Village grants one-time waiver for cable railing at Deerfield Court after inspector error

The Village of New Lenox approved a one-time waiver Wednesday allowing a horizontal cable railing installed at 237 Deerfield Court after staff said the prior chief building inspector issued a permit that conflicted with a local amendment banning horizontal railings.

Mayor Balderman asked staff to explain the situation and Robin, a village staff member, said the inspector’s permit was issued in error and the railing meets the International Residential Code. Robin said the waiver is recommended because the error was on the village’s part and the railing is at a rear deck, limiting public-safety exposure.

Homeowner and contractor Mike Mitchell told the board cable railing is widely manufactured and argued it is not easily climbable. “They wouldn’t sell it if it was an unsafe railing to do,” Mitchell said, noting manufacturers such as Trex and TimberTech and that cable railing has been accepted in other jurisdictions.

Trustees discussed safety concerns and whether to change the local amendment that bans horizontal railings. The board signaled openness to allowing cable-rail exceptions but did not direct a formal ordinance change at the meeting; Mayor Balderman asked staff to bring the item to a work session so staff and the chief building inspector (Ray) can present product information and recommendations.

After discussion, the board approved a motion to grant the waiver (motion recorded in the minutes as moved by Trustee Reiser and seconded by Trustee Scalise) by roll-call vote.

The decision is limited to this property; Robin emphasized the inspector did not intend the village to broadly allow horizontal railings. The board’s next step, per the mayor’s direction, is staff follow-up and a possible work-session discussion about whether to amend the local code to make a narrow exception for cable railing.