Plan commission continues hearing on proposed Sleepy Hollow self-storage after residents object

The Sleepy Hollow Plan Commission recessed a public hearing on a special-use application for a self-storage facility and continued it to March 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., after commissioners said they lacked the six votes required to approve variances.

The continuation came after the chair told the commission that "the vote required to approve a variance would have required six votes and there only five members present," and commissioners discussed options including receiving an updated presentation but not taking final action without the absent member.

Why it matters: Residents pressed the commission to reject the proposal or to delay action until the full commission could consider revisions. Debbie Vernon, a Sleepy Hollow homeowner of 22 years, said the revised plan "is not recommended under any conditions" and presented a petition she said had about 395 signatures opposing the project. Eddie Reese, an earlier commenter, told the commission, "I don't want you in our village, plain and simple."

What the commission did: Commissioners discussed whether the absent member could participate virtually; the chair said the commission had not adopted rules allowing remote voting or participation that would count toward a required quorum. Commissioners voted by voice to continue the public hearing to March 24, 2025, after noting the applicant had granted an extension but that further extensions might not be available.

Residents' concerns: In public comment, Debbie Vernon outlined multiple objections: she said the proposal failed to meet Sleepy Hollow standards for architectural conformity, did not provide sufficient emergency and fire-vehicle turning radius and access under the village's adopted fire code, and would negatively affect nearby residential areas such as Laurel Court and Locust Drive. She said the zoning for the parcel (B2 commercial) was intended to protect adjacent residential areas and argued the site plan still did not comply with buffer and access requirements. Vernon urged the commission and village board to deny the special-use application.

Applicant response and schedule pressure: Applicant representatives told the commission they had made revisions since the last meeting and were prepared to present the updated materials. Commissioners and the applicants discussed the seller's contract timeline; the chair said an extension had been secured but that no further extensions were expected. The commission identified March 24 as the date to reconvene and try to resolve remaining issues before any recommendation to the village board.

Next steps: The commission recessed the hearing and set a special continuation for March 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Several residents said they will return; one speaker said he would reserve his comments for that meeting. The record indicated motions to approve the agenda and minutes were taken earlier in the meeting, and the meeting was adjourned after public comment.

Sources: Comments and motions recorded during the Sleepy Hollow Plan Commission meeting; public commenters included Eddie Reese and Debbie Vernon. The commission cited the village's adopted fire code and the B2 commercial zoning designation during discussion.