Council approves rezoning and conditional-use permit for garden center at 1192 S. Washington

The Kankakee City Council on April 7 approved a zoning map amendment and a conditional-use permit to allow a small garden center and limited landscape-contractor services at 1192 South Washington.

Director King, of the city planning department, told the council the request would rezone the property from R-2 (two-family residential) to C-2 (service commercial) and that the planning board recommended approval 5-0 after neighbors’ questions were clarified. King said the conditional-use permit contains conditions requiring a fenced storage area, limits on hours of operation, and restrictions on delivery frequency; the planning board also added a condition about removing a nuisance tree while retaining part of it for decorative purposes.

The council unanimously voted to suspend the rules and place both the map amendment and the conditional-use ordinance on final reading. Alderman Barron moved to suspend the rules; Alderman O’Brien seconded. Roll-call votes on both measures were 12 ayes, 0 nays.

The planning department noted that some nearby residents initially feared the site would become a large landscape contractor operation; staff said clarifications and the permit conditions addressed those concerns. One notified neighbor attended the planning meeting but did not testify at the council hearing.

Because the conditional-use permit imposes operational limits (fencing, hours, deliveries) and the planning board will monitor compliance, the ordinance’s enactment allows the small garden-center use while restricting larger contractor activities that neighbors opposed.

The council approved the ordinance and the permit; staff and the applicant will follow the conditions imposed by the planning board and the city.