Board approves three zoning actions including rezoning of former banquet hall for commercial use

The Kankakee County Board on Sept. 9 approved three Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recommendations: a variance to reduce lot width in Rockville Township (ZBA 25-05); rezoning from R-1 Residential to C-2 General Commercial for the former Bondavant clubhouse on Career Center Road in Bourbonnais Township to allow conversion to a wedding venue (ZBA 25-06); and rezoning a 10-foot strip from A-1 Agriculture to RE Rural Estate in Limestone Township to accommodate a setback for a home (ZBA 25-07). For ZBA 25-05, the presenter said the parcel—owned by the Julia J. Martin estate—was created by easement in 1984 and did not have sufficient frontage; the owner asked for a reduction in required lot width from 250 feet to 200 feet and both the planning and zoning bodies recommended approval. The presenter said, “I believe it's about 3 acres.” For ZBA 25-06, the board heard that Travis Mayles and Alpha Elite Ventures LLC purchased the vacant Bondavant clubhouse and are seeking commercial rezoning to convert the property into a wedding venue; planning and zoning recommended approval and the board approved by voice vote. For ZBA 25-07, staff said a larger parcel had been rezoned to rural estate in 2001 and the owner, Colin Ryan, purchased an additional 10 feet that is zoned A-1 agriculture; the requested rezoning to RE Rural Estate will incorporate the 10-foot strip into the larger lot to accommodate building setbacks. Planning and zoning and the zoning board of appeals recommended approval for all three items and the board approved each during the meeting.