McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals met May 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair, James Finnigan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. ROLL CALL: Secretary Philip Dick called the roll and noted the presence of a quorum as follows: James Finnigan, Rick Dean, Brian Bangert, Mary Beth Taylor, Michael Kuritz and Julia Turner. Member Drake Zimmerman arrived at 7:10 PM. No members were absent. Also present were Darrell Mitchell, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Craig Nelson, County IT Director, and Jessica Woods, Assistant State’s Attorney.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion was made by Kuritz/Turner to approve the minutes from the March 3, 2020 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
The roll call vote was six members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and Member Drake Zimmerman was absent.
4. APPEARANCE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: No one notified the Department of Building and Zoning by May 1, 2020 that they wanted to speak or submit a written communication on matters not on the agenda.
5. REGULAR AGENDA:
Case ZA-20-02, application of Keith Morgan in case ZA-20-02. This is a text amendment of the Zoning Ordinance of the Code of McLean County Chapter 350, Section 350-43, RR (1), Use Standards, to allow employment of not more than four other persons, rather than not more than one other person, who is not a bona fide resident of such single-family dwelling in a Rural home-based off-premises business.
Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that the text amendment would promote the public health, safety, comfort, morals and general welfare of the County.
Keith Morgan, 23741 E 200 North Rd., LeRoy, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Morgan indicated that he wants to employ more people in the office and that he needs more people than what the Zoning Ordinance allows.
The board reviewed and discussed the case They found that the proposed amendment would allow farm owners to diversify their operations, continue to strengthen the County’s policy of farmland preservation, would help conserve property values, and would not likely be detrimental to or endanger the health, safety, morals, comfort, or welfare of the public.
Motion was made by Kuritz/Dean to recommend approval of case ZA-20-02.
The roll call vote was seven members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and no members were absent.
Case ZV-20-02, application of Craig Hanson in case ZV-20-02 on parcel 07-01-376- 001. He is requesting a variance in front setback requirements to allow a proposed porch addition to the Lake Road Inn to be 62 feet from the road centerline rather than 80 feet as required in the C-Commercial District on property in Hudson Township at 25106 N 1750 East Rd., Hudson, IL.
Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated the seven standards for a variance are met.
Craig Hanson, 25106 N 1750 East Rd., Hudson, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Hanson indicated that the current steps are one step below the doorway and cause difficulty for customers entering the building. He said that when they have a fish fry, they need a place for customers to gather. He said that the proposed porch and deck addition would solve these problems.
The board reviewed and discussed the seven standards and found them met Motion was made by Turner/Kuritz to approve case ZV-20-02.
The roll call vote was seven members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and no members were absent.
Case ZV-20-03, application of Jared Zotz in case ZV-20-03 on parcel 22-32-276-008. He is requesting a variance in side yard requirements to allow a proposed livestock
shelter to be 50 feet from the property line rather than 150 feet as required in the R-1 Single Family Residence District on property in Old Town Township at 8628 N 2000 East Rd., Downs, IL.
Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated the seven standards for a variance are met.
Jared Zotz, 8628 N 2000 East Rd., Downs, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Zotz indicated that all the surrounding properties are in agricultural use. He indicated that Dr. David Efaw, who owns the property to the south and west, submitted a letter in support of the variance.
The board reviewed and discussed the seven standards and found them met. Motion was made by Kuritz/Bangert to approve case ZV-20-03.
The roll call vote was seven members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and no members were absent.
Case ZA-20-01, an application of the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals in case ZA-20-01. This part of the text amendment was continued from the March 3, 2020 meeting. This is a text amendment of the Zoning Ordinance to amend Section 350-43, OO(2)(p)[e], Use Standards, to allow an irrevocable letter of credit, in addition to an escrow account, as adequate financial assurance in a decommissioning fund for a Wind Energy Conversion System. The director of building and zoning requests to continue this case until July 7, 2020.
Secretary Dick called the case, submitted a letter dated April 16, 2020 requesting that the case be continued until the June 2, 2020 meeting, and indicated that he had sent a copy of this letter to those who testified in this case on March 3, 2020. Mr. Dick indicated that sine this case would likely involve many requests to speak at this public hearing, and since the COVID-19 Virus would likely continue to create limitations for public gatherings through June, he asked the ZBA to continue the case until the July 7, 2020 meeting.
The board reviewed and discussed the case. They found this a reasonable request and directed Secretary Dick to notify those who testified in this case on March 3, 2020 that this case would be continued until July 7, 2020.
Motion was made by Zimmerman/Dean to continue case ZA-20-01 to July 7, 2020 and directed Secretary Dick to notify those who testified in this case on March 3, 2020 of this decision.
The roll call vote was seven members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and no members were absent.
6. ADJOURNMENT:
The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7352
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