Council committee advances special use for long-standing duplex at 249 E. Palatine Road, lot-coverage variance recommended

The Police Policy and Code Services Committee advanced an ordinance to grant special-use status to an existing duplex at 249 East Palatine Road and forwarded a lot-coverage variance for council approval.

The duplex, located on the south side of Palatine Road in District 6, is currently zoned R-2 (single-family residential). Village staff said a 1997 zoning provision allows lawfully created multifamily units now inside R-2 to request a special use to reestablish their prior use; the petitioner asked to use that process to recognize two dwelling units in the structure.

Village staff described the property as an existing duplex with two kitchens and separate units that has been unoccupied for some time. The redevelopment plan presented to the committee calls for interior refurbishing, a new sprinkler system, siding and demolition of a detached garage that is in disrepair. The petitioner proposes a parking area behind the property that would provide the required two off-street parking spaces per unit and would relocate drainage to Palatine Road.

Engineering review required several conditions before building-permit approval, staff said: a final drainage plan directing runoff to Palatine Road, confirmation that existing storm piping is not connected to the sanitary sewer, replacement of any lead or galvanized water service lines if found, conversion from any existing combined footings to an overhead sanitary service, and inspection/reconstruction of existing sanitary ejector pumps as needed.

The petitioner initially proposed very high lot coverage; after the Planning & Zoning Commission hearing and follow-up engineering work requested by a neighbor, plans were revised. Staff told the committee the existing lot-coverage condition is substantially above the R-2 45% maximum; the petitioner’s revised proposal on the current plans was cited as 76 percent (staff noted the number had been reduced after further revisions and described the plan-set coverage as approximately 69.9 percent in one slide).

The Planning & Zoning Commission approved the special-use request unanimously. The commission recommended approval of the lot-coverage variation by a 4–2 vote; staff reported it concurs with the commission recommendation. During committee discussion, staff and members said catch basins east of the property were inspected and cleared of debris and that the village had asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to inspect the adjacent mainline storm sewer.

After questions about fencing, headlights and noise, staff confirmed existing solid six‑foot fencing along the south and east property lines would remain in place. The committee voted in favor of forwarding the item; the matter was placed on the council consent calendar for final action.

The committee recorded no amendments to the special-use ordinance and made approval contingent on the standard building- and engineering-permit conditions described by staff.

— Ending: If approved by the full council on the consent calendar, the ordinance would reestablish the duplex as a lawful special use subject to the listed engineering and building-permit conditions and the lot-coverage variance.