Village of Flossmoor Zoning Board of Appeals met Dec. 7.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Chair Mitchell called the December 7, 2021 regular Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals to order at 7:40PM
1. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Chair Mitchell, Commissioners Barnett, Mathewson and Rose.
ABSENT:
Commissioner Ryan and Wilson
ALSO PRESENT:
Scott Bugner, Zoning Administrator; Vanessa Smith, Petitioner
1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF OCTOBER 26, 2021
Chair Mitchell asked the Commissioners if they had any changes or comments. There being none from the Commissioners, Chair Mitchell noted two corrections and asked for a motion to approved the minutes as amended.
Commissioner Mathewson motioned to accept the minutes of the October 26, 2021 meeting as amended. Commissioner Rose seconded the motion which passed by roll call vote.
AYES: Chair Mitchell, Commissioners Barnett, Mathewson and Rose.
NAYS: None
2. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING OF A REQUEST FOR A VARIATION FROM SECTION 285- 21-1 F. (a) [2] OF THE FLOSSMOOR ZONING ORDINANCE PROHIBITING FENCES IN FRONT OR SIDE YARDS – SMITH (1811 HANOVER LANE)
Chair Mitchell opened the continued Public Hearing and noted that the petitioner Mrs. Smith was present. Chair Mitchell advised that the engineers had visited the site and reviewed the site plan and that everything was approved in terms of the sight lines and asked the petitioner if that was correct. Mrs. Smith advised that Mr. Bugner had provided her with a copy of the survey which was marked showing the plat where it showed the corner and that she had redone the site plan to make sure that the fence was nowhere near the area that was marked.
Chair Mitchell asked if the petitioner had decided on the type of fence she would like to put in the proposed location given the comments of the Commissioners from the last meeting. Mrs. Smith advised that she had indicated on the survey that she had left the options open as she recalled one of the Commissioners talking about a six-foot wrought iron fence and advised that she had looked at a lot of different materials but in looking at the iron fence at the corner of Holbrook and Dixie, she noted that it was full of rust. Mrs. Smith advised that she would rather have a six-foot privacy fence but left the type of material open because of potential supply issues and that she didn’t want to have to come back later. Chair Mitchell advised that the original petition was asking for a white six-foot vinyl privacy fence. Mrs. Smith confirmed that was the case.
Chair Mitchell asked if the Commissioners had any questions or comments.
Commissioner Barnett commented that there are fencing materials that look like wrought iron that do not rust. Mrs. Smith advised that the reasons for the fence included the unsightly grass and weeds that the State of Illinois does not keep up with as well as the garbage which would still blow through that type of fence, and that this type of fence would not reduce the noise or provide any privacy.
Chair Mitchell advised that the petition as submitted is for a six-foot white vinyl privacy fence and that the Mrs. Smith had considered the wrought iron style fence but chose not to alter her petition.
Chair Mitchell advised that since the engineering had been done to identify the sight lines and that the petitioner had decided on the type of fence, he asked that unless there were any questions by the Commissioners or anything new to add, he would entertain a motion to approve the petition if it were to be made at this point. Chair Mitchell advised Mrs. Smith that it is the same as the last meeting where there were only four members present and that she would need all four votes for a recommendation approving the petition to be sent to the Board of Trustees. Chair Mitchell advised that the concerns that Mrs. Smith raised during the last meeting clearly addressed the practical difficulty because of where the property is located and the lack of maintenance by the State of Illinois on the right of way which creates an undue hardship which clearly satisfy the requirements for a variance.
Chair Mitchell asked for a motion to approve the petition as submitted.
Commissioner Rose motioned to approve the petition as submitted. Commissioner Mathewson seconded the motion which passed by roll call vote.
AYES: Chair Mitchell, Commissioners Barnett, Mathewson and Rose
NAYS: None.
3. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Findings of Fact
Chair Mitchell asked if there were any additions to the proposed findings of fact. Commissioner Rose advised that we had a fair amount of discussion about the aesthetic of the fence and asked if there was a place in the findings to reflect that. Chair Mitchell advised that we approved the petition as submitted. Chair Mitchell asked to add two things to findings regarding the fact the State of Illinois does not adequately maintain the right of way and that the petitioner’s property is often mistaken for public property.
Chair Mitchell asked for a motion to approve the findings of fact.
Commissioner Barnett motioned to approve the findings of fact as amended. Commissioner Mathewson seconded the motion which passed by roll call vote.
AYES: Chair Mitchell, Commissioners Barnett, Mathewson and Rose
B. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Mitchell asked for a motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Rose motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 PM. Commissioner Mathewson seconded the motion which passed by roll call vote.
AYES: Chair Mitchell, Commissioners Barnett, Mathewson and Rose
NAYS: None
http://www.flossmoor.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12072021-533
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