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DuPage County hearing on 5517 Essex Road lot-size variance draws neighborhood opposition over drainage, precedent
Summary
At a July 17 DuPage County hearing, an attorney for applicant Barbara Cocella requested a variance to subdivide 5517 Essex Road into two lots smaller than the county standard. Neighbors spoke against the proposal, citing flooding, septic and precedent concerns; no vote was taken and a recommendation meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14.
A DuPage County hearing on July 17 considered a request to divide 5517 Essex Road into two smaller residential lots, drawing multiple residents who urged denial because of flooding, septic and neighborhood-character concerns.
The request, filed as zoning case 1500030, seeks a variance to reduce the required lot size from 40,000 square feet to roughly 16,142 square feet for proposed Lot 1 and about 16,112 square feet for proposed Lot 2, according to the applicant’s presentation. The petition was presented by attorney Scott Richmond on behalf of property owner Barbara Cocella.
County context and applicant case
Scott Richmond, attorney for the applicant, told the board the proposal would leave the existing single-family house and outbuildings in place and create one new 1,500-square-foot, single-level home on the corner lot. Richmond said the new house would connect to municipal water and would have a new septic system built to DuPage County standards. He added…
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