HomeMy WebLinkAboutZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - 08/30/2007 - DOCKET 07-5/872 MAPLE LN/BOYES ELK GROVE VILLAGE
Zoning Board of Appeals
Meeting Minutes
August 30, 2007
Present: G. Schumm
T. Rodgers
L. Michalski
J. Meister, Sr.
D. Childress
J. Walz
J. Oliveto
Absent: P.Kaplan, Chairman
Staff. J. Herren, Plan Reviewer
Zoning Variation—Docket#07-5—872 Maple Lane
Mr. Schumm called the meeting to order at 7:OO pm and read the legal notice. The
petitioner, Mr. Timothy J. Boyes was sworn in and asked to present their case.
Mr. Boyes explained he wants to install a fence that is located twenty-seven feet(27')
beyond a line extended from the nearest front corner of the principal building located on
the adjacent single-family lot. Mr. Boyes stated the reason for the location of the fence
was that he wanted to enclose as much of his yard as he could so long that is was not to
pose a safety hazard to his surrounding neighbors. He also indicated they were expecting
their first child. Mr. Boyes explained that he has a dog and needs a barrier to keep the
dog in their yard. The petitioner stated the traffic speed on Maple Lane and Maple Court
moves dangerously fast because there is no yield or stop sign either way at the
intersection of the two streets. Mr. Boyes said that the new fence would give him and his
family a safe place to enjoy their backyard because they would not have to worry about
his future children or dog wandering into traffic. Mr. Boyes their spoke above the fence
that he had taken down. He said the old fence was becoming a safety hazard and was in
very poor condition. The petitioner indicated that the fence had become so deteriorated,
sharp pieces of the fence were starting protrude at the top and the bottom. He did not
want any of the neighborhood children to get caught on the fence.
Mr. Schumm opened the meeting to questions from the board.
Mr. Michalski asked Mr. Boyes why the new fence needed to be so far out into his side
yard. The petitioner responded the location of the fence was where he would like to see it
so thut lie could get more of his backyard within the tcnce area. Mr. Boyes then added
that he was open to modify the location, but would like to keep close to the proposed
location. .Mr. Michalski responded that he did not like where the petitioner located his
proposed fence.
Mr. Childress explained that he is a neighbor of Mr. Boyes. Mr. Childress asked about
the condition of the old fence and why it was taken down. Mr. Boyes said the old fence
was becoming a safety hazard and was in poor condition. The petitioner added that he
had removed his dog several times from the fence because the dog would get caught in
the fence. He stated that since the top of the fence was becoming sharp he also took it
down for the safety of children in the neighborhood. Mr. Childress asked for the location
of where the old fence tied into house. Mr. Boyes responded with the old fence tied into
the corner of the house and was not located in his side yard at all. Mr. Childress
commented that he would have no problem with the proposed new fence if it were
located in the same position as the old fence.
Mr. Walz asked the petitioner what type of fence he was proposing to install. Mr. Boyes
said that he has not decided on the exact type of fence, but was looking at an all-wood six
foot(6') tall privacy fence. Mr. Walz questioned Mr. Boyes about whether the tree in the
side yard was going to be located inside or outside of the proposed fence. The petitioner
stated the tree would be approximately three feet(3')outside of the fence. Mr. Walz
explained that he was very concerned about the neighborhood children's safety. The
reason for his concern, he said, was that the neighbor most affected by the fence located
directly behind Mr. Boyes residence could only see oncoming pedestrian traffic once they
had crossed over the sidewalk. This could cause an accident. Mr. Walz stated the fence
would block their neighbor's entire view, which in turn would threaten the pedestrian
traffic. Mr. Walz suggested the petitioner either move the fence at least six feet(6') in
towards the middle of his yard to help out this situation, or place the rear corner of the
fence at a forty-five (45) degree angle. Placing the fence corner at a forty-five (45)
degree angle would help out Mr. Boyes' neighbors by allowing them to see the oncoming
pedestrian traffic before they crossed over the sidewalk with their vehicle. Mr. Boycs
answered that he would accept this change and also incorporate the forty-five(45) degree
angle at the front corner for aesthetic reasons.
Mr. Oliveto stated that he did not agree with the location of the proposed fence and
would like to see it changed from sixteen feet(16') to eight feet (8') from the side of the
house.
Mr. Rodgers questioned Mr. Boyes about the condition of the old fence. Mr. Boyes
restated the fence was old and had sharp edges on the top of the fence and for these
reasons lie decided to take down the old fence. Mr. Rodgers asked the petitioner how
many cars the neighbor had. Mr. Boyes replied the neighbor has only two (2) cars and
one of the cars is pulled into the garage when it is on the premises and the other car is
parked on the driveway. Mr. Rodgers asked Mr. Boyes if he had spoken to the neighbors
behind them. Mr. Boyes said he has spoke to the neighbors and they do not have any
problems with the proposed fence location. He said the neighbors like it because it offers
thein more privacy.
Mr. Schumm asked the petitioner to state his hardship. Mr. Boyes stated that his hardship
is that he is on a corner lot. Mr. Schumm then clarifies the new location of the fence with
the modifications of the forty-five(45) degree corners.
Mr. Meister stated there was nothing wrong with the location of the old fence. Mr.
Meister further stated that if the petitioner were to put the proposed fence in that location,
it would still give Mr. Boyes plenty of fenced in room in his backyard. Mr. Meister
added that the petitioner is asking for too much and does not have a reasonable hardship.
Mr. Schumm entertained motion. A motion was made by Mr. Walz with the
understanding that the new location of the fence with the forty-five(45) degree corners
was the final location of the proposed fence, which was seconded by Mr. Rodgers. Upon
voting(AYES-Schumm, Rodgers,Walz, Michalski, Oliveto, and Childress,
NAYES—Meister,ABSENT—Kaplan) the motion passed to allow the fence to be
constructed with the forty-five (45) degree corners at northeast and northwest
corners twenty-seven feet(27') from a line extended from the nearest front corner of
the principal building located on an adjacent single-family residential lot. Mr.
Schumm advised the petitioner submit the revised fence location to the village and to
contact the Village Clerk to find out when the case would be considered by the Village
Board. The meeting adjourned 7:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
ustin Herren
Plan Reviewer, Community Development
C: Chairman�Members Zoning Boards of Appeals, M r and Boa
Trustees, Villa)KClerk, Pg2c
'llage�omey, Village ager, De ut =11age
Manager, Assistant Vile Mana er, Director ofpe Engin ing and Community
Development, Director of Pubj;i orks, Fire, ief, Deputy F,,x�Chief(2),
Assist,n Tire Chief, Chairman and Men;kf's' of Plan Commission