The Tinley Park Plan Commission recommended that the Village Board grant a variance allowing a 49-foot, 9-inch curb cut for a driveway at 4 Messina Court, a deviation from zoning limits that cap curb cut widths at 30 feet. The recommendation passed on a roll-call vote, 6–1, after commissioners discussed the change, heard from the homeowner and reviewed staff analysis.

Staff planner Michael (last name not specified) told the commission the property is in the Odyssey Club planned-unit development and that code enforcement measured the curb cut at 49 feet, 9 inches after the driveway was poured. He said the zoning ordinance limits curb cut widths at the curb to 30 feet and indicated the maximum paved apron farther in is typically 40 feet.

The petitioner, Nicole Reese, testified under oath that she signed the building permit as the general contractor and that the architect, Lending Group, prepared revised as-built plans that resulted in the wider driveway. “We wasn't trying to break the rules,” Reese said, adding that she had asked the architect if the change would be a problem and that the architect had not forwarded the revised plan to village staff.

Commissioners described the change as an issue but not one they viewed as significantly altering the neighborhood's character. Commissioner Merrick moved to recommend that the Village Board grant a variation from sections 8(a)(6) and 3(h)(1) of the zoning ordinance to permit the 49-foot, 9-inch curb cut, consistent with the submitted as-built plans and the findings in the staff report dated 09/18/2025; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call (Gaskell voted no; Hamilton, Manning, Merrick, Montalvo, Acting Chair Sathasi and others voted yes).

The commission discussed whether to revise the written standards before the vote; commissioners agreed to adopt a single positive standard stating the variation would not alter the essential character of the locality and asked staff to record discussion in the minutes. Commissioners also noted two freestanding entry structures at the curb (a permitted mailbox and a mirror-column feature) that may require separate permitting; staff said those structures' code compliance and permit status would be checked and, if needed, addressed through the permitting process.

Because the action before the Plan Commission was a recommendation, final approval will be considered at the Village Board meeting scheduled for Oct. 7; staff said it would revise the standards language and transmit the record and minutes for the board packet.

Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend approval of a variance to allow a 49-foot, 9-inch curb cut at 4 Messina Court — motion carried by roll call, yes: Commissioner Hamilton; Commissioner Manning; Commissioner Merrick (mover); Commissioner Montalvo; Acting Chair Sathasi; and one other commissioner; no: Commissioner Gaskell. The recommendation will go to the Village Board for final action on Oct. 7.