Village of Lombard Legistar System

The petitioner, James Colby, owner of the subject property, stated that they are

proposing to expand their house to include a kitchen addition. The proposed addition

will meet the Village's side yard setback provisions but as the lot is only 83 feet deep,

relief to their rear yard is required. In addition to referencing the site plan for the

property, they also provided concept architectural plans depicting the proposed

improvements to the house. The addition will not further decrease the setback on the

property - the house will remain thirteen feet off the rear property line. He noted that he

tried to keep the architectural flavor of the house and of the neighborhood.

They noted that the back portion of the property is now owned by St. John's Church and

School. Their lot was created as part of a resubdivision of the back of their lot.

Vice Chairperson Polley then opened the meeting for public comment. Speaking in

favor of the petition was Mary Anstee, 219 West Maple. She lives due west of the

property. She has reviewed their plans and supports their request.

No one spoke in opposition to the petition. Vice Chairperson Polley then requested the

staff report.

William Heniff, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. He noted the petitioner plans

to construct a kitchen addition to her home, which currently is approximately thirteen

feet from the rear property line. In the R2 District, the Zoning Ordinance requires a rear

yard setback of 35 feet. No variations have been previously granted for this property,

making it legal nonconforming. Because the proposed addition would increase the

degree of the existing nonconformity, a variation is requested.

Mr. Heniff then discussed the zoning aspects of the petition. At the time the petitioner's

house was built on this property in 1922 the lot was 82.68 feet wide and 184.8 feet

deep. In 1933, a second house was built to the east on the same lot. In 1982, the

property was split into two square-shaped lots as part of St. John's Resubdivision.

There are unique physical limitations on the property in that there is no practical way for

the petitioners to meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. Without the

requested relief, the property owner would not be able to make any additions to the

property or rebuild the current home in the event it were destroyed or damaged more

than 50% of its value.

The requested relief is not needed due to the actions of anyone presently having an

interest in the property as the petitioners purchased their home approximately 14 years

after the property was subdivided. The proposed addition will not extend any closer to

the rear property line than the existing house, so there should be little (if any) impact on

adjacent properties. Furthermore, this approximately 78-square foot addition will not

alter the essential character of the neighborhood.

Staff recommends approval of the requested relief. He also noted that if the ZBA was to

consider approval of the petition that they should add a condition that ties the petition to

the plans prepared for and submitted at the meeting.

Vice Chairperson Polley then opened the meeting for discussion and questions by the

Board Members.

Mr. Young felt that the requested relief was largely a housekeeping issue. He then

inquired about the existing front porch on the property. Mr. Heniff stated that roofed

over, front porches are permitted encroachments of up to five feet into the front yard.

The petitioner's residence meets the Village's front yard setback requirements.