Burr Ridge board directs staff to prepare ordinance denying variation for 175 Drew Avenue

The Burr Ridge Village Board voted 5–0 July 27 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance denying a requested zoning variation that would have allowed three detached accessory structures at 175 Drew Avenue.

A petitioner argued the three elements at the property consist of a coach house, a pergola (an open‑top structure without sides) and a small shed enclosing pool equipment, and asked the board to treat the pergola differently from an enclosed accessory building. The petitioner said the pergola pre‑dated their purchase and that they had sought to cure issues identified during inspection. “We want to cover it,” the petitioner said when describing the pool equipment enclosure.

Staff and planning‑commission representatives told the board the planning commission recommended denial because the petition did not satisfy the required findings of fact, including hardship. Staff confirmed there had been unpermitted exterior work at the property, including a stop‑work order on parts of the pool/patio construction and a temporary access drive. Janine, the community development director, told the board the planning commission “did not recommend approval of the variation as they did not see that it met the findings of fact including a hardship.”

Trustees discussed alternatives such as landscape screening and whether a permit was mistakenly granted, but ultimately Trustee Smith moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance denying the variation; Trustee Scapa seconded. The board approved the motion on a roll call vote, 5–0.

The denial directs staff to draft the ordinance for consideration at a future meeting. The planning‑commission record and staff materials will be included in the ordinance packet when it returns to the board.