Committee recommends subdivision variance for 2477 E. 28 1/2 Road; easement and drainage conditions discussed

The LaSalle County Land Use Committee voted July 2 to recommend that the county board approve a subdivision variance for property at 2477 East 28 Fiftieth Road that would divide about 15.5 acres into two lots and allow one lot to have no direct road frontage.

Brian (staff member) summarized the petition. The parcel, formerly part of the Spicer Quarry and recently de‑annexed from the City of Seneca, is roughly 15½ acres. The applicant seeks to split it into two parcels of roughly 7½ acres each; the east parcel has about 376 feet of frontage on 28 Fiftieth Road and already has a residential building permit and construction under way, while the west parcel would rely on a recorded easement for driveway access from 28 Fiftieth Road.

Mr. Bote (petitioner representative) told the committee the parties propose to record an access easement along the south line of the property, built to a 12‑foot width, and to include maintenance terms in the easement language. Committee members asked whether the 12‑foot driveway width would meet fire department access requirements; Brian said he was checking with Seneca public works and the township road commissioner about road jurisdiction and would seek clarification before the zoning hearing.

Committee members also raised drainage concerns after staff displayed aerial imagery that showed culverts and materials in a drainage ravine on the west parcel. The committee discussed adding a condition at the special‑use or zoning hearing requiring remediation of drainage structures or removal/replacement of former quarry pipe if necessary. Brian recommended, and the committee agreed, that a PLAT survey be prepared and that an access easement be recorded with specific maintenance responsibilities spelled out before or as a condition of final approval.

Members clarified the review path: the subdivision‑variance recommendation from the Land Use Committee would go concurrently with a separate special‑use petition to the county Zoning Board of Appeals and then be considered together at the same county‑board meeting. Committee members also noted that under county rules a split like this can be accomplished without a full subdivision plat if it meets the county’s two‑lot split criteria enacted after 2002; staff said it had called Seneca public works to confirm whether the road is under municipal jurisdiction and would obtain that jurisdictional confirmation prior to the final county‑board vote.

Committee member Tom Miller made the motion to forward a favorable recommendation, with the understanding that conditions would be set during the zoning/special‑use review; the motion was seconded, and the committee approved the recommendation by roll call. The committee also directed staff to correct a name error in the draft resolution (the petitioner is Alex Spicer, not “Spencer”) before the county‑board packet is finalized.

Less critical details: applicants said each parcel is planned for one single‑family home; the east lot’s well and septic permits have been approved, and the petitioner said he will coordinate with utilities for electrical service and any required utility easements.