Zoning Administrator

Regular Meeting

Winnetka, IL · December 12, 2022

Minutes

1 ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 2 DECEMBER 12, 2022 MEETING MINUTES 3 4 Village Staff: David Schoon, Director of Community Development 5 Ann Klaassen, Assistant Director of Community Development 6 7 Call to Order: 8 Mr. Schoon called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 9 10 Public Comment: 11 No comments were made at this time. 12 13 New Application: 14 a. Case No. 22-28-ZA - 742 Pine Street: An application submitted by Heidi Thornton seeking 15 approval of a variation to allow replacement of the existing legally nonconforming attached garage with 16 a one-story addition to the existing residence at 742 Pine Street that would provide less than the 17 minimum required front yard setback. The Zoning Administrator has final jurisdiction on this request. 18 Mr. Schoon stated he reviewed the materials and asked the applicant to provide a summary. Tom Hickman 19 identified the home’s front yard to the west which is nonconforming and noted the property is otherwise 20 conforming. He then identified the garage’s current location which he described as problematically 21 located on the irregular site. Mr. Hickman stated the garage addition was built in 1944 on the site’s only 22 flat location which resulted in the driveway exiting into a dangerous situation. He described the driveway’s 23 proximity and difficulty in terms of exiting onto surrounding streets. Mr. Hickman then stated the garage 24 would be moved to the other side of the site which required it to be tucked down into the basement and 25 would result in the garage door not being visible from the front yard. He stated the garage would result 26 in the property becoming more compliant and described the proposed garage’s siting, the proposed 27 addition and deck which would improve the home’s appearance. Mr. Hickman then described how the 28 kitchen would be moved which would also improve the home’s circulation and views and asked if there 29 were any questions. Heidi Thornton added she is excited to get started on the project. 30 31 Mr. Schoon noted there is no one from the public in attendance to comment on the application and no 32 correspondence was received. He then stated after reviewing the applicant’s response to the standards 33 and plans, he found that the variation request is consistent with the standards for granting a variation and 34 approved the request. 35 36 Adjournment: 37 The meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m. 38 39 Respectfully submitted, 40 41 Antionette Johnson 42 Recording Secretary

Agenda

Village of Winnetka Zoning Administrator Meeting December 12, 2022 at 4:00 PM Village Hall - 510 Green Bay Road AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments 3. New Applications a. Case No. 22-28-ZA - 742 Pine Street: An application submitted by Heidi Thornton seeking approval of a variation to allow replacement of the existing legally nonconforming attached garage with a one-story addition to the existing residence at 742 Pine Street that would provide less than the minimum required front yard setback. The Zoning Administrator has final jurisdiction on this request. 4. Adjournment NOTICE Public comment is permitted on all agenda items at the meeting. If you wish to provide testimony or comments prior to the meeting, you may provide them one of two ways: (1) by sending an email to planning@winnetka.org; or by sending a letter to Community Development, Village of Winnetka, 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093. All agenda materials are available at www.villageofwinnetka.org/agendacenter. The Village of Winnetka, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities, who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities contact the Village ADA Coordinator at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093, (Telephone (847) 716-3543; T.D.D. (847) 501-6041).

Packet

NOTICE OF WINNETKA ZONING ADMINISTRATOR PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Winnetka Zoning Administrator on MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022, AT 4:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Winnetka Village Hall at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois for the purpose of considering the following: CASE NO. 22-28-ZA 742 PINE STREET – ALTERATONS TO RESIDENCE An application submitted by Heidi Thornton (the “Applicant”), as the owner of the property located at 742 Pine Street (the “Subject Property”), to allow replacement of the existing legally nonconforming attached garage with a one-story addition to the existing residence on the Subject Property. The Applicant has filed an application seeking the following variation from the Zoning Ordinance: 1. A variation to provide less than the minimum required front yard setback of 30 feet from Lincoln Avenue. The Subject Property (Parcel Index Number 05-17-418-001-0000) is generally located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lincoln and Prospect Avenues with Pine Street and is zoned R-5 Single Family Residential. The Subject Property contains an existing two-story residence with an attached garage. SPECIAL NOTICE Due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, and the possibility that an Executive Order of the Governor, an Emergency Order of the Village President, a determination made by the Zoning Administrator, or other government order or law may prohibit or make it more difficult for the public hearing to be held at the Winnetka Village Hall, the Winnetka Zoning Administrator meeting may be held virtually on December 12, 2022, via Zoom. If you wish to provide testimony or comments prior to the meeting, you may provide them one of two ways: 1) By sending an email to planning@winnetka.org; or 2) By sending a letter to Community Development, Village of Winnetka, 510 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093. No further notice of this hearing, or of its location or manner in which it will be conducted, will be provided. Information regarding the location of the public hearing and any changes to instructions for participating in the public hearing will be included on the meeting agenda posted on the Village’s website - www.villageofwinnetka.org/agendacenter - no later than Thursday, December 8, 2022. Please contact the Community Development Department at 847-716-3525 for confirmation of the meeting location. At said public hearing and at any adjournment thereof, all persons interested are invited to attend and be heard. Persons seeking additional information concerning any of the applications or requesting alternative means to provide testimony or public comment are directed to email inquiries to planning@winnetka.org or by calling 847-716-3525. The Village of Winnetka, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities, who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting facilities, contact the Village ADA Coordinator at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093 [Telephone: (847) 716-3543; T.T.Y.: (847) 501-6041. Subject Property Proposed Proposed Addition Addition in Requiring Zoning Compliance Variation with Zoning Excerpts of Proposed Site Plan and Front Elevation (Note: Details may change through review process.) 22-28-ZA Attachment to Minor Zoning Variation Request 742 Pine Street October 25, 2022 Explanation of Minor Variation Requested: The applicant, Heidi Thornton, purchased the home at 742 Pine Street in early 2022 with the intent to renovate and modify it to be the principal residence for herself and her family. A first review of her permit application has been conducted and is the basis for requesting the minor variation. The home is a vintage (1929) center‐entry stucco and Tudor “pre FAR” structure on an irregularly shaped corner lot. An addition of an attached garage was made on the northwest corner of the home in 1944 and was apparently zoning code‐compliant at the time it was made. By the current ordinance, the home is non‐compliant with “front setback” restrictions on its west side, although the true front of the home faces directly north to Pine Street. Per the current zoning code the front setback (which is actually occupied by the side of the home) calls for 30’ because the homes on Lincoln Avenue south of the subject home face Lincoln Avenue and have a 30’ setback requirement. The West Elevation of the subject home, per the survey on file at time of purchase shows that the residence’s west facade is set back 24.39’ from the West property line at its closest point. The need for the minor variance request results from a proposed modification to the northwest corner of the home. To be clear, no further encroachment into the setback is being proposed as part of Ms. Thornton’s pending application for a building permit or as part of this variance request. In fact the portion of the west side that is proposed to change is actually proposed to be pulled back slightly further from the west property line and modified to shorten the extension of the non‐ compliance to the north. So, as proposed, the renovated home will be less non‐compliant than it is today. The minor variance request is required because the proposed change goes beyond “routine maintenance.” At the same time it substantially reduces the area of non‐compliance and converts it’s use from a garage into an attractive architectural feature. This aesthetic point is important. 742 Pine Street is an irregular 3‐sided site fronting on both Pine Street and Lincoln Avenue with its 3rd side an interior lot line in common with its residential neighbors to the south. When approached from the north it is in a visually prominent location at the confluence of three streets (Pine, Prospect and Lincoln). The site is occupied by a stately existing home, but one where, due to an unfortunate decision in the past, the attached garage is the feature that occupies its most prominent point. It is a point that begs to be occupied by a strong architectural feature – not a garage. Instead of highlighting the architecture of the otherwise stately home at this highly visible site, it showcases its garage door with a driveway that backs out virtually at the intersection of Pine Street, Lincoln Avenue and Prospect Avenue. It is visually disappointing and, even more importantly, an unsafe location to be backing into traffic. Because of all that, when the Applicant bought the home to renovate it, one of the first decisions made was to relocate the Garage and Kitchen functions to the opposite (east) side of the home primarily for safety and ease of vehicle movement onto and off of the site. And, rather than eliminating the volume and space taken up by the existing garage the Applicant’s vision was to retain it while transforming it into an elegant architectural feature that would enhance the elevation and act as a counterpoint on the west to the architecturally similar addition on the east. From a zoning perspective, the proposed modifications to the garage reduce its size and bulk (and thus, its degree of non‐conformance) while making it a more appropriate aesthetic feature on the most prominent corner of the site. In transforming it from a garage It should be noted that many of the defining rules of the residential zoning ordinance clearly are articulated specifically to minimize and reduce the prominence of garage fronts when homes are viewed from the street. So the proposed modification is very much in keeping with one of the clear intents of the current residential zoning rules. The strict application of the provisions of the zoning ordinance result in a particular hardship to the applicant in this case because although the nonconforming portion of the home is considered a “legal nonconformance” it is occupied by a function that is not currently in a safe location and is aesthetically inappropriate. It simply doesn’t make sense in its current location. By limiting any proposed modification to routine maintenance only, it requires that its function remain the same and deprives the applicant of the opportunity to use this space for an appropriate functional (and aesthetically more satisfying) purpose. As proposed, the modifications to the function of the spaces on the west side of the home enable the applicant to develop a first floor Owner Suite (which does not exist now) that may be occupied either by her or by another family member requiring single level living inside the home. So it adds a valuable feature to the home Accordingly: 1. The property in question cannot yield a reasonable return if permitted to be used only under the conditions allowed by regulations in this zone, because requiring that changes to the space in question can only be for routine maintenance, renders the space to be limited to (what amounts to) an attached storage shed since it is not an appropriate or safe location for ingress to and egress from a garage. 2. The plight of the homeowner is due to unique circumstances, namely the past placement of the existing garage in a non‐functional location, most likely due to the irregular shape of the lot, the past differences in the zoning code and the pre‐ existing placement of the main structure of the home. 3. The variation, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. On the contrary, it will enhance and reinforce the essential character of the locality by making the home more attractive from the street. 4. An adequate supply of light and air will be unaffected since there will be no change that will reduce or negatively alter the supply of light and air. 5. The hazard from fire and other damages to the property will not be increased. Again to the contrary – due to the relocation of the driveway – hazard will be reduced. 6. If the variation is allowed, the taxable value of the developed property will not be diminished and it will not affect the taxable value of other property within the Village. Rather it will be enhanced. 7. There will be no negative impact to congestion in the public street as the variation, if granted, will result in reduced congestion and greater safety at the street. 8. The public health, safety, comfort, morals and welfare of the inhabitants of the Village will not be otherwise impaired or impacted by the granting of this variance. For the reasons stated above, the applicant, Heidi Thornton, hereby requests that the Village of Winnetka grant the requested minor variance to allow the proposed modifications to the interior function and appearance of the legal non‐conforming portion of the northwest corner of the home. Your consideration and cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Thomas Hickman Architect of Record 742 Pine Street North Building Elevation (Pine Street) COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 TITLE SHEET - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 EXIST'G / DEMO PLANS - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 EXISTING SITE PLAN - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Roof Plan - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Exterior Elevations - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Elevations and Roof Plan - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Foundation Plan - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 BASEMENT PLAN - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 First Floor Plan - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Second Floor Plan - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 1st & 2nd Floor Electrical Plans - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Building Sections - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 Wall Sections - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 DETAILS - - - -- COPYRIGHT c 2019 NO. DATE BY ISSUED FOR Design Firm License # 184.006073 DATE: DRAWN: THORNTON RESIDENCE 01 08/22/22 TH PERMIT APPLICATION Sheet No. CHECKED: PROJECT NO. ADDITION - REMODELING 02 10/17/22 TH RESPONSE TO 10/4 REVIEW 03 11-29-22 TH RESP TO 11-29 ZONING COM. -- -- 742 PINE STREET - - - -- THOMAS L. HICKMAN TONY MEYERS T.H. T.H. 5/31/22 - - - -- ARCHITECT Winnetka, Illinois LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WINNETKA, ILLINOIS 60093 - - - -- PH: (847) 772-8443 PH: (239) 839-1855 MECHANICAL PLANS - - - --