ZBA recommends special use for landscaping business at Mendota property

The LaSalle County Zoning Board of Appeals on April 16 recommended that the county board approve a special use to operate a landscaping business at 4295 East Seventh Road in Mendota, Meriden Township.

Petitioner Jose Escatel said he purchased the 6.11-acre parcel to establish a base for his landscaping business and proposed a building for equipment storage and limited outside storage for materials such as river rock and mulch. Escatel said he currently employs three people and plans to store two dump trailers and one truck on site. He said the storage area would be contained using concrete blocks and that he intends to use the existing driveway; he also said electricity and possibly solar panels could be added in the future. Escatel summarized his plan: “I run a small business, and I just got this lot, and I like to set up a building for storage [for] my small equipment to run my business.”

Board members queried the petitioner about building placement, gravel area expansion and proximity to a telecommunications tower on the property. County staff noted the property is subject to an easement for tower placement and said the petitioner’s plan—siting a storage building at the southwest corner and having gravel around the building—was acceptable if it met setback and easement constraints. Staff reported no written objections and found the application in compliance with LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance Section 14.1-5.

After completing the zoning ordinance’s findings of fact (harmonization with the ordinance, hazards, property values, traffic, flood risk, public expense and general welfare), the board voted to recommend approval. The petitioner was told the recommendation will be presented to the LaSalle County Board on May 8.