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Commission recommends variance to allow larger accessory building at 10520 Banyan Drive
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Summary
The commission recommended approval of ordinance 15-26 to permit accessory structures totaling 1,452 square feet at 10520 Banyan Drive—above the 1,000-square-foot limit—subject to conditions that vehicles be kept in the garage or driveway and storage not be rented; the matter is scheduled for the May 4 committee meeting.
The Machesney Park Planning and Zoning Commission on April 27 recommended approval of a variance that would allow a homeowner at 10520 Banyan Drive to increase accessory building area above the 1,000‑square‑foot limit.
Planning staff explained the homeowner proposes a 624‑square‑foot addition to an existing 728‑square‑foot detached garage, producing a total detached accessory area of 1,452 square feet when including a 100‑square‑foot shed. Staff noted the lot backs up to agricultural land and recommended approval with conditions that vehicles be stored inside the garage or on the driveway, that vehicles never be stored on the lawn, and that garage storage not be rented to others.
Applicant Jim Stoltz, who was sworn for the record and gave his address at 10520 Banyan Drive, said he wants the addition to avoid paying for off‑site storage and described maintaining his property. "My wife passed away years ago, and I still have a vehicle. I really don't wanna get rid of it, but I've been paying storage to keep it," Stoltz said.
An adjoining neighbor, identified in the record as Bridal Whipkey, spoke in support of Stoltz and asked that the siding and roof on the shared wall look appropriate given the structure's size. "It will add 100% new siding and a complete new roof on my side because it is a large building," the neighbor said.
A motion to approve the variance was made by Jim Hankins and seconded by Norm Blinger; commissioners indicated their support in roll call and the commission forwarded a positive recommendation to the Planning & Economic Development committee meeting on May 4 for further consideration.
The variance, if approved by the committee, would allow the homeowner to keep accessory structures totaling 1,452 square feet where the zoning ordinance permits up to 1,000 square feet for lots of that size. Conditions recorded in the meeting require vehicle storage on the driveway or in the garage and prohibit renting garage storage to others.
