Board approves special‑use permit for Assyrian National Council at 3941 Oakton with parking relief

The Village Board approved a special use permit for the Assyrian National Council of Illinois to operate a civic, social and fraternal organization at 3941 Oakton Street after the Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation.

Community Development Director Johanna Nyden summarized the plan and said the Planning Commission voted 7‑0 (with two members absent) to recommend approval, including relief from the normal parking requirement. The facility’s seating capacity is 56 and on‑street parking at the site provides nine spaces; the requirement under the code is 14 spaces, so the petitioner requested parking relief and proposed shuttle operations from a satellite location to help manage demand.

Applicant representative Steve Marano explained the shuttle approach, saying they expect to use SUVs or minivans to bring most attendees from the satellite location and that many users will be local, walk or bike to the site. Trustees asked where shuttle vehicles would stop and whether alley or rear access would be used; Marano said the vehicles could enter through the alley or front and that small vehicle types are expected to be used.

Trustees moved and the clerk recorded a unanimous roll call in favor of the permit. Staff noted permit conditions limiting hours of operation and requiring compliance with standard safety and parking mitigation measures.

Next steps: Staff will finalize permit paperwork and monitor the site for compliance with permit conditions and the shuttle/parking mitigation plan.