Chambana Sun

The city of Urbana Zoning Board of Appeals met June 15 to hear a variance request for a garage at 1009 S. Douglas Ave. 

"The Zoning Board of Appeals has the power and duty to hear and decide all matters referred to it by the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, including conditional use requests and variances due to a hardship being created by strict interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance. Variances to be decided by the Zoning Board include the reduction of front yard depth or side yard width, rear yard reduction, building height increases, use of undersized lots, decrease in open space, decrease in parking requirements, and increase in maximum sign area. Members serve a 5-year term."

Here's the meeting's agenda, as provided by the city:

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

URBANA ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

DATE: June 15, 2016

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

PLACE: City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801

MEMBERS PRESENT Joanne Chester, Matt Cho, Ashlee McLaughlin, Charles Warmbrunn, Jonah Weisskopf

MEMBERS EXCUSED Nancy Uchtmann, Harvey Welch

STAFF PRESENT Lorrie Pearson, Planning Manager; Kevin Garcia, Planner II; Teri Andel, Administrative Assistant II

OTHERS PRESENT Jennifer Hansen, Susan Taylor

NOTE: Ms. Chester moved that Charles Warmbrunn serve as Acting Chairperson in the absence of Mr. Welch. Ms. McLaughlin seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote.

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM

Acting Chairperson Warmbrunn called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Roll call was taken, and he declared that there was a quorum of the members present.

2. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

There were none.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The minutes from the April 20, 2016 regular meeting were presented for approval. Mr. Cho moved to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Weisskopf seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote as written.

4. COMMUNICATIONS

There were none.

5. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS

There were none.

NOTE: Acting Chair Warmbrunn swore in members of the audience who indicated that they may give testimony during the public hearing.

6. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS

ZBA-2016-MIN-01 – A request by Brendan Harley and Katherine Clancy for a Minor Variance to construct a garage extension that encroaches no more than one foot, three inches into the required five foot side-yard at 1009 South Douglas Avenue in the R-2, Single-Family Residential Zoning District.

Acting Chair Warmbrunn opened the public hearing for this case.

Kevin Garcia, Planner II, presented this case to the Zoning Board of Appeals. He began by stating the purpose for the proposed variance. He gave a brief description of the proposed site and of the surrounding properties. He reviewed the variance criteria from Section XI-3 of the Urbana Zoning Ordinance that pertained to the proposed variance. He read the options of the Zoning Board of Appeals and presented City staff’s recommendation for approval. He noted that although the petitioner is out-of-town, their contractor was available to answer questions.

Acting Chair Warmbrunn asked if the Zoning Board of Appeals members had any questions for City staff. With there being none, he opened the hearing for public input.

Susan Taylor approached the Zoning Board of Appeals to speak. She stated that the proposed variance makes sense and does not appear that the extension of the garage would disturb anyone or anything. She expressed concern about the two houses to the south being for sale. She wondered what was happening in the neighborhood. Acting Chair Warmbrunn stated that he did not know that the Zoning Board of Appeals could address her concern.

With no further comments or questions, Acting Chair Warmbrunn closed the public input portion of the hearing. He, then, opened it for discussion and/or motion(s) by the Board members.

Mr. Cho moved that the Zoning Board of Appeals approve Case No. ZBA-2016-MIN-01 as recommended by City staff. Ms. McLaughlin seconded the motion. Roll call was as follows on the motion:

Mr. Cho - Yes

Mr. Warmbrunn - Yes

Ms. Chester - Yes

Ms. McLaughlin - Yes

Mr. Weisskopf - Yes

The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

7. OLD BUSINESS

There was none.

8. NEW BUSINESS

There was none.

9. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

There was none.

10. STAFF REPORT

There was none.

11. STUDY SESSION

There was none.

NOTE: Mr. Cho commented on the Citizen Planner’s Workshop that he attended. He recommended that it be required of all commissioners and appointed officials. It explained the role of the commissioners/board members.

12. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

Acting Chair Warmbrunn adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lorrie Pearson, AICP

Planning Manager

Secretary, Urbana Zoning Board of Appeals