ZBA approves design review for fire-truck exhibit addition in Roscoe

The Roscoe Township Zoning Board of Appeals voted April 8 to approve a design review for a building addition to house fire-truck exhibits on the property at Metric Road, subject to conditions on parking, stormwater and engineer signoffs.

Staff presented the application (ZBA-2026-007), saying the property was annexed into the village in 2021, rezoned to General Industrial under an annexation agreement that required dedication of right-of-way and construction of a cul-de-sac. Staff recommended approval of the approximately single-story museum addition and noted applicants must address village engineer comments, install the reviewed materials, stripe the parking lot and meet landscaping requirements. "A concurring vote of at least four ZBA members is necessary to grant approval," staff said.

Applicants Wayne Lansing and Lauren Downing, representing the project, were sworn for the record. Downing said the team resubmitted plans after staff feedback and requested not to place traditional parking blocks adjacent to areas where the sidewalk has a 6-inch exposed edge; she said the design will meet the intent using wheel stops in a different configuration. An agency engineer present said he was "fine with it, based on the width of the sidewalk" but emphasized the need to address grading and ADA ramp details before occupancy. Staff reiterated that stormwater delineation, grading and utility comments must be resolved prior to issuance of an occupancy permit.

Board members asked about address inconsistencies on the application. Staff clarified the parcel uses multiple addresses (13750 and 13825 Metric Drive) for different buildings on the same parcel and that the property has a single access point ending at a cul-de-sac.

The motion to approve carried by voice vote; multiple board members answered "Yes/Aye" when called. The transcript does not clearly identify the mover and seconder for the motion. After the vote, applicant Wayne Lansing described the museum collection and said several of the trucks are historical, noting one vehicle dates to the Chicago fire of 1871: "Now one of them... from 1871... it was used in the fire in Chicago," he said.

The approval includes the staff conditions requiring resolution of engineering comments, installation of approved materials, provision of wheel stops or equivalent, parking lot striping and landscaping per code. The board did not record any public comments on this agenda item.

Next procedural steps: applicants must satisfy the village engineer's stormwater and grading requirements and obtain any required permits before occupancy. The board then moved on to the next design review item and later adjourned.