Planning and Zoning Commission Recommends Denial of Temporary Gravel Parking Lot at Kelly Road Park

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend denial of a proposal from property owners Hampshire West LLC to provide a temporary gravel parking lot and bike-path connection as part of a planned donation of a 29-acre park along Kelly Road.

Petitioner representatives and a staff witness described the developer's obligation under the annexation agreement to deed parkland to the Hampshire Township Park District and to contribute $65,000 toward park improvements. Dan, a staff member who identified himself as with CR Community Development, told the commission the developer's intent is "to turn over to the park district a 2 AC Park along Kelly Road" and that the $65,000 contribution was intended to fund a gravel parking lot and a bike path connection while the park district completes a master plan.

The commission's deliberations focused on public-safety and accessibility concerns. Resident Kim KW, during public comment, asked, "why there are two parking lots" and warned that Kelly Road is narrow and unsafe for roadside parking if the gravel lot proved insufficient. A commissioner said, "gravel is not an accessible walking surface," citing Americans with Disabilities Act guidance and urging commissioners to consider equitable access and emergency-vehicle access.

Commissioners also noted the Hampshire Township Park District's absence at the meeting and debated whether to continue the hearing to allow a park-district representative to present the master-plan timeline and funding expectations. Staff and the petitioner said the park district hopes to complete a master plan and secure grants next year but that no firm timeline had been provided; the petitioner said ownership of the parkland would transfer to the district as soon as feasible.

After discussion about whether to attach a sunset clause limiting how long the gravel lot could remain temporary, the commission first considered a motion to recommend approval; that motion failed. A subsequent motion to recommend denial passed, and the commission decided to forward its recommendation to the Village Board for final consideration at the board's Sept. 19 meeting.

The commission recorded several practical uncertainties in the record: the precise dimensions and stall count for the proposed gravel lot were not provided, the park district was not represented at the meeting, and staff said the cost of permanent paving would exceed the developer's $65,000 contribution. The commission's recommendation is advisory; the Village Board will make the final determination.