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Fox River Grove board approves 104-sq.-ft. garage variance at 220 Gladys Ave.
Summary
The Village of Fox River Grove Board approved Ordinance 2024-09 to allow an accessory garage 104 square feet larger than the 576-square-foot limit at 220 Gladys Ave.; the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval 5-1 and the board vote passed with one trustee opposing and one recorded as present.
The Village of Fox River Grove on Tuesday approved Ordinance 2024-09 to allow construction of an accessory structure at 220 Gladys Avenue that exceeds the village code limit of 576 square feet by 104 square feet.
Petitioner Ryan Budyak told the board he has lived at 220 Gladys Ave. since 2007 and said the additional garage space would allow the family to store items currently in an unfinished basement. Budyak provided a neighbor consent form in support of the variance and said he hoped to begin construction before winter. “If the Board is considering updating the code in the near future… I don’t see any harm in approving my request now so I can get construction going before winter,” Budyak said.
Administrator Soderholm told the board the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the variance by a 5-1 vote. Trustee Jennifer Curtiss said she felt the term “hardship” has been overused recently but argued that requiring another Planning & Zoning hearing would itself create a practical hardship for the Budyak family. “When looking at the Budyak’s property lot lines… even if he were to wait for the ordinance to be updated and try to move the garage up and attach it to his home, he would still have to go through with a variance request,” Curtiss said. Trustee Devin Hester recorded a “no” vote during the board roll call.
The roll-call vote on Ordinance 2024-09 was: Trustees Jennifer Curtiss, Andrew Migdal and Melissa Schladt and Village President Marc McLaughlin — yes; Trustee Steve Knar — recorded as “present” and Trustee Devin Hester — no. The motion passed.
The variance allows the Budyak family to proceed with plans to build the larger accessory garage; the petitioner indicated intent to begin construction pending any required permits and scheduling.
Background: The village’s accessory-structure size limit is 576 square feet; this motion increases the allowable area for this property by 104 square feet only for the 220 Gladys Avenue petition.
