Roscoe Zoning Board recommends text changes on accessory structures, asks for clearer setback language

The Village of Roscoe Zoning Board of Appeals on a December 2024 meeting reviewed a proposed text amendment (CBA 2024-015) to the Village of Roscoe zoning ordinance that would change how the code treats accessory buildings and accessory structures and recommended sending the draft to the Village Board with a minor clarification to setback wording.

The amendment would exempt some temporary items—examples cited during the discussion included trampolines and movable basketball hoops—from the ordinance’s definition of accessory structures. It would remove draft language that let accessory buildings of 100 square feet or less be built without a zoning permit, and instead allow accessory structures (not accessory buildings) of 100 square feet or less to be constructed permit-free if they are at least 5 feet from a property line and not placed in the front yard. The draft also proposes allowing parcels larger than one-quarter acre to have up to five accessory structures; smaller lots would remain limited to two.

Staff described the draft as incorporating the changes the board discussed at its prior meeting and said the draft now treats detached decks as accessory structures while classifying attached decks as part of the principal building. Board members spent time on wording that currently reads awkwardly in the draft (a sentence that reads as if it would prohibit placement in side or rear yards). The board agreed the sentence needs to be reworded to reflect the intent that small accessory structures may be placed in side or rear yards subject to the applicable setbacks and that a minimum buffer from the property line should be explicit.

Members raised corner-lot issues and how the code defines front and side yards for those lots; staff said the code already defines those yard types and that the amendment would operate within those definitions. The board discussed whether requiring a permit for small (10-by-10) storage sheds is necessary, noting such structures are typically purchased from retail outlets and often placed without permits; one member asked about the permit fee. Staff said the current zoning permit fee was not immediately at hand during the meeting.

After discussion and the agreed text change to clarify setbacks, the board made a motion to send the amendment and the revised text to the Village Board for approval and recommendation. The motion passed on roll call.

The board did not take a final legislative action (adoption) itself; the action was a recommendation to forward the draft to the Village Board with the agreed clarification.

Votes at a glance: a motion to send CBA 2024-015 to the Village Board for approval (mover recorded as Smith; second recorded; roll call recorded as affirmative and the motion carried).