Plan commission recommends approval to relocate driveway on last Arboretum Village duplex lot, contingent on neighbor agreement

The Plan Commission recommended village board approval on Tuesday for an amendment to the Arboretum Village plat that would allow the driveway for the last duplex lot on Quinn Drive to be relocated 25 feet from the platted shared access location.

Nut graf: applicants said the current, platted shared driveway location would force them to raise their finished floor about one foot to match an adjacent driveway, worsening slope and downstream drainage impacts. Penelope Gessler, who with her husband is building a duplex and plans to occupy one unit, said moving the Quinn Drive driveway toward the center of their lot avoids the need to raise the house and reduces potential impacts to the adjacent home.

Staff explained the original shared drive arrangement was created to limit points of access along the office‑park corridor; the village attorney cautioned the commission about setting a precedent by modifying plat restrictions for a single lot. Commissioners weighed site practicalities and precedent. Several commissioners said the requested change was a reasonable solution given the site's topography and the fact the parcel in question is the final lot on the block.

Ending: the commission voted to recommend the village board approve the plat amendment with a condition that the affected neighbor(s) provide written agreement to the change; staff will forward the recommendation and the owner's documentation to the village board for final action.