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Board of Adjustment approves variance to legalize two undersized Cook County lots
Summary
The Cook County Board of Adjustment approved an after‑the‑fact variance to designate two existing parcels in the FAR‑1 zone as legal nonconforming lots after staff said each measures about 19.63 acres, just under the 20‑acre minimum. The board added a condition to ensure emergency addressing.
The Cook County Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance request that will formally recognize two existing parcels in the FAR‑1 (Forest Agriculture Recreational) zone as legal nonconforming lots.
A staff member told the board that “the subject parcels contain approximately 19.63 acres, which are slightly below the minimum 20 acre lot area,” and explained that the county’s Subdivision Ordinance recognizes a 5% deviation as a practical difficulty for new subdivisions. Staff said the parcels appear to have been created in 1998 and that historical survey and mapping practices likely explain the shortfall.
Staff recommended approval to eliminate uncertainty about the parcels’ development status and included draft findings of fact and suggested conditions. The staff presentation noted the parcels are accessed from Casper Hills Road, that county GIS analysts provided a technical memo, and that no written comments were received during the notice period.
Chair moved to accept staff findings and approve the variance; a board member seconded and members voted in favor. The board’s approval carries a condition that emergency/fire addressing be provided for the parcels so they can be identified by emergency services.
Staff said they are considering a broader ordinance amendment to address similar historical surveying discrepancies across the county, but provided no timeline for that potential change.
