Submitted By
Jim Lencioni, Zoning Board of Appeals Acting Chair through Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Director
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
Concur with the Zoning Board of Appeals’ Recommendation and Adopt an Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit to operate Hotel/Motel at 1140 Lake Street
End
Overview
Overview
The Applicant, Azim Hemani, is requesting a special use permit pursuant to Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, to authorize a Holiday Inn Express Hotel use which includes a three-story addition atop the building located in the DT Downtown Zoning District at 1140 Lake Street.
End
Recommendation
Recommendation
The Zoning Board of Appeals by a vote of 5-0 Recommends Approval of the application.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Support the Zoning Board of Appeal’s Recommendation
Fiscal Impact
N/A.
Background
The Subject Property is a nineteen thousand two hundred (19,200 SF) square foot zoning lot, with approximately one-hundred feet of frontage along Lake Street. The property in located within the DT Downtown Zoning District. The Applicant is proposing to convert the existing four levels of office space into a Holiday Inn Express Hotel. In addition, the proposal seeks to add three additional hotel floors. The additional three floors would be located over the front half of the building only to a height of eighty (80) feet. Eighty (80) feet is the maximum height allowed along Lake Street in this location. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel would feature a total of 98 rooms. Parking will be accommodated in the Holley Court parking garages as there is additional capacity (see memorandum by the Development Customer Services - Parking Division). As part of the Lake Street streetscape enhancement project in 2020, a vehicular pull-off area is planned adjacent to 1140 Lake Street.
Alternatives
Approve the Application with modifications
Deny the Application
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing on November 6, 2019. Residents from 1124 Lake Street testified that they were concerned the hotel may cause additional traffic particularly in the alley, private brick road next to Chipotle and on Lake Street. Mr. Mike Fox, owner of the Charlton Hotel testified that he has to maintain parking lots for his business and the proposed hotel will not have to spend money on parking which would place him at a competitive disadvantage. A representative from FFC testified that the facility loses money since his members cannot find parking spaces. In addition, he stated that the proposed hotel will have more truck deliveries than the Applicant indicates since continental breakfast would be served daily. The ZBA stated that the Holley Court Garage could adequately accommodate the additional vehicles generated by hotel guests based on the Memo from Parking and Mobility Services Division. The ZBA made it a condition of approval that the Applicant work out the details of their delivery logistics during the building permit stage. The ZBA also recommends the Village study the existing traffic congestion and delivery truck logistics in the area. The building owner and applicant, hotel representative and architect were also in attendance. The Zoning Board of Appeals ratified their findings of fact by a 5-0 vote on November 6, 2019
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Zoning and land use matters are unique to Village government within the corporate limits of Oak Park and therefore, intergovernmental cooperation opportunities do not exist.