Board approves rezoning to agriculture and conditional-use permits for Martinez landscaping operation

The Village Board approved two related ordinances submitted by Bartolo Martinez and Maria Martel to (1) rezone 11129 West Wadsworth Road from R-1 single-family residential to AG agricultural district and (2) grant a conditional-use permit and variation for operations at 11129 and 11075 West Wadsworth Road. Community Development Director Eric said Martinez operates a long-standing landscaping and tree-growing business at the location and has acquired adjacent property to expand the growth operation. Eric also disclosed that his office has used Martinez's services as a vendor for the village.

Eric explained the rezoning is effectively a downzoning from residential to agricultural to limit more intensive commercial redevelopment and to provide a suitable zoning classification for an expanded nursery/landscape operation. The applicants will need to consolidate parcels and requested a variation because of an existing dwelling that exceeds accessory-dwelling size limits (Eric said the existing house is about 1,600 square feet where the accessory-dwelling limit is 800 square feet). The board heard one nearby resident raise concerns; staff said only one formal complaint had been received during Eric's tenure and that earlier redevelopment proposals for the site had prompted neighborhood concern. After motions and seconds, trustees approved both the zoning map amendment and the conditional-use permit with roll-call votes.

Discussion versus decision: the board discussed the history of the site, neighborhood concerns and the operational history of the Martinez business; the formal decisions were approval of the rezoning and the conditional-use permit/variation.