MINUTES OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING
HELD OCTOBER 21, 2009

The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, Illinois held a public hearing on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.  Chairman David Lencioni called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  Answering to roll call were members:  Stephen Maier, Phyllis Adams, Jerry Dill, Nancy Konior and Cathy Saylors. Jack Martin was absent.  Also in attendance were Steve Manning, Community Development Director and Colleen Santo, Secretary to the Zoning Board. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Mrs. Adams moved, seconded by Mrs. Saylors, to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2009 meeting as presented.   

Upon roll call vote, the motion carried as follows:

AYES: -6- Board Members Adams, Saylors, Maier, Dill, Konior, and Chairman Lencioni

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -1- Board Member Martin   

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT:  Proper notices for the public hearing were published in the Southtown/Star newspaper on October 2, 2009 as required by Village Code.  Notice letters were also mailed to neighbors and a notice sign was posted in front of the subject site.  No correspondence was received as testimony for the hearing. 

PETITION OF MR. KOEHLER, 10005 W. 125^th St., Palos Park, IL requesting a corner side yard setback variance of 16.5 feet to the required 50 feet to build a rear addition to existing residence. This would result in a corner side yard setback of 33.5 feet from the property line, which is a 33% variance request.   

PETITIONER RESPONSE:  Mr. Koehler introduced his architect, Mr. Wally Hadler.  Mr. Koehler stated the addition would not go past his existing house.  He stated he has a half acre lot and if he were to start the addition at 50 feet he would not utilize his existing south entrance and his electric service would need to be terminated the first day of construction because it is located on  the west side of his house behind the garage.  Mr. Koehler would like to leave the electric service intact and live in his home during construction.  He stated he does not want to build up with the addition because he lives in a neighborhood with ranches and would like to keep his home a ranch.  Mr. Hadler explained the elevation and floor plan of proposed ranch. Steve Manning asked Mr. Koehler to comment on the character of the area.  Mr. Hadler gave examples of residencies that are all within a block of Mr. Koehler that already exceed the 50 foot setback, are corner lots, and who had built additions.   Steve Manning asked the petitioner if he had the square footage of the existing house and the proposed addition.  Mr. Hadler stated the existing house had just less than 1800 sq feet and the proposed addition off the back would have 1500 sq ft.  The garage tear down and re-build will add an additional 485 sq feet.   

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Herbert W. Koch, 10015 W. 125^th Street

Stated he was neighbor to the west and supports the Koehler’s.  When he moved in the neighborhood he put on an addition and so did most of his neighbors.  He was instrumental in helping Park Lane Estates become Palos Park.  The main concern when annexing was that most of the homes were ½ acre lots, but the Village Codes were based on acre lots.  He stated he knew situations would arise, but was assured by former Mayor Rosemary Kaptur that there would be flexibility to these smaller lots.   

DISCUSSION:

Jerry Dill stated that the board had already been through this type of request and that the code should be reviewed and amended for homes less then one acre.  He stated that the house behind the Koehler’s to the south is in the setback even further then this request.  Mr. Dill stated he did not have a problem with the request.  Nancy Konior stated the lot was a ½ acre, but questioned the hardship.  There was a brief discussion.  Jerry Dill and Chairman Lencioni stated it was an existing condition.  Chairman Lencioni stated corner side yards are difficult.  Nancy Konior suggested that the Code for corner lots be reviewed.  Steve Manning stated that the Code made a special provision to allow a 66% variance on smaller lots.  Steve Maier stated the unique circumstance was the layout of the subdivision.   

FINDINGS OF FACT: 

Jerry Dill-  Stated the hardship is the existing condition of the house being a corner lot and less then one acre.  The average setback of other corner homes in the area is comparable.   

CHAIRMAN LENCIONI ASKED FOR A MOTION:   Mr. Dill  moved, seconded by Mrs. Adams to recommend approval of the variance as requested.  

Upon roll call vote, the motion carried as follows:

AYES:-6- Board Members Dill, Adams, Maier, Konior, Saylors, Chairman Lencioni

            NAYS:-0- Board Members

            ABSENT-1- Board Member Martin 

 Chairman Lencioni advised the petitioner to attend the Village Council meeting on November 9, 2009. 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business Chairman Lencioni adjourned the hearing at 8:00 p.m. Upon voice vote the motion carried with six yes votes: 

            AYES: -6-Board Members Maier, Adams, Dill, Konior, Saylors, Chairman Lencioni

            NAYES:-0-

            ABSENT:-1-Board Member Martin 

______________________________________________

Colleen M. Santo
 Secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals