Will County Board Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 7 approved a series of zoning variances and a temporary use permit while denying one request for a large detached accessory building and tabling — then later approving — a contested lot‑split variance that commissioners and property owners debated over pond maintenance and frontage.

The commission approved variances allowing existing or proposed structures to remain or be built closer to lot lines or road centerlines than the current code permits, granted a map amendment to expand a commercial zoning parcel and approved a temporary use permit for a mobile office trailer at a self‑storage/U‑Haul site under construction. One request to exceed the maximum accessory building area in the Williamsburg subdivision was denied after concerns about neighborhood character and floodplain impacts.

Why it matters: the votes change development entitlements for individual parcels across Will County, including rural A‑1 agricultural parcels and residential lots. Several decisions — notably a request to split a 40‑acre parcel in Wilton Township and a large detached garage in Plainfield Township — prompted detailed discussion about how frontage rules, ponds and accessory square footage affect future maintenance, flood risk and neighborhood character.

Most important outcomes

- Commissioners voted to approve a variance for ZC25‑062 to allow an existing garage addition to remain with a west side yard setback of 3.4 feet (required: 5 feet). Staff recommended approval and no objections were recorded.

- ZC25‑095 (Wilton Township) — a request to divide a 40‑acre agricultural parcel into a ~27‑acre parcel with 200.11 feet of lot frontage (below the A‑1 required 300 feet) — was initially tabled to the Nov. 4 meeting at the applicants’ request, then later brought back and approved after owners and counsel addressed township concerns about pond ownership and maintenance.

- ZC25‑087 (James Siciliano, A‑1, Plainfield area) — variance granted to permit an attached garage that would extend a nonconforming setback from the center line of the road (required: 100 feet; existing home at 56 feet). Staff recommended approval given the house’s pre‑zoning construction date.

- ZC25‑089 (Thomas Golak) — variance for street setback along a private/shared easement was denied in staff analysis but the commission approved the applicant’s request after hearing engineer testimony about an on‑site drainage ditch and the parcel’s topography.

- ZC25‑072 (Williamsburg subdivision, Plainfield Township; owner Jose Cueras) — request to expand total accessory building area to 2,579 sq ft (from the R‑2A limit of 1,800 sq ft) was denied by the commission after discussion about neighborhood character, existing accessory structures and flood/retention concerns.

- ZC25‑090 (Homer Township, Danielle Gianola) — variance approved to increase maximum accessory building area from 1,500 sq ft to 2,751 sq ft for a wooded, larger‑than‑typical R‑3 parcel where staff found the request would be screened by trees and not visible from the private road.

- ZC25‑074 (Joe Andy Holdings; Crete area) — map amendment approved to rezone one northern PIN from A‑1 to C‑6 so an existing recreational/event use can remain on combined parcels; two variances (accessory building height from 25 to 28.5 feet and fence height within a street setback from 4 to 6 feet) were approved by the commission.

- TUP25008 (Frankfort Township) — temporary use permit for a mobile office trailer to serve a self‑storage/U‑Haul operation under construction was approved with conditions, including a 1‑year permit window, required building‑division inspection before full occupancy and compliance with fire and health district requirements.

Debate highlights: lot split, pond maintenance and “self‑created” hardship

The most contested matter — ZC25‑095 in Wilton Township — generated the most sustained discussion. Staff recommended denial, saying the owners’ desire to divide the parcel was not a unique circumstance and that a division to meet A‑1 frontage requirements was possible. Commissioners and counsel revisited practical concerns: the parcel contains a pond and existing electrical equipment used by the current owners to maintain that pond. Attorney Timothy McGrath, representing the applicants, told commissioners, “the integrity of the property is not going to change” and argued that keeping pond access and utilities with the same owner was a practical reason for the variance rather than strictly a financial motive.

Commissioners debated the tension between enforcing frontage rules (the A‑1 minimum is 300 feet) and not “punishing” landowners who approach the county for relief rather than selling or dividing nonconforming lots without permits. The board ultimately tabled the item to Nov. 4 at one point to give owners or representatives time to be present, then later took a roll‑call vote approving the variance after the applicants returned to address concerns.

On accessory structures, the commission repeatedly weighed neighborhood character and environmental concerns. For ZC25‑072 in Williamsburg, staff recommended denial; the commission agreed, citing nearby retention and flood history and that the requested accessory area would exceed adjacent parcel norms. By contrast, in ZC25‑090 staff recommended approval and commissioners agreed after finding the proposed pole barn would be screened by woodland and would primarily serve to store equipment currently kept outdoors.

Quotes

- On staff recommendations for multiple variances, the presenter (Jesus) summarized in several cases: “staff is recommending approval of the variance.”

- On the lot‑split question, attorney Timothy McGrath told the commission: “the integrity of the property is not going to change.”

Decisions and roll calls (Votes at a glance)

- ZC25‑062 — Variance: west side yard setback from 5 ft to 3.4 ft. Outcome: approved. Roll call: Kimberly Mitchell (yes), John Kiefner (yes), Lewis Navarette (yes), Karen Warwick (yes), Chairman Houston (yes).

- ZC25‑095 — Variance: A‑1 lot frontage from 300 ft to 200.11 ft (to divide a 40‑acre parcel). Actions: (a) Motion to table to 11/04/2025 — approved by roll call; (b) Later motion to remove from table and vote — final vote approving the variance (roll call: majority yes; motion passed).

- ZC25‑087 — Variance: street setback (from center line) from 100 ft to 56 ft (attached garage). Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call yes).

- ZC25‑089 — Variance: street setback from center line of non‑dedicated road (to allow residence closer than 100 ft). Outcome: approved (commission voted yes after engineer testimony).

- ZC25‑072 — Variance: increase accessory building area from 1,800 sq ft (R‑2A limit) to 2,579 sq ft. Outcome: denied (roll call resulted in not enough votes in favor).

- ZC25‑090 — Variance: accessory building area from 1,500 sq ft to 2,751 sq ft. Outcome: approved (roll call yes).

- ZC25‑074 — Map amendment A‑1 to C‑6 (northern PIN) approved; variance for accessory building height (25 ft → 28.5 ft) approved; variance for fence height within street setback (4 ft → 6 ft) approved (roll calls affirmative).

- TUP25008 — Temporary use permit for mobile office trailer (1 year) — approved with five conditions (inspection, building‑division compliance, fire and health sign‑offs, weekly sanitary service, removal once permanent office built).

What’s next

Affected property owners can proceed with required building permits where the commission approved variances; those permits remain subject to building‑division and other agency approvals noted in staff reports. The commission will next meet on Oct. 21 and will revisit tabled matters as scheduled.

Methodology and scope

This report summarizes substantive agenda items and formal votes recorded on Oct. 7 before the Will County Board Planning & Zoning Commission. It omits ceremonial remarks and procedural roll‑calls unrelated to zoning actions. Vote descriptions and tallies reflect the roll‑call language recorded in the meeting transcript.