Commission recommends special‑use permit and fence variance for military vehicle storage north of Gregory Road

The Machesney Park Planning & Zoning Commission voted Sept. 22 to forward a special‑use permit application and a fence variance for military vehicle storage to the Planning & Economic Development committee with positive recommendations.

Planning staff said the State Department of Military Affairs seeks to build a fenced outdoor storage area for military vehicles at the north end of Gregory Road, just north of the Village Public Works garage. Staff described the storage footprint as about 1.5 acres of an approximately 11‑acre lot and noted existing military equipment is already stored at a nearby armory; staff recommended approval and a fence variance to permit chain‑link fencing matching the armory's screening.

Mark Resnacek, sworn for the record, represented the applicant and, together with an engineering consultant, described a paved parking layout scaled down from an initial aggregate parking plan. "This is additional property, additional storage," Resnacek said, noting the plan includes gates and a paved area smaller than first proposed.

Commissioners asked whether similar chain‑link fencing already exists on other nearby properties and whether the area is intended for regular public parking (staff said it is not; the area will be fenced and used for storage). The commission voted to forward the special‑use permit and the fence variance with positive recommendations to the Oct. 6 PED meeting, subject to conditions that the use meet the submitted site and fence plans.

Vote/Action summary: Ordinance 37‑25 (special use for outdoor storage) and Ordinance 38‑25 (fence variance) were recommended to PED with conditions.

Next steps: PED will review the recommendation and conditions on Oct. 6.