Westmont board approves lot-coverage variance for 500 Revere Ave. patio

The Westmont Village Board on Sept. 4 approved a zoning variance allowing the homeowner at 500 Revere Ave. to expand a backyard patio, increasing lot coverage from roughly 40% to about 43%.

The variance, which the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended 4–2, would add about 228 square feet to the existing patio. Director Hena Fine told the board the subdivision was engineered with stormwater controls (referred to in the discussion as “Lake Charles” design) and already qualified for a 40% administrative lot-coverage allowance; the owners requested an additional increase to 43%.

Planning and zoning forwarded the request with a positive recommendation, and no neighbors spoke either for or against the change at the commission meeting or at the board meeting. Trustee Scales moved to approve the variance “as written”; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with trustees Scales, Guzzo, Parker, Little and Plowman recorded as voting yes.

Board members discussed, but did not adopt, a recommended condition from the city engineer that at least 50 square feet of the new patio be installed with permeable pavers. Attorney Zemenak told trustees the board could have imposed that as a condition when it approved the variance, but the board approved the request without adding the permeable-paver requirement.

Because the subdivision’s stormwater plan already permits up to 40% lot coverage administratively, the extra 3 percentage points approved by the board represent approximately 228 square feet of additional impervious area on the lot, according to staff figures provided at the meeting. Director Fine said staff would proceed with the permitting steps consistent with the board’s vote.

The record shows the variance was considered at the village board meeting after a Planning and Zoning hearing on Aug. 13; no formal appeal or additional votes were announced at the Sept. 4 meeting.