1995-01-17 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Minutes ZONING BOARD Of APPEALS
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE . ILLINOIS
TUESDAY . JANUARY 17 . 1995
I . CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Richard Heinrich called the Zoning Board of Appeals Pudic
Hearing to order at 7 : 35 P . M . on Tuesday . January 17 . 1995 at the
Village Hail . 50 Raupp Boulevard .
II . ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present : J . Paul , L . Windecker , L . Arbus .
H . Hefier and R . Heinrich . QUORUM
Commissioners Absent : M . Kearns and B . Entman
Bldg . Dept . Liaison : Edward Schar . Deputy Building Commissioner
Village Attorney : Richard Skelton
Village Board Liaison : John Marienthal . Trustee
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 20 . 1994 - Motion to Table was made by Com . Paul .
Seconded by Com . Windecker
Voice Vote - AYE Unanimously
Minutes of December 20 . 1995 were approved as submitted .
IV . BUSINESS
A . 2910 Sandalwood Road . Gary and Sheri Weisbaum
Zoning Ordinance . Section 17 . 40 . 020 - Addition
Mr . Gary Weisbaum was sworn in and the public hearing notice
was read . Mr . Weisbaum summarized the reasons for requesting
a variance for the purpose of constructing an addition that
would encroach into the rear and side yard setbacks :
1 . The children are growing , so the family needs more
living space and storage space . The addition witn
a basement will permit enlargement of the family
room . kitchen and laundry room .
2 . They do not want to leave the neighborhood .
3 . Purchasing a new house in Buffalo Grove would
be too costly .
The plans have been shown to all the neighbors and there were
no objections . The siding and roof of the addition will match
the existing structure . The roof lines on the north side have
been redesigned to conform with the existing roof .
The Village Engineer ' s Review . dated January 5 . 1995 . states :
' The proposed addition wi. ii not affect the existing drainage
pattern . '
Architectural plans have been submitted to the Building
Department and a set was presented to the ZBA for review .
The Commissioners had no questions or objections .
No comments from the audience .
Com. Windecker made the following motion:
I move we grant the request of Gary and Sheri Weisbaum ,
2910 Sandalwood Road . for variance of the Zoning
Ordinance . Section 17 . 40 . 020 . pertaining to Area .
Height . Bulk and Placement Regulations , for the
purpose of constructing an addition that would encroach
a distance of three feet ( 3 ` ) into the required forty
foot (40 ' ) rear yard setback : and two ana seventy-five
hundredths feet ( 2 . 75 ' ) into the required side yard
setback . as indicated on the survey that was submitted
with the application.
Unique circumstances having been demonstrated . the
proposed construction will not alter the essential
character of the neighborhood .
Construction materials are to match the existing
structure in like kind and quality . The addition is
to be constructed pursuant to plans submitted to and
approved by the Village : and subject to the Village
Engineer ' s Review . .
Com. Hefler seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Paul . Arbus , Windecker .
Hefier and Heinrich
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to O . Findings of Fact Attached .
Permit may be issued in 15 days - February 2 . 1995 .
Items B and C are similar and were discussed together .
Com. Hefier disclosed that he has done sign work for Town and
Country Homes . He recused himself from the discussion and vote .
B. Lot 8 at Mirielie . Phase 2 . Town and Country Homes
C . Lot 9 at Mirielie . Phase 2 . Town and Country Homes
Zoning Ordinance . Section 17 . 40 . 020 - Rear Yard Setbacks
Mr . James E. Truesdell . AICP . Director of Forward Planning
Town and Country Homes . i603 i6th Street . Oakbrook . IL 60521
( 617-5577 ) was sworn in and the public hearing notices were
read . Mr . Truesdell summarized his letter . dated December 15 .
1994 . requesting variances of ten feet ( 10 ' ) into the required
forty foot ( 40 ' ) rear yard setback for Mirielie Lots 8 and 9 .
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 17 , 1995 - Page Two
When the Plan Commission and Village Board approved Mirielie
Unit Two for single family homes . the original site plan
indicated that the street was to connect with Prairie Road .
but the County would not allow access at this point , resulting
in the cul-de-sac which has caused a depth problem because
Lots 8 and Lot 9 are i15 ' deep instead of the required 125 '
and none of the Town and Country homes will fit on them with-
out a variance into the required forty lot ( 40 ' ) rear yard
setback . With the variance of ten feet ( 10 ' ) , four (4) of the
ten ( 10) Town and Country models wiii fit on the lots and only
model #5 , which is fifty-five feet (55 ' ) in depth . would
require the full ten foot ( 10 ' ) variance . The the other three
(3 ) designs vary in depth from forty-nine feet (49 ' ) to fifty-
two and one half feet ( 52-1 /2 ' ) . These houses range in size
from 2 . 638 square feet to 2 . 990 square feet and with options
they range in price from $200 . 000 to S300 . 000 .
The property to the rear of Lots 8 and 9 is located in
unincorporated Lake County. The property directly across
Prairie Road . west of Lot 9 . is also unincorporated at this
time . and it is surrounded by the Carlyle subdivision.
Without the variance . it would be necessary to select smaller
houses that would fit on the lots , but they would not meet the
market prices in this area. These houses would also be
smaller than the surrounding houses and would . therefore . be
out of character in the Mirielie subdivision. it would be
very difficult to design a new house to fit on just these two
( 2) lots and they would probably be very difficult to market .
None of the Mirieile lots are under contract .
Mr . George Sperber . 22539 North Prairie . Prairie View . IL .
owner of the property directly south of Lot 8 . was present .
After being sworn in. Mr . Sperber said he objected to the
proposed variance because it would reduce the size of the rear
yard and permit the house to be closer to the rear lot line .
Mr . Sperber has a gravel drive-way that runs along the side
lot line of his house abutting the rear lot line of Lot 8 .
Ch. Heinrich commented that the proposed thirty foot ( 30 ' )
rear yard setback is not unusually small for Buffalo Grove .
The distance between Mr . Sperber ' s house and the largest
proposed house would be approximately eighty feet ( 80 ' ) .
He told Mr . Truesdell that one of the conditions of the
variance would be that all prospective purchasers of Lot 8
are to be informed of the variance and that it would have
to be recorded as part of the piat .
Mr.. Truesdell affirmed this requirement .
Mr . Sperber questioned the location of the utilities and he
asked if the existing trees along the lot line would be kept?
He inquired who would be responsible for maintenance of this
area?
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 17 1995 - Page Three
Mr . Truesdell said there is a five foot ( 5 ' ) utility easement .
They plan to work with Mr . Ray Rigsby and they will save as
many trees along the perimeter as possible .
Mr . Sperber expressed concern about the safety of children
playing in the rear yarn without a fence because they could
run out into the driveway and into his yard . He does not want
kids in his yard and said ne would put up a barbed wire fence
if he has to .
Comments from Commissioners :
Com. Paul was not as much concerned about the rear yard set-
back or the aesthetics of the house , as he was about the fact
that the gravel driveway is right along the property line
making liability a very valid concern for Mr . Sperber . He
proposed a condition of the variance would be that Town and
Country provide a fence along the rear lot line .
Mr . Truesdell had no objection to this suggestion and added
that a fence along Prairie Road is also going to be required .
Com. Windecker agreed that a fence was part of the solution.
but the line-of-sight would have to be considered .
Mr . Schar added that Lot 8 would be considered a corner lot
and the setback from Prairie Road would have to be met .
Com. Arbus expressed concern for future neighbors on Lot 7
and Lot 6 . With the side of Lot 8 left wide open. the fence
could fall over . He also thought that the fence for Lot 8
should be extended past the building line . This would require
publication and notification of surrounding property owners .
Ch. Heinrich envisioned a fence along Lots 6 . 7 and 8 as a
wall between Buffalo Grove and Prairie View . Lots 6 and 7
are large enough and no require no variances . A fence would
be needed along the driveway portion of Lot 8 and possibly
Lot 9 (across the cui-de-sac) , but he would not consider a
fence along Lots 6 and 7 .
After considerable debate . Mr . Skelton said that normally
any requirements . such as fencing along Lots 6 . 7 and 8 . that
affect the developer would be the responsibility of the Plan
Commission . similar to what is considered for impact fees .
Any condition placed on property should be related to the
variance being sought . He agreed with Ch. Heinrich that if
fencing is required . it should be limited to Lots 8 and 9 .
The Plan Commission could have required a buffer around the
whole area , but the Zoning Board should only place conditions
on a variance that relate to the property involved .
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 17 . 1995 - Page Four
Com . Windecker agreed that a condition of the variance should
include fences on Lots 8 and 9 . but not Lots 6 and 7 .
Ch. Heinrich asked Mr . Truesdell to have as many trees saved
on Lot 8 as possible .
Mr . Truesdell said he could have the Town and Country Land-
scape Architect evaluate the trees and he agreed to save the
ones that border Lots b . 7 and 8 . if possible .
Com. Arbus said he would vote '"no on the variance without
a fence on all three lots and suggested that the matter be
Tabled until the February public hearing .
After considering the option of an appeal to the Village
Board . Mr . Truesdell chose to return in February. He agreed
to have the trees evaluated and meet with Mr . Rigsby to
determine if any of the trees can be saved . He will also
propose some type of five foot ( 5 ' ) fence for Lots 8 and 9 .
The variances are necessary but he wants to satisfy all of the
Zoning Board ' s concerns .
Mr . Sperber cautioned Mr . Truesdell about not disturbing any
of the trees on his property.
Com. Windecker made a motion to Table until the February
meeting . Com. Arbus seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Paul . Windecker . Arbus . Heinrich
NAY - None (Com. Hefier did not vote . )
Motion to Table passed - 4 to O .
Ch. Heinrich asked that the proposed fences be submitted to
the Village Engineer for a line-of-sight review.
V . ANNOUNCEMENTS
Because of scheduling conflicts . the February 21 , 1995 Zoning Board
meeting will be held at the Youth Center . 50-1 /2 Raupp Boulevard .
VI . ADJOURNMENT
Com. Windecker made a motion to adjourn. Com. Paul seconded the
motion. Voice Vote - AYE Unanimously.
Ch. Heinrich adjourned the meeting at 8 : 34 P. M.
Respectfully submitted .
f
>JAX--
Shirley Bates
Recording Secretary
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 17 . 1995 - Page Five