LaSalle County ZBA recommends variance to reduce front setback for Marseilles property

The LaSalle County Zoning Board of Appeals on April 16 recommended the county board approve a variance allowing a Marseilles property owner to reduce the required front setback from 70 feet to 60 feet from the center line of the road.

The petitioner, Robert Stubblefield of 2997 East 20 Fifth Road in Marseilles, asked for the variance to locate a 36-by-48-foot pole building on the west side of his property. Stubblefield said a septic field and steep, wet slopes limit the available building sites and that the chosen location is the “best spot” to place the storage building. He said the building is "just for storage."

Under the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance Section 14.3-3, the board must make findings that a variance is in harmony with the ordinance and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or contrary to the county comprehensive plan. County staff reported no written correspondence from neighbors and said they received no response from the road commissioner about the reduced setback. The land-use office also reported no other submitted documentary evidence.

During the hearing, board members asked about building size, proximity to the house and driveway access; Stubblefield confirmed the building would use the existing driveway and that the lot is roughly seven and a half acres across two parcels. After completing the required findings of fact (light and air, hazard, property values, traffic, flood risk, public expense and general welfare), the board voted to recommend approval. The recommendation will go to the LaSalle County Board on May 8.

The record shows the motion to recommend approval was made and seconded and the motion passed with affirmative votes recorded from Larry Langston, Fred Seville, Monty Whipple, Mayor Hoffer, Deb Lane and Larry Lewis. No conditions or written objections were entered into the record at the hearing.