The Riverwoods Plan Commission on Nov. 25 voted unanimously to recommend that the Village Board approve a transfer of a 6,412-square-foot portion of 3030 Orange Brace Road to the adjacent property at 3000 Orange Brace Road, with the recommendation conditioned on submission of a final mylar plat and required agency sign-offs.

The applicant, identified in the meeting record as Marcela LeCompte, told commissioners the purchase is intended to preserve the wooded view outside her deck. “I spend every free moment I have in my woods,” LeCompte said, adding that she and the neighboring homeowners agreed to the transfer to keep the parcel as woodlands and prevent fences or other structures from altering the view.

Director Witt, the department staff member handling the case, told the commission the transfer would not change either property’s zoning and that both lots would remain compliant with the R2 single-family district minimum lot-size requirement. Witt also said staff found no impacts to wetlands, woodlands or utilities on or adjacent to the parcel but noted an administrative step is required to transfer the amount of protected woodland acreage from one property record to the other.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about existing setbacks and structures. Staff said the survey and proposed new line keep existing buildings and sheds at compliant distances and that the petitioner had erred five feet outward on the transfer to provide an additional buffer around the neighbor’s shed. Commissioner Brown confirmed there are no structures on the triangular parcel being transferred; LeCompte said it will remain tended woodland and not be developed.

The motion to recommend approval — made and seconded at the meeting — incorporated the two conditions in the staff report: submission of a final mylar plat containing required agency and commission sign-offs and recording the necessary woodland-protection adjustments. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Commissioners Brown, Broussard, Romagnoli and Chairperson Brinlock; the chair stated the recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board.

LeCompte told the commission that, if recorded, the change will affect property taxes because the survey and deed will reflect the new parcel boundaries. She said buyers who had been under contract for the neighboring home remain aware of the pending transfer.

The commission moved on after voting and indicated staff would work with the applicant to complete the required paperwork before forwarding the recommendation to the board.