Board grants three variances for Lillian Schwartz Education Center despite large setback deviations

The Oak Park Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve three variances for the Lillian Schwartz Education Center, allowing reduced building and parking setbacks and an increase in impervious surface coverage.

Neil Ganshorn of Rand Construction, the applicant representative, told the board the parcel is unusually tight for a school site and that strict 50-foot setback requirements leave almost no usable space. He said the project will remove an existing house on the west to create parking, set the new building back more than 50 feet on the north side by purchasing an adjoining house, and screen the parking with a masonry wall to separate the school use from adjacent residences.

Specifically, the board approved a variance to reduce the new addition yard setback to 42 feet from the north and 10.1 feet from the east (the ordinance requires 50 feet); a variance to reduce the west parking-lot yard setback to 2 feet from the west and 2 feet from the north (ordinance requires 50 feet); and a variance to raise the maximum impervious surface coverage to 77% (ordinance allows 70%). A board member noted the planning commission had substantial community attendance and no single voice of opposition during that prior review.

After discussion the motion to approve the three variances passed on roll call; the chair announced the motion carries.