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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2000 ZBA minutes 36-99 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CASE NO. ZBA-36-99 Hearing Date: January 27, 2000 PETITIONER: Stanley Weglarz SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1108 Robert Drive PUBLICATION DATE: January 10, 2000 DAILY HERALD REQUEST: Variation to allow an addition to a single-family residence to encroach 4' into the front yard setback MEMBERS PRESENT: Merrill Cotten Leo Flores Elizabeth Luxem Richard Rogers Keith Youngquist MEMBERS ABSENT: Arlene Juraeek, Chairperson STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Blue, AICP, Deputy Director of Community Development Jeffary Perkins, Planner INTERESTED PARTIES: Stanley Weglarz Tom and Angle Samp Acting Chairperson Richard Rogers called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Minutes of the October 28 and November 11 meetings were approved, with one abstention by Mort'ill Cotton. Mr. Rogers announced the withdrawal of Case ZBA-01-2000. At 8:30 p.m., afar Hearings for two other cases, Mr. Rogers opened Case ZBA-36-99, a request for a Variation to allow an addition to a single-family residence to encroach 4' into a front yard setback. Jeffery Perkins, .P. lanner, introduced the staff memorandum~f0r the item, a proposal to construct a 1,216 square foot second story addition and front porch to an existing single-Rory house that would encroach by 4 feet into the 30 foot minimum front yard setback required by the R1 district. Mr. Perkins stated that the applicant's reasons for the variation are aesthetic and for the petitioner's convenience, rather than financial. The applicant proposes the encroachment to provide for the larger master suite and to allow for an aesthetically pleasing front elevation. He added that the proposed addition could possibly enhance the character of the existing single-family residential area and would not have a negative effect on the public welfare. Notwithstanding the above, no particular condition of the lot, makes the proposed encroachment necessary. The petitioner could achieve the same size addition by adding to the rear of the existing stmcture~ Based on analysis of the p~oposal with respect to Zoning Code standards for Variations, Mr. Perkins gave staff's recommendation of denial of the request to the ZBA and reminded the Board their decision was final for this Case. Richard Rogers uskeA ffBoard members had any questions for Jeff. He then asked if the petitioner wanted to speak. Stanley Weglarz, was sworn in. Mr. Weglarz stated he wanted to put a 2~ story addition on his home. He stated it is not lruc that he wants the addition only to enlarge his master suite. He presented the ZBA with the first version of the plans for the addition and pointed out that the elevations were less attractive than the current proposal and that the fourth bedroom is smaller than his existing bedrooms. He stated that adding four feet to the rear of the. house is Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA-36-g '~: Arlene Juracek, Chairperson Page 2 complicated by the location of existing bathrooms and their associated plumbing and that such an addition would need a lot of pier support. Mr. Flores asked Mr. Weglarz if he was a builder. Mr. Weglarz said he was not a builder but had been in home remodeling years ago. He said he isjnst a homeowner who would do some of the work he could and hire people to do the rest. He said when he purchased the home he asked the Village ifhe could add to it and was told yes. Mr. Flores asked the approximate cost of the planned addition. Mr; Weglarz said it would cost about $130,000, as much as he paid for the house three years ago, but that that cost estimate included an additional bathroom that had since been eliminated from the plans. Ms. Luxem asked if the drawings he had just presented to the ZBA were the current drawings. Mr. Weglarz said no, they were an earlier version of the design. Ms. Luxem asked if bedrooms four and five extend out. Mr. Perkins responded that the four-foot encroachment in question consists entirely of the master bedroom, bedroom four encroaches two feet beyond the front building line, and the front wall of bedroom three is the existing wall of the house. Ms. Luxem said they had approved open porehas extending into the front setback but this would be second floor living area. Mr. Perkins said this request was for a Variation rather than a Conditional Use because this would be living area encroaching into the setback and by virtue of granting this Variation the front porch could later be enclosed to use as living area, too. Mr. Weglarz said he has no intention of enclosing the front porch. Ms. Luxem noted, that future owners could. Ms. Luxem asked about going further in back with the addition but Mr. Weglarz said it would be difficult because t! : beams would interfere with stairs to the second floor. · ~ Mr. Rogers said the revised plans are better than the original but extending over the front setback could set an unwanted precedent. Mr. Weglmz responded other houses have overhangs an~J~ front porcbes; he mentioned a house on Fern that was granted a Variation last year. Mr. Perkins said the Village Board approved a Conditional Use for a home on Birch Drive to permit the front porch to encroach into the front setback; the house was setback 32' and the overhang went to the front setback line and the porch encroached into the front setback. Ms. Luxem said she did not remember a Case where the ZBA approved a Variatiofi to permit living space to encroach into the front setback. Elizabeth Luxem made a motion to grant approval for a VaCation to allow an addition to a single-family residence to encroach 4' into a front yard setback. Leo Flores seconded the motion. At 8:40, Acting Chairperson Richard Rogers closed the Public Hearing and asked for discussion from the Board. Keith Youngquist said the architect for the proposed addition had done a marvelous job but front setbacks were a very sensitive issue in Mount Prospect. He said he would not be able to support this plan, as the encroachment into the front setback would affect the neighbo..thood. He suggested that the architect work on a plan to put the addition to the rear of the house. Mr, Flores said he would echo Mr. Youngquisfs statement. He stated that, although he is ~.sually supportive of most such requests, he agreed that this request would have a negative effect on the neighborhood and encouraged the petitioner to work with the architect to modify the plan. Mr. Rogers also agreed that the architect had done an excellent job with the plans but noted that front setbacks we. _. sacrosanct in Mount prospect. He urged the owner to come back with revised plans. Ms. Luxem suggested shix°dng the master bedroom. UPON ROLL CALL: - AYES: None oning Board of Appeals ZBA-36-99 Arlene Juraeek, Chairperson Page 3 Motion was denied 5-0. At 8:45 p.m., Keith Youngquist made motion to adjourn, seconded by Elizabeth Luxem. Meeting was adjourned. Barbara Swiatek, Planning Secretary