Du Page County Development Committee met Sept. 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
10:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Sam Tornatore at 10:32 AM.
A. Please turn all beepers, pagers and cell phones "off" or to "vibrate" during the meeting
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Chaplin (Remote), Covert (Remote), Hart (Remote), Ozog (Remote 10:35 AM), Rutledge, Tornatore
ABSENT:
Chair Tornatore stated that though there is not a physical quorum, there is a quorum (via Zoom) All voting will be done be by roll call.
3. CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were three public comments submitted through the County's web page and they were read by ASA Tony Hayman.
Aamir Zainulabadeen of 315 E. Maple Ave in Villa Park is in support of hen keeping. He suggested the County consider facilitating hen keeping without any fees for individuals and families who wish to keep hens.
Elizabeth Ernst of 425 Village Rd in Willowbrook is opposed to Petition Z20-054 Grubic. She disagrees with building a garage in front of the house. There was a garage previously on the property and it was located in the back of the home.
Duain Tisher of 418 Village Rd in Willowbrook is opposed to Petition Z20-054 Grubic, as well. He lives on the lot directly south of the Grubic property and if the garage is built, it will reduce the view from his home. He suggested possibly building in the front, but on the other side of the home.
A. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person, at the beginning of the meeting. Any comment on Zoning items must be limited to discussion of testimony and/or evidence presented in the Zoning Board of Appeals. No new testimony or evidence can be presented.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Development Committee - Regular Meeting - Aug 18, 2020 10:30 AM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sheila Rutledge, District 6
SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
REGULATORY SERVICES
A. DC-O-0054-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-022 – Gallian: To approve the following zoning relief: Variation to reduce the side yard setback from 10’ to approximately 1’6” to allow for a new shed.(Milton/ District 4) (If the County Board seeks to approve the zoning relief it will require a ¾ majority vote {14 votes} to approve based on the recommendation to deny by the Zoning Hearing Officer) ZHO Recommendation to Deny DuPage County Development Committee Vote (Motion to Approve Failed): 0 Ayes, 6 Nays, 0 Absent
Chair Tornatore asked Paul Hoss if he would explain why the Zoning Hearing Officer recommended to deny this petition. Mr. Hoss, explained that the Hearing Officer didn't feel that the petitioner presented a practical difficulty or hardship. There are other places in the backyard, where the shed could be placed, that meet the setback requirements.
RESULT: DEFEATED [0 TO 6]
MOVER: Sheila Rutledge, District 6
SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
NAYS: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
B. DC-O-0055-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-029 – Layton: To approve the following zoning relief: Conditional Use to allow an existing shed to remain closer than the required 3 feet from the side property line (approx. 1 foot) where it has existed for more than five years. (Bloomingdale/ District 4) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Sadia Covert, District 5
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
C. DC-O-0056-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-031 –Lindner: To approve the following zoning relief: 1. Variation to increase the height of a proposed fence from 6’6” to approximately 8’. 2. Variation to reduce the line of sight/ vision clearance on a corner from 25’ to approximately 15’ and to increase the height of a fence within the required line of sight/ vision clearance on a corner from 3’ to approximately 8’. (Milton/ District 4) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Sheila Rutledge, District 6
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
D. DC-O-0057-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-037 – Lehner: To approve the following zoning relief: Conditional Use to increase the size of detached accessory buildings from 708 sq. ft. to approximately 1,280 sq. ft.(Downers Grove S/ District 3) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
Chair Tornatore entertained a motion to combine and approve items DC-O-0057-20, 62- 20, 58-20, 59-20, 60-20, and 61-20. These petitions all have the ZHO recommending to approve the variation or conditional use. The motion was made by Member Chaplin and seconded by Member Covert.
Member Hart asked if Paul Hoss could explain a little more on the Lehner Petition. Mr. Hoss said the ZHO recommendation to approve the petition, because the petitioner demonstrated the need to have more storage. They do not have the capability to store much inside their home. There was some concern on how to attach the garage to the home. Architecturally, they just were not able to make it work. Member Hart inquired if there was any opposition to the petition. Paul Hoss said there were no objections..
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Sadia Covert, District 5
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
E. DC-O-0062-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-036 –Brauer: To approve the following zoning relief: Rezoning from O-Office to R-1 Single Family Residence. (Winfield/ District 6) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Sadia Covert, District 5
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
F. DC-O-0058-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-038 – McGovern: To approve the following zoning relief: Conditional Use to allow an existing shed to remain less than 30 ft from corner side property line (approximately 3.4 ft.), where the shed has existed for at least 5 years. (Milton/ District 4) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
G. DC-O-0059-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-039 – Gillette: To approve the following zoning relief: Conditional Use to allow an existing shed to remain less than 30 ft. from corner side property line (approximately 5.95 ft), where it has existed for at least 5 years. (Milton/ District 4) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
H. DC-O-0060-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-040 – Streu: To approve the following zoning relief: Conditional Use to allow an existing shed to remain less than 10 feet from interior side property line (approximately 1.2 feet) where the shed has existed for at least 5 years. (Wayne/ District 6) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
I. DC-O-0061-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-044 – Webber: To approve the following zoning relief: Variation to reduce the interior side setback for an attached garage from 10 feet to approximately 3 feet. (Milton/ District 4) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
Member Rutlegde believed Chair Tornatore had skipped Item I on the agenda, when he combined and approved other items. Member Tornatore apologized and asked for a motion and a second for the item. There was a roll call done for this item.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sheila Rutledge, District 6
SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
J. DC-O-0063-20 ORDINANCE -- Z20-054 –Grubic: To approve the following zoning relief: Variation to allow a proposed detached garage to be located in front of the front wall of the house. (Downers Grove N/ District 3) ZHO Recommendation to Approve DuPage County Development Committee VOTE (to Approve): 6 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent
Chair Tornatore asked Paul Hoss to explain why the petitioner wants to put a garage in front of the house. Mr. Hoss asked Members to look at page 6 of their packets, it shows the existing site plan. It is a reverse pie shape lot and the house is set back almost entirely in the rear yard of the property. There was a garage in the back of the home previously, however a car could not drive around the home to get back to it. Essentially, the garage was used as storage space. The petitioner feels that the only place he would be able to build a garage is in the front wall of the house. The property to the south has the same issue, and they have a detached garage is in front of the front wall of the house. That garage was permitted and built before the County changed the ordinance. The Hearing Officer found that there was a practical difficulty and hardship in that there is no physical way to get a car to behind the house because of where the house is situated on the property and the peculiar nature of the lot. He also noted other instances of homes in the neighborhood also have a garage in front of the front wall of the house.
Member Ozog asked for the approximate lot size. He replied the lot is about 8,200 square feet. She mentioned from what she saw on the plans, she didn't notice an obstruction of a view. Mr. Hoss stated that if they could build a new home it could be 30 feet from the front property line. The proposed garage is about going to be approximately 50 feet from the front yard property line.
Member Rutledge, noted that this property is on well and septic, but she wondered what percentage of homes in unincorporated DuPage County that are on water and sewer. Mr. Hoss did not have that information with him, but promised he would get her the answer.
Chair Tornatore inquired where the neighbor lives who is objecting to the new garage due to the view. Mr. Hoss replied that they are located to the south of the property and that is on the left of the page. Chair Tornatore inquired about the current driveway. Mr. Hoss said a car cannot get through on the current driveway, the northwest corner of the house is just too narrow to get by, even with a vacation of the easement.
He inquired where the new driveway will be located for the new garage. Mr. Hoss stated that it will come off Village Road.
Would it make a difference if the garage would be built on the other side of the home. The garage would have to be closer to the roadway, because the property sits at an angle.
The petitioner believes putting the garage where proposed would afford as much open space in the front yard as he could possibly have.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Sheila Rutledge, District 6
AYES: Chaplin, Covert, Hart, Ozog, Rutledge, Tornatore
K. Discussion -- FY21 Building and Zoning Budget
Nick Kottmeyer, Director of Public Works and Operations and Joy Hinz, Environmental Specialist gave the presentation for the 2021 Building and Zoning Budget. This department provides all the services that an incorporated Building and Zoning Department would, including Regional Planning , Economic Growth, Zoning and Building Permitting. In addition there is an Environmental division. There are 28 employees of this department. Mr. Kottmeyer spoke about one of the most successful programs of the Department, the Neighborhood Revitalization program. This handles dilapidated properties, demolishes an old house and have a lot that gets redeveloped new. The Building division handles reviews, permitting inspections, questions, and complaints. Zoning handles ordinances, inspections, oversee the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, all the ZBA Hearings and Plat Committees. The environmental division, they are responsible for IEPA delegation for all the inspections and enforcement (both incorporated and unincorporated). They oversee 52,000 acres of property across the County.
Highlights from the Department, during the Covid pandemic this department has never shut down. Early on they were permitting by appointment and they were the first department to open back up fully. Permitting levels have not been gone down because of Covi the numbers are on track with last year for permits and calls. The Zoning Division has been involved with some special projects, the Route 83 Corridor Land Use Plan Program the Lake Street Corridor Overlay.
Ms. Hinz went over the numbers that show that the Department is on target to meet all of the expenditures in 2021. They should be 5.7% below the 2020 budget. The online Department Software is the s implementation in the fall of 2020. Also, potentially they are planning a permit rate fee study, which was last done in 2008. They remind the board, as they lose parcels to incorporated areas through annexing, their revenue may go down. Chair Tornatore wanted to point out that this department does not impact the General Fund. They exist solely on the revenue that is brought into the department through permitting.
7. OLD BUSINESS
8. NEW BUSINESS
9. ADJOURNMENT
During the Building and Zoning Budget Presentation, Member Ozog, Member Chaplin and Member Covert left the meeting. ASA Hayman pointed out that the quorum had been lost. They need one additional member to establish a quorum to adjorn the meeting with a roll call.. County Board Member Ashley Selmon was asked if she would join the Development Committee to create a quorum. Chair Tornatore asked Members to make a motion to make Ms. Selmon a Development Committee Member. Member Rutledge, made the motion and Member Hart seconded. Chair Tornatore entertained a moution to adjourn the meeting. Member Rutledge made the motion which was seconded by Member Hart. Roll call was done and without objection the meeting was adjourned.
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