Hinsdale Zoning Board holds pre-hearing on variance for backyard sports court at 5804 S. Garfield

The Hinsdale Zoning Board of Appeals held a pre-hearing May 21 on a variance request, V-01-25, from the Petrona family of 5804 South Garfield to reduce setback requirements and install a half basketball court that can convert to pickleball or tennis.

The variance request is to allow the sports court closer to the property edge than zoning setbacks permit; the board set a public hearing for the next monthly meeting and asked the applicants to provide additional materials, including photographs of large trees on the lot and a measurement of the distance between the proposed court and an on-site fire pit.

At the meeting, an applicant who identified themselves as representing the Petrona family said the court is primarily for family recreation and that “it’s Aiden’s dream to be an NBA basketball player,” and said the family did not plan to add lighting for evening play at this time. Chairman Giltner and board members asked about neighbors, screening and alternatives to minimize the size of the requested setback reduction.

Tim (staff member) explained procedural items and site standards: neighbors within the required notice radius will receive mailed notice after tonight’s meeting; the village treats both public and private streets as qualifying for a secondary front yard; screening can rely on an existing six-foot fence installed by the Woodmere Homeowners Association, and the board expects plantings on two sides. Tim also described lighting limits for residential recreational facilities cited during the discussion: a maximum fixture height of 15 feet and a limit of 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line.

Board members pressed the applicant for alternatives that would reduce the size of the variance, noting the 25-foot setback reduction under consideration represents a roughly 71% reduction in percentage terms and that the board will evaluate the application against the ordinance’s seven variance standards. Members suggested the applicant consider shifting the court closer to the house to preserve mature trees and to document the site layout with a plat showing tree trunks and the backyard patio.

Staff described the notification process: after the ZBA meeting staff will prepare a list of properties within the required 250-foot radius; the applicant must mail the notice and return proof before the public hearing. The board clarified that, if the applicant later sought lighting beyond what was described, an electrical permit and review would be required, and that lighting must meet the setback and illumination limits.

The board closed the pre-hearing by scheduling the formal public hearing for the next monthly meeting and advising the applicants to incorporate the feedback — photographs of trees, precise measurements between proposed court edges and the fire pit, and any neighbor outreach — into their public hearing submission.

Less critical procedural business at the meeting included approval of minutes from July 17, 2024, and adjournment.