Trustees discuss proposed rules on outdoor storage and recreational equipment, ask for further refinement

Staff presented draft ordinance language that would define and regulate open/outdoor storage and recreational equipment (for example, trampolines and exercise equipment) as nuisances under Chapter 154 of the code. The presenter said the language is intended to give staff clearer enforcement tools where items are creating nuisances.

Trustees raised concerns over scope and unintended consequences. One trustee warned past local attempts to regulate basketball goals became "very messy" when definitions were imprecise; staff said the draft has been refined to include recreational equipment and that front/rear/side yards are already defined in the code, allowing discretion in application.

Trustees asked whether permanent items (e.g., concrete-anchored basketball hoops) would be treated differently from temporary equipment and asked staff to clarify enforcement thresholds and whether the proposed standard would require nightly removal of items. Staff said legal reviewed Illinois law and believes the village may regulate such items as public nuisances under its authority.

Staff said they will refine the draft—specifically to address basketball hoops, side-yard scenarios and whether secure-anchoring standards for trampolines should be required—and aim to bring a formal ordinance to the March meeting.

Next steps: staff will refine the ordinance draft to clarify definitions, address basketball hoops and yard-edge cases, and return the item to the March meeting for formal introduction.