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Minutes of the Plan Commission Meeting April 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Village Hall Board Room 1. Call to order: B. McIntyre called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Roll call Present: Plan Commission members President Burt R. McIntyre, Ellery Gulbrand, Mark Semrau, Randy Smith, Dan Kussow, Natasha Gwidt Excused: Mike Soletski Staff: Dave Wiese, Geoff Farr, Ciara Hurrish 3. Pledge of Allegiance: B. McIntyre led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Approval of the agenda E. Gulbrand moved to approve the agenda. D. Kussow seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Approval of the Plan Commission meeting minutes from March 18, 2026 R. Smith moved to approve the Plan Commission meeting minutes March 18, 2026. D. Kussow seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 6. Review and take action on a site plan for Alive and Kickin, 1250 Cornell Rd., VH-319 D. Wiese stated the applicant is proposing a freezer addition to the front of the existing building. He noted the addition will consist of a large refrigeration/freezer unit and explained that the proposed materials differ from typical industrial park standards due to the specialized nature of the structure. Staff’s primary considerations include building materials, along with standard stormwater and water service approvals. Bob Mach, Mach IV Engineering and Surveying, 2260 Salscheider Court, provided an overview of the project. He explained that Alive and Kickin recently acquired the adjacent property and that this addition is the first phase of a larger expansion plan. The facility is transitioning from producing pizza crusts to full pizza production, requiring freezer storage for finished products. Mach stated the structure will function as a large freezer, utilizing insulated metal panel construction appropriate for cold storage. The exterior design will incorporate accent colors to complement the existing building. Commission discussion included questions regarding building materials, lack of windows due to the freezer use, and potential landscaping to soften the appearance of the structure. The applicant noted additional plantings are planned along the Cornell Road frontage. N. Gwidt made a motion to approve the site plan contingent upon: 1. Stormwater approval from the Village of Howard Engineering Department 2. Water/service meter approval from the Village of Howard Public Works Department E. Gulbrand seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 7. Review and take action on a site plan for a 30-unit multifamily building at VH-461-5, Hillsdale Court D. Wiese stated the applicant is proposing a 30-unit market-rate multifamily residential building. He noted the project received final Planned Development District (PDD) approval in November and is part of the larger Hillsdale Court development, which includes single-family and commercial components. Wiese reviewed the site plan, noting updates submitted by the applicant to address prior staff comments, including lighting, landscaping, building elevations, and screening. He added that remaining considerations include stormwater requirements, master metering, and site-related details such as driveway permitting and screening of mechanicals and refuse areas. The applicant Garritt R. Bader, GB Real Estate Investments, 300 North Van Buren Street, provided an overview of the project. He described the building layout and noted the design incorporates architectural variations and materials to break up the building façade. He explained that garages are positioned to help screen the site and that the property includes a powerline easement to the north, providing additional separation from neighboring properties. Bader stated the property will be managed by a local company. Commission discussion included building design, site layout, landscaping, and screening. Questions were raised regarding mechanical systems, which the applicant noted will be “magic pack” units flush with the building exterior, and the location of refuse areas. Public comment was heard from Katherine Rabitoy and Joseph Rabitoy, 2650 Hillsdale Court, adjacent property owners. They expressed concerns regarding loss of privacy, increased traffic near their property, and the proximity of the driveway and dumpster enclosure. They requested consideration of additional screening, such as fencing or landscaping, between the properties. The Commission discussed potential screening options and the possibility of relocating the dumpster enclosure to better accommodate neighboring properties. The applicant indicated a willingness to work directly with adjacent property owners to address these concerns. E. Gulbrand made a motion to approve the site plan for VH-461-5, Hillsdale Court with the conditions: 1. Lighting plan 2. Landscape plan 3. Sign plan 4. Curb and gutter on the entrance and curves in the parking lot 5. Recycling garbage areas screened with materials similar to the principal buildings 6. The west elevation of the building facing Cardinal needs to be broken up (colors, building lines, etc. Landscaped) 7. All mechanical equipment (utility boxes, etc.) need to be screened from public view (no walls full of meters) 8. The residential neighbors to the east should be screened with landscaping or fencing 9. Driveway permit 10. Pay for regional stormwater pond acreage 11. Provide site plans for review 12. Master metering 13. Developer to work with adjacent property owners to address screening along the driveway/property line 14. Evaluate relocation of the dumpster enclosure, potentially toward the east side of the site B. McIntyre seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 8. REVIEW OF PLAN COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE (DAY/TIME) D. Wiese introduced discussion regarding potential changes to the Plan Commission meeting schedule and invited input from incoming Village Board President John Muraski. John Muraski, 3196 Liberty Bell Road, discussed the possibility of adjusting the meeting schedule to improve efficiency for staff and Commission members. He proposed holding a regular monthly meeting on the second Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m., with the option to schedule a second meeting on the fourth Monday of the month as needed to accommodate larger agendas. The Commission discussed meeting frequency, typical workload throughout the year, and the potential benefit of aligning meetings with Village Board meetings to reduce the number of nights required for attendance. By consensus, the Plan Commission agreed to establish the second Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m. as the primary meeting time, with additional meetings to be scheduled on the fourth Monday as needed. The next meeting was scheduled for May 11, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS (NONE) 10. ADJOURN THE MEETING R. Smith moved to adjourn. E. Gulbrand seconded. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m. Ciara Hurrish Public Information Officer/Deputy Clerk