Resident asks council to revisit variance denial for fence and raises neighborhood sidewalk safety concerns

Oglesby — Resident Brian Kaminish told the council he followed city direction when placing a shed and fence on his lot and that the zoning board recently denied his variance request. Kaminish said he obtained a survey, made a variance application and sought neighbor approvals; he asked the council to review the zoning board decision and consider reinstating the variance so he can finish a fenced yard around a new pool and protect children in the neighborhood.

Kaminish said the dispute traces to inconsistent historic survey markers and earlier building permits that were interpreted differently; neighbors to the south raised concerns at the zoning meeting about drainage and an overhang they said crossed onto their lot. The mayor and council said they respect the zoning board's work but will place the matter on a future agenda for fuller council review and recommended documentation (recorded neighbor agreements, completed notarized recordings if needed) before action.

Kaminish also flagged safety concerns on Caitlin Court where children wait for school buses and offered to pay for a sidewalk personally if the city cannot fund the work immediately. Council members acknowledged the sidewalk issue is part of a larger "safe routes to school" conversation and agreed to bring the sidewalk and variance matters back to a future meeting for fuller consideration.

What happens next: Council asked staff to put the fence/variance matter on an upcoming agenda and to confer with the zoning board chair to assemble the record and any notarized neighbor agreements. The sidewalk/safe‑routes approach will also be reviewed separately.