of the station and to let the operator maintain control over the delivery schedule. The council decided to kick in $4,500 to help pay for the ballards to get the corner to "look as good as it can while we're at it," Trustee Christopher Rintz said.

Backflow Prevention Devices Discussed: Steve Saunders, public works director and village engineer, talked to the council about amending the village code's stance on sewer backflow prevention devices to ease flooding. The council voted to move forward with this effort, which would increase assistance to property owners of homes built before 1970. An ordinance will be presented at the next meeting. Resident Suzy Halpin raised concerns that her property would be more susceptible to flooding if her neighbors all took part in the assistance program for the backflow devices. 

Earlier:

Check back later with Patch for more in-depth coverage of the Village Council's property maintenance code discussion. Like us on Facebook!