La Grange Illinois 2/21/2019 Zoning Board of Appeals (Audio Only)

This video records the La Grange, Illinois Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held on February 21, 2019. The primary business of the meeting was to address a variance request for a property at 315 East Franklin Avenue (Case #626). Key Highlights of the Meeting: The Issue: The homeowner, DeAndre Alexander, requested a variance for a front yard setback. During the construction of his new single-family home, a measurement error by his contractor resulted in the foundation being placed closer to the street than the code-mandated 25 feet (the house was set back at approximately 21.92 feet instead of 25 feet) (03:17 - 06:47). The Process: Staff explained that the error was discovered after the foundation was poured and framing had begun. Because the bay window was built with a foundation, it could not be considered a cantilevered encroachment, which would have been permitted (06:05 - 06:47). Testimonies: Several neighbors and local residents spoke in support of the homeowner, noting that the house is a beautiful addition to the neighborhood, the setback difference is not visually apparent, and that the error was a mistake made by the contractor, not an intentional violation by the family (22:22 - 28:58). Deliberations: The Board debated the necessity of the variance, considering the impracticality and high cost of tearing down or modifying the existing foundation. They emphasized that this decision should not set a precedent for future cases but acknowledged the unique circumstances of this specific construction error (48:15 - 56:09). Outcome: The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval of the variance for the 21.92-foot front yard setback. The case was scheduled to proceed to the full Village Board on March 11, 2019, for a final decision (57:24 - 58:44).