Lake Bluff PCZBA recommends approval of 6‑foot front‑yard fence at 511 Lansdowne Lane

The Village of Lake Bluff Joint Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals recommended on June 18 that the Village Board approve a variance allowing a 6‑foot fence in the front yard of 511 Lansdowne Lane.

The recommendation addresses a zoning variance from Section 10‑5‑3 (height) of the Village zoning regulations. Staff reported the applicant, Jonathan Bock of 511 Lansdowne Lane, applied for relief after the review showed his lot is zoned E‑2 while neighboring lots in the Lansdowne subdivision are E‑1, which would allow a 6‑foot front‑yard fence. The commission noted the request was reasonable given the unique zoning anomaly for that parcel.

Claire Gable, village staff, told the commission the applicant also needed a restrictive covenant amendment to the Lansdowne subdivision plat to place a fence within landscape buffer yards; the fence height issue triggered the formal variance request because, under E‑2 rules, 6‑foot front‑yard fences are not permitted.

The commission voted to recommend approval of the requested relief in the form of the attached approval order; the roll call recorded Member Danley, Member Fisher, Member Russell and Chair Peters voting “Aye.” The PCZBA noted the applicant requested that the Village Board consider first and second reading approval at its next meeting.

No public testimony from the applicant was required for the PCZBA review; staff said the commission may consider an application without the applicant present under PCZBA rules of procedure.

Next steps: the matter will appear on the Village Board agenda for consideration; the PCZBA’s recommendation is advisory and the Village Board will make the final determination.