Planning & Zoning Board

August 9, 2016 WHEATON PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE Chair Weller called the August 9, 2016 Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley Street. Upon roll call, the following were: Roll Call Vote Present: Ron Almiron Nicole Aranas Chris Derrick Bob Gudmundson Scott Weller Absent: Mark Plunkett Dan Wanzung City Staff Present: Tracy Jones, Staff Planner II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 26, 2016 The minutes were approved as submitted. III. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none. IV. NEW BUSINESS ZA #16-15/ FRONT YARD SETBACK VARIATION/ 122 WEST MADISON AVENUE/ STRNAD Pursuant to notice duly published on July 22, 2016 and letters mailed to neighboring property owners on July 20, 2016, Chair Weller called to order the August 9, 2016 public hearing requesting a variation to Article 9.2.5 of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance to allow the construction and use of a two-story addition and covered front porch on the property located at 122 West Madison Avenue with a front yard setback of 35.25 feet in lieu of the required 46.88 feet. Scott Strnad, 122 West Madison Avenue, Wheaton was sworn in. Mr. Strnad stated that the subject property is located on the south side of Madison Avenue between Wheaton Avenue and Main Street. The site is improved with an existing two-story single-family home built in 1925 and a detached garage. The subject property is zoned R-3 Residential and is also located in the Northside Residential Overlay District. He added that they purchased the property in 2011 and would like to expand the home to accommodate their growing family. Mr. Strnad stated that they are requesting a front yard setback variation to allow the construction and use of a two-story addition and covered front porch on the subject property. The two-story addition would be located on the north side of the existing home and would measure 37.0 feet wide by 15.0 feet deep. The addition would accommodate a new dining room and office on the first floor and a master suite on the second floor. The covered porch would be located on the north side of the proposed two-story addition and would measure 9.0 feet wide by 3.0 feet deep. Mr. Strand stated that the front yard setback of the adjacent home to the west is 55.0 feet and the front yard setback of the adjacent home to the east is 39.75 feet. These setbacks are averaged to determine the required front yard setback of 46.88 feet for the proposed two-story addition. Since the property in located in the  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board August 9, 2016 Page - 2 - of 3 northside residential overlay district, the covered front porch is allowed to encroach up to 8.0 feet into the required front yard setback of 46.88 feet or have a front yard setback of 38.88 feet. The applicant is requesting a front yard setback of 38.25 feet for the two-story addition and 35.25 feet for the covered front porch. Staff Planner Jones stated that many of the existing homes on this block of Madison Avenue have smaller front yard setbacks then what is requested. While a front yard setback variation is required based on the average setbacks of the adjacent two homes, staff feels the proposed front yard setback of the two-story addition and covered front porch would be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. Mr. Strnad addressed the variation standards as required by the Zoning Ordinance. He stated that the proposed variation would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience or general welfare of the neighboring property owners. Mr. Almiron questioned whether the exterior brick for the addition would match the existing exterior house brick. Kathleen Strnad, 122 West Madison Avenue, Wheaton was sworn in. Ms. Strnad stated that they would make every effort to match the existing exterior house brick including contacting material salvage yards in the local area. Chair Weller questioned whether the variation request had been discussed with the adjacent neighbors. Ms. Strnad stated that while they haven’t discussed the variation request specifically, they have a friendly relationship with their adjacent neighbors. She added that if the neighbors had a problem with the request, they would have mentioned it to them. Mr. Gudmundson moved and then Mr. Derrick seconded the motion to close the public hearing. On a voice vote, all voted aye. The Board decided to vote this evening. Mr. Derrick moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to approve ZA #16-15 as presented. Roll Call Vote Ayes: Ron Almiron Nicole Aranas Chris Derrick Bob Gudmundson Scott Weller Nays: None Absent: Mark Plunkett Dan Wanzung Motion Passed Unanimously V. MISCELLANEOUS There was none.  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board August 9, 2016 Page - 3 - of 3 VI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Derrick moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. On a voice vote, all voted aye. Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Jones, Staff Planner