Waukegan committee approves right-of-way vacation, two setback variances, urban farm agreement and repurchase extension

The Waukegan Community Development Committee voted June 2 to approve an ordinance vacating a portion of city right of way next to 1206 Yeoman Street with compensation to the city of $850, approved two variances for garage setbacks on West Forest Avenue, authorized an intergovernmental construction license agreement with the College of Lake County for an urban farm facility, and approved an amendment extending a repurchase agreement for 801 Market Street to March 31, 2026.

The approvals affect private property titles, pending new housing on West Forest Avenue, a city-supported urban farm, and a downtown property repurchase timeline. Committee members said the items followed standard planning and zoning procedures and, in one case, a late federal review delay.

Noel, a staff member, described the Yeoman Street item as a city right of way that had been platted for an alley that was never built. "The driveway and garage for Miss Dorsey's home have been on this right of way for at least 40-ish years," Noel said, adding that the vacation process is the city’s path to transfer that strip of land into a parcel that can be sold to an adjacent owner.

Alderman Newsom had asked the committee to set compensation for the vacation at $850 based on comparable transfers; the committee amended the proposed ordinance on the floor to insert that amount and then voted to adopt the ordinance as amended. The ordinance is listed on the zoning calendar as V-1-25.

Two related variances — zoning calendar numbers 2783 (4386 West Forest Avenue) and 2784 (4390 West Forest Avenue) — were approved to allow garage setbacks that differ from the Unified Development Ordinance so new houses can be built. Alderman Florian noted the variance for two of the lots would be “approximately 4 feet” to permit the construction; planning and zoning had discussed the project with neighboring residents and recorded at least one written objection, the committee said.

The committee also approved a resolution authorizing a construction-license intergovernmental agreement with the College of Lake County for an urban farm facility; the resolution was passed without discussion of financial terms during the meeting.

On an unrelated downtown property, Chairman Hayes said a city director informed the committee that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had requested additional time to finish plan approvals. The committee amended and approved a resolution extending the repurchase agreement between the City of Waukegan and Ampske and Associates LLC for 801 Market Street through March 31, 2026, to accommodate the federal review timeline.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance (V-1-25): Vacate portion of right of way adjacent to north property line of 1206 Yeoman Street (compensation $850). Moved: Alderman Martinez. Second: Alderman Felix. Vote: Martinez — yes; Florian — yes; Felix — yes; Chairman Hayes — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance (2783): Variance for garage setbacks at 4386 West Forest Avenue. Moved: Alderman Martinez. Second: Alderman Florian. Vote: Martinez — yes; Florian — yes; Felix — yes; Chairman Hayes — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance (2784): Variance for garage setbacks at 4390 West Forest Avenue. Moved: Alderman Martinez. Second: Alderman Felix. Vote: Martinez — yes; Florian — yes; Felix — yes; Chairman Hayes — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution: Construction license intergovernmental agreement with College of Lake County for urban farm facility. Moved: Alderman Felix. Second: Alderman Martinez. Vote: Martinez — yes; Florian — yes; Felix — yes; Chairman Hayes — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution: Amendment to repurchase agreement between City of Waukegan and Ampske and Associates LLC regarding 801 Market Street (extended to 03/31/2026). Moved: Alderman Florian. Second: Alderman Martinez. Vote: Martinez — yes; Florian — yes; Felix — yes; Chairman Hayes — yes. Outcome: approved.

The committee's actions followed routine planning-and-zoning referrals in most cases. Several items were described as having prior review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The committee did not provide detailed funding breakdowns for the urban farm agreement or the repurchase amendment during the meeting; those details were not specified on the record.

Chairman Hayes called the votes after roll call and closed the meeting at 6:30 p.m.