Petitioner seeks setback variance for chicken coop attached to shed

Rebecca Falco, the petitioner in a Milton Township zoning case, asked the zoning hearing officer on May 20 for a permanent variance to reduce the required 25-foot interior side and rear setbacks for an existing chicken coop to about 16 feet and 14 feet, respectively.

Falco told the hearing she installed a framed chicken-coop enclosure a little over a year ago by attaching posts and heavy-duty chicken wire to a previously permitted 12-by-12 shed. "We just do it for the eggs, the fresh egg," she said, describing the birds as pets and adding she does not sell eggs.

The hearing officer noted the property is roughly a quarter acre and said objections to the petition were on file from the building department and the City of Glen Ellyn; other authorities had requested additional information if the petition proceeds. The officer also confirmed that Falco had a building permit for the shed but not for the coop’s site placement.

During the hearing, the parties clarified the site plan labeling after some confusion about which structure the survey identified as the shed and which as the coop. Falco said she used an older survey from when she purchased the house about 10 years ago and that she attached the coop to the existing shed rather than constructing a separate standalone coop.

The hearing officer described the relief sought as permanent and running with the land and said he would take the testimony under advisement. "I'll take this under advisement and make a decision at our next recommendation meeting, which is June 3, and that starts at 3:00," he said. He said his written recommendation would be emailed and forwarded to the county development committee for evaluation and then transmitted to the county board for a final decision.

Falco offered to provide additional photos or other materials if the hearing officer or staff needed more information. No formal vote was taken at the hearing; the officer closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting.