CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance approving a variance from Section 6-6B-7:1 to allow a sunroom to encroach into the required interior side yard for the property located at 2298 Weatherford Lane - PZC 24-1-129
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Brad Iwicki, Assistant Planner
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered PZC 24-1-129 on January 15, 2025, and recommended approval of the request (approved 8-0). Staff concurs.
BACKGROUND:
The petitioner, Lee Welbes, with authorization from the property owner, Desiree Sana, has submitted a variance request for the property generally located to the east of the Wesley Avenue and Weatherford Lane intersection with a common address of 2298 Weatherford Lane. The property is approximately 8,566 square feet and is currently zoned R1B PUD (Medium Density Single-Family Residence District Planned Unit Development) and improved with a one-story single-family residence and a shed.
DISCUSSION:
The subject property is located in the Old Farm Unit 6A Planned Unit Development which is improved with a mix of at least four different types of homes of varying sizes and styles, though the majority of the homes are one story. The one-story residence on the subject property, constructed in 1983, totals approximately 1,088 square feet of living space with a 220 square-foot attached garage.
The homeowner is proposing to construct a 210 square-foot sunroom addition to protrude from the southwest wall of the residence in the same location as an existing deck. The petitioner states that the interior layout of the home does not allow the sunroom to be constructed at the rear of the building. The proposed sunroom will maintain a setback of five feet from the interior side yard property line.
The minimum yard requirements of the underlying R1B zoning district are applicable to properties in the Old Farm Unit 6A PUD. The minimum interior side yard setback in the R1B zoning district is six feet. The Municipal Code provides that no portion of a principal structure or attached accessory structure shall encroach into the required interior side yard setback. Therefore, the petitioner requests a variance from the R1B interior side yard setback requirements provided in Section 6-6B-7:1 (R1B: Yard Requirements) of the Naperville Municipal Code in order to construct the proposed sunroom with an interior side yard setback measuring five feet.
The site plan submitted with the petition shows the proposed sunroom, 20 feet by 10.5 feet, encroaching one-foot into the required six-foot interior side yard setback. The proposed sunroom addition will not encroach into the five-foot Public Utility and Drainage Easement that exists along the southwest interior side property line. The exterior materials will match the existing residence in style and color.
The petitioner notes that the subject property’s lot shape is unique as the lot width at the rear of the property is narrower than the lot width in the front. This lot configuration, combined with the existing location of the home and deck, creates a practical difficulty and limits opportunities for an addition to being constructed. The proposed addition will be located within the footprint of the existing deck, therefore will not result in the removal of any green space or negatively impact neighboring properties. Staff does not have concerns with the petitioner’s request as proposed.
Findings of Fact
The petitioner’s responses to the Standards for Granting a Zoning Variance are attached. The PZC and staff agree with the petitioner’s Findings for the variance and recommends their adoption by the City Council.
Planning and Zoning Commission Action
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this matter at their meeting on January 15, 2025. There was no public testimony. The PZC closed the public hearing after no further discussions and voted to recommend approval of the Petitioner’s request. (approved 8-0).