Will County planning panel denies large accessory-building variance after neighbor objections

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 4 denied a request from Jeremy and Jennifer Allen to construct a large detached accessory building at their New Lenox Township property after staff recommended denial and neighbors objected to the proposal.

Kelly Krasinski, the county planner presenting ZC25-093, told the commission the additional detached structure would increase the property’s accessory building area beyond the R-2 district limit and that staff found the request derived from personal preference rather than unique site circumstances. Staff noted approving a variance of this scale could establish a pattern that alters the character of the locality and recommended denial.

Neighbor Jeff Ronspies, speaking on behalf of himself and two adjacent residents, called the proposed 36-by-60 structure “massive” for a one-acre lot and said it would be ‘‘out of scale’’ with nearby mid-1960s ranch homes. Ronspies urged denial, citing restrictive covenants in the Banbury subdivision limiting garage size to three cars, the potential for business uses if future owners change the use, and environmental concerns, saying one inch of rain on the proposed roof would put “about 1,360 gallons” of runoff toward an adjacent yard.

“That's just simply out of scale for a one-acre parcel,” Ronspies said. He urged the commission to reject the variance and leave options for modest additions or a rebuild that would be more consistent with the neighborhood.

Applicant Jeremy Allen acknowledged the size concern but said he would be open to removing the existing detached garage and argued that the proposed building would house antique vehicles and would not leak fluids or operate as a business. “We’re not running a junkyard,” Allen said, adding he had proposed a 12-foot wall height rather than the more typical 16-foot pole-barn height to reduce visual impact.

After public comment, a motion to approve the variance failed on a roll-call vote; the record shows several commissioners recorded “no” votes and the variance was denied.

The commission’s decision stops the Allen request to exceed accessory building area under the county’s R-2 standards; the applicants were given the option to pursue alternatives such as removing the detached structure or revising the design to comply with the 1,800-square-foot limit.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025.