Montgomery trustees approve grocery-tax language change, parking-lot variance and budget amendment; food-truck license approved 4-2

At its Sept. 8 meeting the Village of Montgomery Board of Trustees approved several ordinances and a budget amendment, granted zoning variances for a parking-lot expansion, and voted 4-2 to authorize a mobile food facility license for El Taco Rico at 299 Montgomery Road.

On ordinance business: trustees approved Ordinance 21-46, an amendment to municipal language for the grocery occupation tax, to align the village code with guidance from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Director (planning) told trustees the change does not alter the tax rate but corrects statutory language so the village’s language is accepted by IDOR. The roll call recorded all trustees voting yes; the motion carried 6-0.

Trustees approved Ordinance 21-43 (second reading) granting zoning variations for a parking-lot expansion at 277–299 Montgomery Road (Douglas Commons LLC). Planning staff said the petitioner revised plans to provide an 8-foot minimum landscape buffer along Montgomery Road with four trees and groupings of perennials; the petitioner asked to delay installation until the spring after a water-main and sidewalk project. Staff had no objection and the ordinance passed on roll call 6-0.

Resolution 2025-030, authorizing a mobile food facility license for El Taco Rico to operate at 299 Montgomery Road in place of the current licensee Manuel’s Tacos, passed on a 4-2 roll call. Voters recorded as yes were Trustee Maraszek, Trustee Berzasca, Trustee Geier and Trustee Bauman; Trustees Sperling and Grama voted no. The resolution replaces Manuel’s Tacos with El Taco Rico at the same location.

Trustees also granted first- or introductory readings and received recommendations from the Planning & Zoning Commission for annexation, rezoning and variations at 29 Baseline Road (PZC 2025-013). Planning staff said the applicant proposes an office and a storage building (no truck repair on site) and requested a variance to reduce a required buffer yard along an east property line adjacent to residential lots because of floodplain constraints. The PZC recommended approval with a condition that no truck repair or storage is allowed on the annexed property; trustees indicated no objection to placing these ordinances on consent for a later vote.

The board adopted Ordinance 21-49, Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2026, to account for a fall carnival and associated Halloween safety event planned for Oct. 17–19 at Stewart Sports Complex. Village staff said anticipated event costs will be offset by revenues and that the amendment includes staffing, signage and advertising; the ordinance passed 6-0 on roll call.

Earlier in the meeting the consent agenda (minutes of Aug. 25, accounts payable through Sept. 8 and a fee waiver for the Windy City Amusements October carnival permit) was approved 6-0.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes Aug. 25; accounts payable through 09/08/2025; Windy City Amusements carnival permit fee waiver): carried, 6-0. - Ordinance 21-46 (amend municipal grocery occupation tax language per Illinois Department of Revenue): carried, 6-0. - Ordinance 21-43 (Douglas Commons LLC; zoning variations for parking lot at 277–299 Montgomery Road): carried, 6-0. - Resolution 2025-030 (mobile food facility license, El Taco Rico at 299 Montgomery Road): carried, 4-2 (Yes: Maraszek, Berzasca, Geier, Bauman; No: Sperling, Grama). - PZC 2025-013 / Enacting Ordinance 2147 and related rezoning/variation ordinances for 29 Baseline Road: presented and recommended by PZC; trustees had no objection to placing the last two ordinances on consent (first reading). Action on final ordinances to follow. - Ordinance 21-49 (Budget Amendment No. 1 FY2026 — fall carnival/Halloween safety event): carried, 6-0.

Trustees asked clarification questions on several items: staff confirmed the sidewalk tied to the Montgomery Road water-main project will be installed as part of that work and supported a spring planting window for the parking-lot landscaping to avoid rework. On the Baseline Road annexation, staff confirmed existing fence heights are 4–6 feet (below the 8-foot buffer-yard fencing requirement) and that because the new site will provide fewer than 10 parking spaces, typical parking-lot landscaping requirements tied to 10 or more spaces do not apply. The Planning & Zoning Commission added an explicit condition that no truck repair be allowed on the annexed property in response to concerns from nearby unincorporated residents.

No executive session was held; the board adjourned with its next regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 22.