Plan Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2021-07-15

LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Skokie Plan Commission, Thursday, July 15, 2021, Village of Skokie, 5127 Oakton Street,
Skokie, Illinois 60077, at 7:30 P.M., to consider the following:

 NEW ACTION
 TAKEN

 2021-19P - Special Use Permit: 7309 Monticello Avenue
 Chicago Title Land Trust Company, Trust Number 42086, on behalf of Big Approved as
 Tuna Cremation Property, LLC/Caring Cremations, is requesting a special use amended
 permit for cremation services at 7309 Monticello Avenue in an M3 Industry
 6-0-3
 zoning district, relief from Section 118-218 of the Skokie Village Code to
 provide 7 rather than 16 off-street parking spaces, and any other relief
 discovered during the review of this case.
 PIN: 10-26-311-049-0000

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Plans and related documents are available at the Planning Division office at Village Hall
Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 847/933/8447


SPECIAL AID: Available upon request for the disabled. Call 847/673-0500 or email
info@skokie.org.


Interested parties are invited to attend this meeting. This notice is for information purposes
only. Published in the Skokie Review on June 17, 2021.
 Paul Luke, Chairman




VOSDOCS-#589108-v1-Legal_Notice_of_Public_Hearing_for_Plan_Commission_meeting_of_2021-07-15

Draft Plan Commission Meeting Minutes
 Date: July 15, 2021

A motion was made by Commissioner Burman and seconded by Commissioner Mathee to
approve the minutes of the June 3, 2021 Plan Commission meeting.

This meeting marks the return to in-person meetings.

The chairman introduced and welcomed 2 new members to the Plan Commission: Talia
Gevaryahu and Mike Shah.

Case Description:

2021-19P – Special Use Permit: 7309 Monticello Avenue
Chicago Title Land Trust Company, Trust Number 42086, on behalf of Big Tuna Cremation
Property, LLC/Caring Cremations, is requesting a special use permit for cremation services
at 7309 Monticello Avenue in an M3 Industry zoning district, relief from Section 118-218 of
the Skokie Village Code to provide 7 rather than 16 off-street parking spaces, and any other
relief discovered during the review of this case.

PIN: 10-26-311-049-0000

Discussion and Interested Parties
Legal notice was advertised, posted, and delivered to all property owners within the area as
prescribed by the Zoning Chapter. Corporation Counsel determined that notice was proper
and correct.
Joey Carr, consultant for the applicant, gave an overview of the case. Milos Djordjevic,
Jakob Parduhn, and John Benoit also gave testimony. They are proposing to operate a
crematory in an existing vacant 5,400 sq. ft. building that was previously occupied by K-B-K
Tools in a M3 zoning district. It is an allowable use with a special use permit. They will be
making interior improvements mostly, adding 2 retorts, and updating the parking lot.
Milos Djordjevic, owner of Caring Cremations also is part owner of Theis-Gorski Funeral
Home in Chicago. The funeral home does offer cremations, but not at that site any longer;
they have been outsourcing them. They plan to utilize this facility for their clients who
choose cremation. It is a new business; therefore, he anticipates only doing 1-2 cremations
a month initially, increasing up to about 6 per day with 1-2 employees.
A commissioner wanted confirmation that the facility is just a crematory. Mr. Djordjevic
stated that visitations and services are handled at the funeral home.
Another commissioner asked about the process of bringing remains into the facility. Mr.
Djordjevic stated that a customized van fitted with a cot is used to retrieve the deceased,
who is then rolled into the building from the loading space.
The commissioner also inquired about the air quality, filtration, and exhaust from the
burning. Jakob Parduhn, of Cremation Systems/Armil CFS, Inc., spoke of the cremation

590022 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-19P on 7-15-2021
equipment at the site. There is no visible smoke; just CO2 and trace amounts of particulate.
There are no health or environmental concerns. Each machine is registered with and
approved by the State of Illinois. He stated that with the small number cremations per
month, the emissions are way under the state’s thresholds of 5 tons of particulate matter.
The federal government considers them a minor source and does not regulate them. They
have participated in and passed the numerous EPA visible smoke tests. There are no state
regulations for maintenance; however, the manufacturer does recommend annual
inspections.
To follow up, another commissioner asked if Skokie will schedule an annual inspection as
well. Staff stated that the Environment Health Department is following the State rules and
recommends that the business owner take part in annual inspections to check the emission
controls. Mr. Djordjevic has no problem with their recommendation.
Another commissioner wanted more information on the business operations. Mr. Djordjevic
stated that he receives clients through phone calls or online; usually families making final
arrangements for a loved one. Sometimes families do come to the funeral home to make
requests for cremation services. There will be no visitation or funeral service at the facility.
However, some families choose to view the body and witness the cremation; in that case,
they will accommodate 2-3 immediate family members.
Staff requested the report be submitted into the record as presented. There are minor
changes to the site plan needed prior to the presentation to the Trustees at a future Village
Board meeting. Traffic Engineering recommends a maximum of 5 non-employees be
permitted on-site based on the limited parking spaces leaving 2 spaces for employees.
Tandem parking is allowed in the area for businesses with regular employees who can
easily move their vehicle throughout the day if necessary but not for this use. The parking
lot will need to be re-configured, restriped, and wheel stops put in.
The chairman inquired where the transport vehicles will be stored when not in use. Another
commissioner asked how many transport vehicles they have. Mr. Djordjevic stated they
only have 1 vehicle and will be parked in the loading area or garage – not in any of the
provided spaces.
John Haben, 8051 Lincoln Avenue, voiced some concerns. He is a long time professional in
the same industry. He testified to the commission about the timeline from taking custody
of the remains and the steps taken until cremation. Decomposition takes place rapidly; not
every body is embalmed. Nothing can be done until the death certificate is signed, filed,
and registered, which brought up the storage issue. For public health reasons, he asked if
the facility is climate controlled for unembalmed human remains. The Village has no storage
requirements and goes by whatever the state regulates.
Mr. Haben continued, stating that the professional preparation of remains requires funeral
home licensing if there is to be a viewing. The proposed facility would be infringing on
services that a funeral home would provide; families making arrangements, preparing
remains for viewing, and providing last goodbyes. He also answered a previous question
regarding inspections; Skokie does not have any rules and regulations or maintenance
requirements, but the state and county can stop in anytime. A professional operation has
an annual maintenance inspection.

590022 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-19P on 7-15-2021
The chairman questioned if the licenses for funeral homes and crematories are different.
Mr. Haben answered that there are certain statutes for crematories and other statues for
funeral homes. The licenses are different.
There was discussion between the commissioners and staff regarding the definitions and
licenses required for funeral homes and crematories. The chairman commented that it
might be “in a gray area” and questioned whether the Village could be open to challenges
by the state and county if the special use is approved.
Staff clarified that the special use permit is based on the Village’s definition of funeral home
as an establishment that prepares the remains, conducts services, sells caskets, and
arranges cremations. There is no separate definition for crematory in the Village’s
ordinance.
Mr. Haben added that sometimes 50 people show up for a “last goodbye” and Monticello
Avenue will be lined with cars.
Mr. Djordjevic reiterated that he is a funeral director in Chicago. He does a high volume of
cremations and instead of outsourcing, he wants to control everything for his clients by
having his own crematory.
A commissioner noted that refrigeration is a necessity but is not shown on the plans. The
architect, John Benoit, stated that adequate refrigeration is located adjacent to the retort
room. They have allowed space but do not have specific volumes yet to put it on the plan.
Staff answered that the floor plan submitted is not the final site plan and was used only for
calculating parking and relief for the special use permit. An amendment to Condition #1 can
be added addressing the refrigeration/storage needs.
Another commissioner asked what the approximate timeline was of the on-site storage of
decedents. Mr. Djordjevic answered that it depends on how quickly the doctor signs the
death certificate and he can get a cremation permit. It usually takes a few days until the
doctor signs the death certificate, but from 48 hours to 1 week is the norm. They do have a
fair amount of storage. If viewing is requested prior to cremation, storage will be at the
funeral home.
Another commissioner asked about industry standards for the retorts. Staff said that the
Environmental Health Dept. provided copies of the state’s regulations.
The chairman suggested that before presentation to the Village Board and on to the
Building Division for permits, final floor plans be submitted.
Recommendations and Voting
A motion was made to approve a special use permit request, with 2 amendments added,
for cremation services at 7309 Monticello Avenue in an M3 Industry zoning district.
Amendment #1 – the applicant must show adequate and specified areas on plans for
enough refrigeration based on their volume before presentation to the Village Board.
Amendment #2 – the Special Use Permit requires annual inspections as to gas and
particulate.



590022 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-19P on 7-15-2021
Motion: Burman Second: Mathee Absent: Lakhani, Mitchell, &
 Quane

Ayes: 6
Nays: 0




590022 - Plan Commission meeting minutes for Case 2021-19P on 7-15-2021