MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY JULY 20, 2006@ 5:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NORMAL CITY HALL
100 E. PHOENIX AVENUE
NORMAL, ILLINOIS
Members Present:
Keith Palmgren, Todd Anderson, Kathleen Lorenz, Randy Schaab, Corrine Brand, Tony Penn
Members Absent:
Gary Blakney
Others Present:
Corporation Council Steve Mahrt, Director of Public Works, Associate Debbi Feid, Mercy Davison, Town Planner, Director of Inspection, Greg Troemel
Call to Order:
Chairman Schaab called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes:
The minutes of the June 15, 2006 meeting were approved as submitted
Public Hearings:
- Case No. 06-06-06-V: Side Yard Setback and Additional
Off-Street Parking, 301 W. Raab (carried over at
applicants request from the June 15, 2006 meeting of the
Zoning Board of Appeals).
Mr. Richard Walden and wife Jo of, 17459 N. 2100 East Road, Towanda, Illinois, 61776, were sworn in by Chairman Schaab.
Mr. Walden explained that they presently live at the Towanda address and will be moving to the Raab Road address (which they have owned since 1962). Mr. Walden said they would like to enclose the existing patio which leads to the garage so they don’t have to get out in the ice and snow in the winter time.
Mr. & Mrs. Walden spoke about the variation request and how it was written. Mr. Walden said he did not seek a variation for the turn around drive. Mr. Walden said the developer, Constitution Trail Center, was to put the turn around in for him the way he understood from a meeting several months ago.
Corporation Counsel, Steve Mahrt, explained that the developer could not ask for the variation request for the owner. Mr. Mahrt said each property owner would be obligated to ask for their own variation. Because Mr. Walden was already asking for a variation for the enclosed patio, the turn around was included in this variation per Mr. Troemel.
Mr. Walden also had some questions about the standards in the staff report. Mr. Troemel explained the variation standards that each applicant needs to comply with. Ms. Davison also explained the three part test to Mr. Walden.
Ms. Brand asked Mr. Walden what the addition would be like. Mr. Walden said it would be more like a room addition with a few windows.
Mr. Schaab spoke about the existing patio. Mr. Schaab asked if it has a foundation. Mr. Troemel said he would have the inspection department staff confirm it. Mr. Walden said it was just a slab he would have to lay block around to enclose it.
Mr. Schaab asked Mr. Walden if he had thought of making the enclosed patio narrower than the 10 ft. Mr. Walden said no.
There was much discussion amongst the commissioners about this property having a 0’ setback. The consensus was that they would like to have the enclosed patio off the property line.
There was no one else to speak regarding this variation.
Chairman Schaab thought it would be best to vote on each item separately.
Ms. Lorenz moved to approve the variation for a T-turn around pad in the front yard. Mr. Anderson seconded.
Ayes: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Palmgren, Ms. Lorenz, Mr. Penn, Ms. Brand, Chairman Schaab
Nays: None
Motion declared carried
Mr. Palmgren and Mr. Anderson agreed that they would like to see the setback adjusted somewhat. Mr. Penn also said he would be in favor of reducing the size of the enclosed patio.
Chairman Schaab asked the applicants to come up front to speak again. Chairman Schaab asked Mr. Walden if he had thought of making the enclosed patio smaller than the 10 feet wide. Mr. Walden said he hadn’t but could settle with it being 9 ft. wide instead.
The public portion of the meeting was closed again.
Mr. Palmgren moved to approve the variation for the enclosed patio to be 9 ft. in width instead if 10 ft. Mr. Penn seconded.
Ayes: Mr. Palmgren, Mr. Penn, Ms. Brand, Mr. Schaab
Nays: Mr. Anderson, Ms. Lorenz
Motion declared carried.
Other Business
None
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbi Feid
Zoning Board of Appeals Secretary