Oak Park Board of Appeals approves side-yard variance for warehouse addition at 2700 Hubbell

The Oak Park Board of Appeals unanimously approved a variance to reduce required side-yard setbacks so a warehouse at 2700 Hubbell can add 22,000 square feet.

The variance reduces the total of both side-yard setbacks from the 40 feet required by the zoning regulations to 31 feet 6 inches, allowing the applicant to build proposed additions that would include 6 feet 6 inches of setback on both sides and a 25-foot setback on the south side, board members were told.

The request was presented by Hunter Galbraith of Design House Architecture, who said the addition is intended to expand an existing warehouse used for storage and cleaning/production of household goods. Galbraith said the proposed addition would increase the building’s total area from about 52,000 square feet to about 74,000 square feet and that the current setback standard would “limit the programmatic logistics of the space.” He said the project would back up to a hotel and that the owner has invested in building upgrades.

“We’ve since invested over $2,000,000 in the building since purchasing it,” Galbraith said, and added that the fire department’s requirements were being accommodated. He told the board the Planning Commission had recommended approval by a 7-0 vote.

Planning staff and the motion presented to the board characterized the request as a deviation from Article 2, Division 4 (Industrial District), Section 234, Schedule of Regulations, which sets the combined side-yard setback at 40 feet. The change approved by the board will permit the narrower combined setback so the proposed addition can be constructed as shown in the applicant’s materials.

The fire department had requested a 25-foot fire access lane around portions of the building as part of site-plan considerations; Galbraith said the applicant will provide a 25-foot access lane on the southeast side and is coordinating access on the north side to meet safety requirements.

A board member moved to approve the request “based on the information presented in the staff report and additional findings of fact discussed during the review of case number 25-05.” A second was recorded. In a roll-call vote the five sitting members present—Commissioner Clyde, Commissioner Seligson, Chairperson Houston, Commissioner Lebovitz and Commissioner Steinberg—voted yes; the board announced the motion carried.

The board did not record any conditions beyond the site-plan/fire-access requirements noted during the presentation. No public opposition or additional testimony was recorded in the hearing transcript.

With the variance approved, the next steps described during the hearing include completion of any outstanding site-plan approvals and coordination with the fire department on the access lane required as part of permits and inspections.