Fox River Grove board moves special‑use for car sales at 408 Lincoln Ave. to future agenda with parking limit

The Fox River Grove Village Board voted 4–1 on June 2 to move Zoning Case 2026‑04—requests for special uses to permit motor vehicle sales and an open sales lot at 408 Lincoln Ave.—to a future meeting agenda with a condition limiting front‑of‑building parking to no more than three vehicles at a time.

Assistant Administrator Bechler told the board the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval of the two special uses with six conditions, including: no vehicles for sale or in disassembly stored in front of the building; a maximum of three vehicles parked in front; only one vehicle for sale visible in front during an active sale; test drives not occurring on Fox River Grove residential streets; and that loading and unloading be done quickly so as not to obstruct traffic. The P&Z recommendation limited the special uses to the petitioner, Taras Vernyi.

Petitioner Taras Vernyi told the board he and his father run the operation, that he refurbishes vehicles and seeks an Illinois license to sell those cars rather than consign them. Taras said sales would be by appointment and promoted online—he said he works as a professional videographer/photographer—and that he has sold about 20 vehicles so far this year. Board members asked whether he owned the building, whether the back parking was shared with a lower unit and whether he used off‑site storage for parts; Taras said he rents the space, the lower unit is currently vacant and parts are stored in Cary.

Trustees debated whether the P&Z conditions were enforceable. President Marc McLaughlin said he thought only the provision limiting to three vehicles parked in front was realistically enforceable and expressed a preference that special uses remain tied to the property rather than be limited to a single tenant—though he also said the Board could remove a special use when a business no longer occupies a site. Trustee Jennifer Curtiss said she opposed allowing motor vehicle sales at that location. Trustee Devin Hester framed the decision around practical enforcement and tax capture, and Trustee David Joseph supported attaching the special use to the property and the three‑vehicle front‑parking limit.

Trustee Hester moved to place Case No. 2026‑04 on a future agenda recommending approval of the special uses with the condition that no more than three vehicles be parked in front of the building at any time; Trustee Migdal seconded. The roll call vote was Hester, Joseph, Knar and Migdal in favor, Curtiss opposed. The motion passed 4–1.

The board did not adopt final special‑use ordinances at the June 2 meeting; the motion advances the case for formal consideration at a later meeting. Officials noted enforcement mechanisms and long‑term parking concerns would require further staff review and potential ordinance language before final action.