McLean County Times

McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals met July 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. CALL TO ORDER: Motion was made by Kuritz/Dean to appoint Julia Turner as Acting Chair. The motion was approved by voice vote.

Julia Turner called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

2. ROLL CALL: Secretary Philip Dick called the roll and noted the presence of a quorum as follows: Julia Turner, Rick Dean, Michael Kuritz, Brian Bangert and Ruth Novosad. Members James Finnigan and Mary Beth Taylor were absent. Also present were Darrell Mitchell, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Chris Spanos, Chief Civil Assistant State’s Attorney and Taylor Williams, Assistant State’s Attorney.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion was made by Kuritz/Novosad to approve the minutes from the June 7, 2022, Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.

The minutes were approved by voice vote.

4. APPEARANCE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: No one came forward to speak on matters not on the agenda.

5. REGULAR AGENDA:

Case ZV-22-05, an application of Dennis Frank in case ZV-22-05 on parcel 21-22-101-001. He is requesting a variance in maximum side wall height for a proposed detached accessory building to be 14 feet rather than 12 feet as allowed in the R-1 Single Family Residence District on property in Bloomington Township at 2701 Hendrix Rd., Bloomington, IL.

Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that staff recommends approval of the proposed variance.

Dennis Frank, 2701 Hendrix Rd., Bloomington, IL, appeared to give testimony and was sworn.

Mr. Frank indicated that he had nothing to add to what was presented in the staff report and that he appreciated working with staff on the zoning process.

The board reviewed and discussed the proposed variance.

Motion was made by Novosad/Kuritz to approve case ZV-22-05.

The roll call vote was five members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and Members Jim Finnigan and Mary Beth Taylor were absent.

Case ZV-22-07, an application of Susan and Ron Darnall in case ZV-22-07 on parcel 20-18-100- 002. They are requesting a variance in side yard requirements to allow existing sheds to be as close as 4.5 feet from the property line rather than 20 feet as required in the A-Agriculture District on property in Dale Township at 6047 E 1175 North Rd., Bloomington, IL.

Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that staff recommends approval of the proposed variance.

Ronald and Susan Darnall, 6047 E 1175 North Rd., Bloomington, IL, appeared to give testimony and were sworn.

Mr. Darnall indicated that the reason they are setting the house aside from the shooting range is because of their age. He indicated that they do not plan to sell the properties.

The board reviewed and discussed the proposed variance.

Motion was made by Bangert/Novosad to approve case ZV-22-07.

The roll call vote was five members for the motion to approve, none opposed, and Members Jim Finnigan and Mary Beth Taylor were absent.

Case SU-22-03, an application of Steven Fluty in case SU-22-03 on parcel 13-28-400-011. He is requesting a special use to allow a single-family residence in the A-Agriculture District for the son of the farm owner on property in Dry Grove Township at 14854 Twin Grove Rd., Bloomington, IL.

Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that staff recommends approval of the proposed special use with a stipulation that one of the initial occupants is Steven Fluty, the son of the owner of the farm property from which this property is being set aside.

Steven Fluty, 9222 Old Peoria Rd., Bloomington, IL, appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Fluty indicated that he had nothing to add to what was presented.

The board reviewed and discussed the proposed special use.

Motion was made by Dean/Kuritz to recommend approval of case SU-22-03 with a stipulation that one of the initial occupants is Steven Fluty, the son of the owner of the farm property from which this property is being set aside.

The roll call vote was five members for the motion to recommend approval, none opposed, and Members Jim Finnigan and Mary Beth Taylor were absent.

Case SU-22-04, an application of KMDB, LLC in case SU-22-04 on parcel 15-25-100-001. It is requesting a special use to allow an Outdoor Beer Garden at the Merna Tap in the Commercial District on property in Towanda Township at 15989 N. 2300 East Rd., Normal, IL.

Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that staff recommends approval of the proposed special use with a stipulation that the proposed beer garden would only operate Monday through Saturday between the hours of 11:00 am and 10:00 pm, and on Sunday between the hours of 12:00 noon and 9:00 pm.

Richard Marvel, 221 E. Front St., Bloomington, IL, and Katie Schott, 209 Concord Dr., Normal, IL, appeared to give testimony and were sworn. Mr. Marvel indicated that this special use was needed in order to obtain a Class G Liquor License for the Merna Tap. Ms. Schott indicated that they had been operating the beer garden since Governor Pritzker allowed outdoor dining during the pandemic.

The board reviewed and discussed the proposed special use.

Motion was made by Kuritz/Bangert to recommend approval of case SU-22-04 with a stipulation that the proposed beer garden would only operate Monday through Saturday between the hours of 11:00 am and 10:00 pm, and on Sunday between the hours of 12:00 noon and 9:00 pm.

The roll call vote was five members for the motion to recommend approval, none opposed, and Members Jim Finnigan and Mary Beth Taylor were absent.

6. ADJOURNMENT: The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:53 PM.

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8822