Roscoe zoning board approves two design reviews, grants variance for ground-mounted solar with landscaping conditions

The Roscoe Zoning Board approved design reviews for a 5,600-square-foot storage building at 5313 Ross Lane and a 160-square-foot accessory storage structure at 4767 Blue Step Road, and granted a variance to waive the fence requirement for ground-mounted solar panels at 11380 Main Street.

The approvals for the two design reviews were unanimous and carried conditions: the Ross Lane project must provide a compliant building-foundation landscaping plan and related transition-area inventory, and the Blue Step Road accessory structure must match the principal building’s siding color and have no curb cut in front of the new structure. The board also approved a variance for the solar array that waives the ordinance fence requirement so the system can reach the height the applicant said is necessary; the variance is conditioned on maintaining vegetative screening from Main Street and nearby residences and on an emergency backup landscaping plan approved by the zoning administrator.

The Ross Lane proposal is a 5,600-square-foot storage building for Forest City Gear, presented by Jared Leifert, director of operations for Forest City Gear. Leifert said the building is needed because “we're running out of fixed space within the building” and the off‑building will store raw material, work‑in‑progress and finished goods. The applicant said there will be no employees based in the storage building; staff or company employees will access it for materials and product.

Evan (Zoning Administrator) told the board the site can be classified as light industrial, which makes the building a permitted use instead of prohibited. He reported the project meets most bulk requirements, that village staff and the applicant agreed to a 10-foot setback on the southwest lot line, and…