The Lee County Board on a roll-call vote failed to approve a special-use permit that would have allowed a skilled-trades operation at 582 U.S. Route 52 in Sublette Township.
The zoning hearing officer, Timothy J. Slavin, had recommended denial in a written report, saying the petitioner had not met ordinance requirements and suggesting conditional approvals only if the board chose to reverse his recommendation.
Board member Radford told colleagues he also supported following the hearing officer’s recommendation to deny, saying he was “pretty familiar with the place” and did not think the petitioner had made sufficient efforts to comply. After a roll call in which the publicized votes were recorded as “No” by nearly all members, the chair announced, “Motion failed.”
Petitioner Gregory L. Husser Trust filed the petition (25P1650) seeking a special-use permit to allow “skilled trades” on roughly 3.47 acres zoned Ag-1 at the Sublette address. The zoning hearing officer’s report — read into the record — recommended denial because requirements of the Lee County Code were not met; the report also included suggested conditions in the event the board granted the permit, including restricting outdoor storage and requiring a traffic-safety assessment from IDOT at the petitioner’s cost.
During public comment, a man identifying himself as Greg Hosser (resident at 582 U.S. Highway 52) said he has lived at that address since 1994, described ongoing clean-up efforts, and criticized how county staff handled permitting and notices. Hosser said he felt he was “thrown in” before a hearing officer without legal counsel and asked why another staff member, Jared, had not taken a more active role in communicating with him. Hosser said the denial would affect his local business relationships.
Discussion vs. decision: The hearing officer’s recommendation and Radford’s remarks were part of the deliberation; the formal action on the table was a motion to approve the resolution to grant the special use, which failed on a roll-call vote. No alternate formal direction to staff or conditions were adopted.
What happens next: The board did not approve the special use. The zoning hearing officer’s recommended conditions remain advisory; any future petition or appeal would require a new filing or a different motion by the board.