HomeMy WebLinkAboutZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - 05/07/2015 - GARAGE VARIATION 1210 DIANE LANE ELK GROVE VILLAGE
Zoning Board of Appeals
Meeting Minutes
May 7, 2015
Present: L. Dohrer
R. De Frenza
S. Carlson
M.Colgan
R. Bookler
Absent: J. Meister, Sr.
D. Childress
D. Zinnel
P. Rettberg
Staff: J. Polony, Plan Review Supervisor, Community Development
Zoning Variation —Docket 915-4 1210 Diane Lane
Acting Chairman Dohrer called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm and read a statement describing
the hearing notification procedure as well as the legal notice.
The petitioner, Craig Shellman, was sworn in and asked to present his case.
Mr. Shellman stated the reason for his variation request is because he would like to be able to
store all his cars and vehicle equipment in the rear of his property. I-Ie mentioned that all his
personal cars, racecars and racecar equipment are currently located within the front driveway
area and the garage would allow him to relocate and ultimately shield the vehicles/equipment
from the view of neighbors. He mentioned that the excessively large garage was needed to
adequately fit his four (4) door dully truck with a snow plow attachment along with two (2) of
his racecars. Mr. Shellman explained that the height of the garage would need to be at least
eighteen (18') to allow for ten (10') high overhead doors to accommodate his nine foot six inch
(9'-6") truck height.
Mr. Dohrer opened the meeting to questions from the board.
Mr. Dohrer asked the petitioner if the variation was going to be granted, would all of his
cars/equipment in the front driveway be relocated to the rear of the house.
Mr. Shellman stated that he would clean out his current garage and relocate all his vehicles &
storage to the rear of the property. The only thing that would remain in the front driveway would
be his family's everyday cars they drive to work.
Mr. Bookler stated he had concerns with the number of vehicles at the site and the overall height
of the proposed garage.
Mr. Shellman reiterated that he would relocate all his vehicles to the back of the house when the
garage was completed. Additionally, he mentioned that he felt the overall height wouldn't have
any impact on neighbors since his current house height is approximately twenty eight (28') feet
tall. He feels that the location of his proposed garage would not adversely affect any surrounding
neighbors.
Mr. Bookler also mentioned that he felt the one thousand and twenty four (1,024) square foot
garage request was quite excessive. He stated that some homes in the Village are barely that
large and this would impose a visual obstruction within the neighborhood.
Mr. Colgan asked the petitioner how large the concrete pad adjacent to the proposed garage was
going to be.
Mr. Shellman stated that it would be approximately twelve (12') feet wide and would extend a
little bit past the rear edge of the proposed garage. This area would be used to park his forty (40')
foot long trailer.
Mr. Carlson asked the petitioner if the existing attached garage was going to be cleaned up and
used for vehicle storage.
Mr. Shellman stated that lie planned to clean out the existing garage and provide enough space to
park his wife's vehicle.
Mrs. DeFrenza stated that she felt many people in the Village have an excessive amount of
possessions at their homes however; why should the board allow him to have a large garage to
accommodate his lack of storage space on his site.
Mr. Shellman stated that the proposed garage would help alleviate the visual impact that his
current vehicles/trailer impose on his neighbors. Additionally, he felt the garage would help add
to the property value of his home and his neighbors.
Mr. Dolirer asked the petitioner if his pool would be removed and relocated.
Mr. Shellman stated that he would remove the pool and possibly relocate it in the future.
Mr. Dohrer asked the petitioner to verify if he was running a business out of his home or if he
intended to run a business out of this proposed garage.
Mr. Shellman stated he had no intention of running a business and the garage would only be used
to store his racecars which he uses as a hobby.
Mr. Dohrer asked the petitioner to state his hardship for his variation request.
Mr. Shellman said he is trying to reduce the amount of vehicles in his front yard and relocate his
storage to the rear to help reduce the impact his storage and vehicles have had on the
neighborhood.
Mr. Dolurer opened the meeting to questions from the public.
Keith Urban, 1232 Diane Lane, stated that Mr. Shellman's existing car parking & trailer storage
is an eyesore in the neighborhood. He stated that in order for Mr. Shellman to park his large
trailer, he has to maneuver on Diane Lane which impacts his neighbors and the traffic on the
street. Mr. Urban also presented the %BA members with pictures of the current conditions at Mr.
Shellman's house. The pictures showed numerous vehicles parked on the driveway some of
which look to be on car jacks and in disrepair. Additionally the pictures indicated oil stains on
the driveway/sidewalk and deterioration of the sidewalk & grass where the petitioner maneuvers
his truck/trailer on the site. Mr. Urban indicated he was not in favor of the variation request.
Joe Chittenden, 1209 Helen Lane, stated he lives behind the Shellman residence and was
concerned with the visual impact the oversized garage would have on his property. Mr.
Chittenden was concerned that the garage would have an adverse effect on drainage at the site
and was not in favor of the variation request.
Janice Chittenden, 1209 Helen Lane, stated she opposed the variation request due to the impact it
would have on the surrounding neighbors. She felt that Mr. Shellman's hobby of driving racecars
and having numerous vehicles should not be a reason to vary from the zoning regulations of the
Village.
Darlene Kleinfeldt, 1221 Diane Lane, mentioned that the EGV Police have been called many
times in the past to come to the petitioner's house because the petitioner was revving his car
engines and creating a noise nuisance. She felt that the garage would not help to solve all the
problems pertaining to vehicle repair, vehicle parking and the number of vehicles at the site.
Sue Kasszewicz, 1215 Helen Lane, felt that the petitioner's hobby of collecting and repairing
racecars should not be something that is permitted within the residential zoning districts. She
stated that the vehicles shall be stored in a proper storage facility outside of residentially zoned
districts.
Dana Helmink, 1220 Diane Lane, said the variation request sounds appealing; however she felt
that even by moving all the vehicles/equipment, the neighbors would still have to deal will
excessive amounts of noise generated by the vehicles along with the visual obstruction that the
large garage would create.
A motion to NOT grant a variation for the construction of a thirty two (32') foot by thirty two
(32') foot detached garage that would have an overall height of eighteen (18') feet was made by
Mr. Bookler and seconded by Mr. Colgan. Upon voting (AYES —Carlson, De Frenza and
Dohrer.) The motion to NOT grant the variance passed unanimously. Mr. Dohrer advised
the petitioner, Mr. Shellman, to contact the Village Clerk and attend the subsequent Village
Board Meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.