Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
Regular MeetingUrbana, IL · October 20, 2021
Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
URBANA ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
DATE: October 20, 2021 APPROVED
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Zoom Webinar
_______________________________________________________________________________
MEMBERS ATTENDING Joanne Chester, Ashlee McLaughlin, Nancy Uchtmann
REMOTELY:
MEMBERS ATTENDING Harvey Welch
IN PERSON:
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Matt Cho, Adam Rusch, Charles Warmbrunn
STAFF PRESENT: Marcus Ricci, Planner II; Katherine Trotter, Planner I; UPTV
Camera Operator
OTHERS PRESENT: Robert Wease
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM
Chair Welch called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Roll call was taken, and he declared a
quorum of the members present.
2. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were none.
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes from the September 15, 2021 regular meeting were presented for approval. Ms.
Chester moved that the Zoning Board of Appeals approve the minutes as written. Ms. Uchtmann
seconded the motion. Roll call on the motion was as follows:
Ms. McLaughlin - Yes Ms. Uchtmann - Yes
Mr. Welch - Yes Ms. Chester - Yes
The minutes of the September 15, 2021 regular meeting were approved as written.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
Email from Judy Gillespie regarding Case No. ZBA-2021-MAJ-07
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October 20, 2021
5. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were none.
6. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
ZBA-2021-MAJ-07: A request by Robert Wease for a major variance to allow an accessory
parking space in the required 25-foot front yard at 1005 Philo Road in the R-3, Single and
Two-Family Residential Zoning District.
Chair Welch opened the public hearing for Case No. ZBA-2021-MAJ-07. Kat Trotter, Planner I,
introduced the case by stating the purpose for the proposed request, which is to allow an
accessory parking space to be paved in the required front yard. She noted the location and gave
a brief description of the subject property. She stated the zoning of the property and of
surrounding properties. She discussed the proposed accessory parking space and pointed out that
11 of the 16 properties on this block of Philo Road have access to either the rear or side yard, of
which 10 have parking in the rear or side yard. She said three of the five properties that do not
have access or parking in either the rear or side yard have illegally non-conforming accessory
parking in their front yard. She reviewed some of the criteria from Section XI-3 of the Urbana
Zoning Ordinance and summarized staff findings. She read the options of the Zoning Board of
Appeals and presented staff’s recommendation for approval with the following conditions:
1. The accessory parking space will generally conform to the submitted site plan, as
shown in Exhibit C of the staff report.
2. The access drive, apron and driveway will be paved with an approved surface and
meet the City of Urbana right-of-way standards, subject to Public Works approval.
She stated that the applicant was available to answer questions.
Chair Welch asked if any members of the Zoning Board of Appeals had questions for City staff.
With there being no questions for City staff from the Board members, Chair Welch opened the
hearing for public input. He invited the applicant to speak.
Robert Wease, applicant, stated that he has no other way to put in additional parking.
Ms. Uchtmann asked if the additional space would be for a turn-around or would an additional
vehicle be parked there. Mr. Wease replied that he does not plan to park one of his vehicles in
the space; however, he has three children and they could use the space to park when they come
to visit. He stated that it is a safety issue because it can be difficult to exit his driveway. The
additional space would make it easier.
With there being no further input from the audience, Chair Welch closed the public input portion
of the hearing and opened the hearing for discussion and/or motion(s) by the Zoning Board of
Appeals.
Ms. McLaughlin moved that the Zoning Board of Appeals forward Case No. ZBA-2021-MAJ-07
to the Urbana City Council with a recommendation for approval with the following conditions:
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October 20, 2021
1. The accessory parking space will generally conform to the submitted site plan, as
shown in Exhibit C of the staff report.
2. The access drive, apron and driveway will be paved with an approved surface and
meet the City of Urbana right-of-way standards, subject to Public Works approval.
Ms. Uchtmann seconded the motion. Roll call on the motion was as follows:
Mr. Welch - Yes Ms. Chester - Yes
Ms. McLaughlin . Yes Ms. Uchtmann - Yes
The motion passed by unanimous vote. Ms. Trotter stated that this case would be forward to the
Urbana City Council on November 8, 2021.
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.
12. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
Chair Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Garcia, AICP
Principal Planner and Zoning Administrator
Secretary, Urbana Zoning Board of Appeals
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Agenda
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING
DATE: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
TIME: 7 :00 P.M.
PLACE: Urbana City Council Chambers - Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held
via Zoom Webinar
AGENDA
1. Call to Order, Roll Call & Declaration of Quorum
2. Changes to the Agenda
3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes from the September 15, 2021 Regular Meeting
4. Communications
5. Continued Public Hearings
6. New Public Hearings
ZBA-2021-MAJ-07: A request by Robert Wease for a major variance to allow an
accessory parking space in the required 25-foot front yard at 1005 Philo Road in the R-3,
Single and Two-Family Residential Zoning District.
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Audience Participation
10. Staff Report
11. Study Session
12. Adjournment
NOTE: Please note that the details of a request or application related to an agenda item may
change during the public review process. For example, a Major Variance case may be revised to
require only a Minor Variance, which may be approved by the ZBA.
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact staff at (217)
384-2440 or email Planning@urbanaillinois.us.
October 20, 2021
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO JOIN THE MEETING and HOW TO PROVIDE INPUT
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting on Wednesday, October 20 2021
Anyone can watch the meeting on streaming services or UPTV. You can attend virtually via
Zoom webinar if you wish to provide public input during the meeting. If you attend the
meeting via Zoom webinar, please turn off any sound from other sources such as UPTV, as
there will be a lag in the audio. The meeting will be recorded by the City as part of the record.
The recorded video will be available on the City's website by noon on the following Friday.
Providing Public Input by Email:
Staff asks that you submit your written public comments by email by 5:00 pm (Central Time) on
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 to Planning@urbanaillinois.us so that it can be included as
communications and become part of the official record of the meeting. Due to the high volume
of emails, please put ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - PUBLIC INPUT and the meeting date in the
subject line.
Providing Public Input from a computer browser or the Zoom app on a mobile device:
You will be able to use a phone to call in:
• Call 1-312-626-6799.
• You will be asked to enter the Webinar ID number, which is 856 0730 2970 followed by
the # key.
• All callers are muted by default. If you wish to speak, please "raise your hand" by
pressing *9 once (this toggles the raise/lower hand option. When called on by the
chair or host by your phone number, you will be unmuted and you should state your
name for the record per city code*. When you finish speaking, the host will "lower
your hand" and mute you - there is no need to press any more buttons.
You will be able to use a computer to address the Zoning Board of Appeals:
• Join the Zoom meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85607302970
• Make sure you have a microphone on your computer if you wish to speak. Please
identify yourself with first and last name in Zoom for the record. FCC Guidelines will be
followed.
• Public participants will be muted during public input. If you wish to speak, please "raise
your hand" using the option at the bottom of the screen.
• When called on by the chair or host, you will be unmuted and you should state your
first and last name for the record per city code."
• Video will remain off for all members of the public, even while they are speaking.
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact staff at (217)
384-2440 or email Planning@urbanaillinois.us.
October 20, 2021
PUBLIC INPUT
The City of Urbana welcomes Public Input during open meetings of the City Council, the City
Council’s Committee of the Whole, City Boards and Commissions and other City-sponsored
meetings. Our goal is to foster respect for the meeting process, and respect for all people
participating as members of the public body, city staff, and general public. The City is required
to conduct all business during public meetings. The presiding officer is responsible for
conducting those meetings in an orderly and efficient manner.
Public Input will be taken in the following ways:
Zoom Webinar Participant
Click on the link listed in the agenda to join the Webinar. You must provide your name and
email address in order to join the Webinar. If you wish to speak during Public Input, “raise your
hand” and wait to be called on by the meeting host. You must state your first and last name for
the meeting record. Participants will be muted except when they are called on to speak; video
will remain off for all members of the public when speaking.
Telephone Participant
Call the phone number listed on the Agenda. Enter the Webinar ID followed by the # key. All
callers are muted by default. If you wish to speak, “raise your hand” by pressing *9 once. When
you are called on by the host or presiding officer, you will be un-muted. You must state your
first name and last name for the meeting record.
Email Input
Public comments must be received prior to the closing of the meeting record (at the time of
adjournment unless otherwise noted) at the following: Planning@urbanaillinois.us. The subject
line of the email must include the words “PUBLIC INPUT” and the meeting date. Emailed public
comments labeled as such will be incorporated into the public meeting record, with personal
identifying information redacted. Copies of emails will be posted after the meeting minutes
have been approved.
Written Input
Any member of the public may submit their comments addressed to the members of the public
body in writing. If a person wishes their written comments to be included in the record of Public
Input for the meeting, the writing should so state. Written comments must be received prior to
the closing of the meeting record (at the time of adjournment unless otherwise noted).
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact staff at (217)
384-2440 or email Planning@urbanaillinois.us.
October 20, 2021
Verbal Input
Protocol for Public Input is one of respect for the process of addressing the business of the City.
Obscene or profane language, or other conduct that threatens to impede the orderly progress
of the business conducted at the meeting is unacceptable.
Public comment shall be limited to no more than four (4) minutes per person. The Public Input
portion of the meeting shall total no more than one (1) hour, unless otherwise shortened or
extended by majority vote of the public body members present. The presiding officer or the city
clerk or their designee, shall monitor each speaker's use of time and shall notify the speaker
when the allotted time has expired. A person may participate and provide Public Input once
during a meeting and may not cede time to another person, or split their time if Public Input is
held at two (2) or more different times during a meeting. The presiding officer may give priority
to those persons who indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item upon which a vote will be
taken.
The presiding officer or public body members shall not enter into a dialogue with citizens.
Questions from the public body members shall be for clarification purposes only. Public Input
shall not be used as a time for problem solving or reacting to comments made but, rather, for
hearing citizens for informational purposes only.
In order to maintain the efficient and orderly conduct and progress of the public meeting, the
presiding officer of the meeting shall have the authority to raise a point of order and provide a
verbal warning to a speaker who engages in the conduct or behavior proscribed under “Verbal
Input”. Any member of the public body participating in the meeting may also raise a point of
order with the presiding officer and request that they provide a verbal warning to a speaker. If
the speaker refuses to cease such conduct or behavior after being warned by the presiding
officer, the presiding officer shall have the authority to mute the speaker’s microphone and/or
video presence at the meeting. The presiding officer will inform the speaker that they may
send the remainder of their remarks via e-mail to the public body for inclusion in the meeting
record.
Accommodation
If an accommodation is needed to participate in a City meeting, please contact the Planning
Division staff at least 48 hours in advance so that special arrangements can be made using one
of the following methods:
• Phone: 217.384.2440
• Email: Planning@urbanaillinois.us
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact staff at (217)
384-2440 or email Planning@urbanaillinois.us.
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