Stop-Work Order Upsets Burr Ridge Officials; Homeowner Request Rejected

BURR RIDGE, IL – A Burr Ridge homeowner on Monday wanted to get an exception to the village's code for the number of detached buildings on her property.

But Stacey Zontini, who lives on Drew Avenue, encountered a hurdle – two earlier citations for work done without a permit.

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Village trustees have expressed frustration before when homeowners undertake building projects without permits.

When officials catch such violations, they issue stop-work orders, as they did in this case.

The work included the pool patio area, according to the village.

"So we're asking for forgiveness?" Trustee Guy Franzese asked Zontini's attorney, Nicholas Esposito.

"Yes," the lawyer said.

Esposito further said he wouldn't deny or question the two citations. But he said he phoned village employees and met with them to address their concerns.

"That's what I do," he said.

Responding, Franzese said, "I wish the calls and conversations with staff would occur before the first shovel went into the ground."

The village's Plan Commission unanimously recommended that the Village Board reject the request for more detached buildings.

Plan commissioner Mike Stratis noted Zontini owned a home renovation company.

"This isn't somebody who didn't know the law and didn't know that they needed a permit," Stratis said.

The contractors also knew about the requirements, he said.

"I can't say that that impacted my decision, but it's tough to come in front of the boards with unclean hands," Stratis said.

The Village Board voted unanimously against Zontini's request. Mayor Gary Grasso and Trustee Anita Mital were absent.

In March, trustees discussed how another homeowner failed to get a building permit before a project and then ignored a stop-work order.