Land commission approves lawn-care business CUP with salt-bunker conditions in wellhead-protection zone

The Village of Weston Plan Commission on Nov. 11 approved a conditional use permit (Project 20240353) for Benjamin (Ben) Kudronowicz, doing business as Kudronowicz Lawn Care LLC, to operate a lawn- and landscape-maintenance business and to store deicing salt at 5906 Hillgeman Street. The property is in the B-3 General Business district and lies inside a Wellhead Protection Overlay District, where outdoor salt storage requires a conditional-use review.

Ben Kudronowicz told the commission he plans to lease roughly 1,000 square feet of a 6,000-square-foot commercial building and run a lawn/landscape and snow-removal business. He said operational hours are “7 to 7,” Monday through Friday, with additional hours when snow removal is needed. The business would store salt in a proposed bunker; Kudronowicz said the bunker will be lined in asphalt and accessed by loaders for filling.

Staff and commission members focused discussion on potential impacts to groundwater because the site sits within a wellhead-protection zone. Staff said Kudronowicz had worked with municipal staff on proposed construction specifications for the salt bunker; building and public-works staff described requirements including a permanent roof, sealed/asphalt-lined floor, and maintenance expectations. Construction details discussed included a mono-pitch steel or framed roof (roof slope and structure discussed) and annual sealing and crack repair of the asphalt liner.

Commissioners and staff raised operational controls. Roy (questioner) and other speakers asked whether the village could require reinspection or maintenance over time. Staff said occupancy and change-of-ownership events require permits and that those permit inspections provide an opportunity to review maintenance practices; staff also noted existing annual inspection programs apply to other businesses in wellhead zones. The commission discussed adding a requirement for annual inspections and photographic documentation, to be submitted to village staff, and adding doors to the bunker so it would be fully enclosed when not in use.

Commissioner Gurn moved to approve the conditional use permit with conditions requiring the applicant to enclose the salt bunker with doors, perform annual inspections with photo documentation, and maintain the asphalt liner and seals; Commissioner Deason seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

The approval included conditions tying ongoing compliance to the conditional use permit: lack of proper storage or maintenance could invalidate the CUP, and staff will follow up on inspections and enforcement as needed. Staff and the applicant discussed a target to complete construction and sealing before Thanksgiving where feasible; staff will finalize construction specifications and verify compliance prior to occupancy and routine operation.

The commission’s action allows Kudronowicz Lawn Care LLC to proceed with the proposed use subject to the stated construction and ongoing maintenance conditions designed to protect the village’s water supply.