Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vernon Hills commission conditionally backs addition at 31 Montauk Lane
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a floor-area-ratio variance for a second-floor addition at 31 Montauk Lane, conditioned on staff verification of whether loft/attic spaces count toward FAR and on reducing the roof ridge height to better match neighborhood rooflines.
The Vernon Hills Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend a variance that would allow a second-floor addition at 31 Montauk Lane to exceed the village's standard floor-area ratio, subject to conditions meant to limit visual bulk and the addition's effective square footage.
Petitioners Agal Kavietzka and owner Barb Barakilpa told the commission they need the additional bedrooms and a second full bathroom to house multigenerational family members and visiting relatives. Architect Darya Menges said the most economical and least-disturbing way to add space was to build above the existing garage rather than pour new foundations at the rear of the lot.
The commission's recommendation requires staff to verify whether a proposed "storage loft" (an open lofted area accessed by ladder) or the adjacent attic must count as finished floor area for FAR calculations. The motion instructs staff that if inclusion of those spaces would push the project beyond the requested limit, the petitioner must convert them to unoccupiable attic space for FAR purposes and work with staff to lower the roof ridge so the addition better matches the house's existing roofline.
Neighbors raised concerns during public comment about the hardship standard used for variances and about preserving the block's single-family character. Hannah Whitney of 25 Montauk Lane said she found the design "very creative" but questioned whether the applicants had shown a unique hardship. Patricia Bonnick of 23 Montauk Lane said she wanted the block to remain single-family and worried about parking and aesthetic changes.
Chair Morris framed the practical hardship as a combination of family need and the existing house layout, saying the option to add on above the garage is "most economical" and less disruptive to drainage than digging new foundations. Commissioners discussed precedents in the neighborhood and staff noted some nearby homes predate the 1982 FAR requirement, complicating comparisons.
The recommendation passed on a roll call 4'to'2 (in favor: Commissioners Nabbit, Fluno, Heidner and Chair Morris; opposed: Commissioners Cotton and Hendrick). The petitioners were told to coordinate with staff to finalize FAR calculations and roofline adjustments before returning with any required changes.
The commission's action is a recommendation to the village board or is the final administrative step depending on staff findings; staff will notify the petitioners of next steps and any needed permit revisions.
