Burr Ridge Forgiveness Sought Again For Unpermitted Work

BURR RIDGE, IL – For at least the third time this year, a Burr Ridge homeowner came before the Village Board to seek an exception to the local code after unpermitted building work.

Stefan Kaplarevic, who built a house at 7310 Giddings Ave., added a covered deck that the original plan did not include. While a deck is allowed, the roof for the deck violates setback rules, according to the village.

Subscribe

Kaplarevic argued that the property's relatively small size prohibits the construction of a covered deck, which he said qualified as a hardship under the village code.

During Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Tony Schiappa expressed frustration seeing the third instance of unpermitted work.

"I want to put an end to it," he said. "This is not how we do business in the village."

Trustee Guy Franzese cast doubt that a hardship existed. He said it was another instance of a homeowner seeking forgiveness.

"It is not a hardship to tear the roof off and build it to code," Franzese said. "It is a self-imposed hardship that he created for himself. The village didn't create it."

The Plan Commission had earlier voted 5-2 to recommend the board approve an exception

Trustee Russell Smith agreed with the commission.

"There was approval from the homeowners' neighbors. There were no objections. They were actually very complimentary of the look of the home," Smith said.

But he urged the village to assess the maximum fine of $750 for the unpermitted work.

"We would be setting a bad precedent if we just allow homeowners and builders to just walk freely without having permitted work," Smith said.

The homeowner's request included the signatures of 15 supporting Burr Ridge residents. Many were from the neighborhood.

However, Franzese dismissed "popularity contests" when discussing such issues. Rather, he said, the debate should be over the zoning code and actual hardships.

"One of the signatures on that petition is one of my neighbors in my subdivision on the other side of I-55 in a different county," Franzese said. "So how is that even relevant? To me, petitions like that, they don't mean anything."

Mayor Gary Grasso asked the homeowner, Kaplarevic, whether he knew the covered deck violated the local code. He replied that he did not.

"I believe him," the mayor said.

The board voted 4-2 for the exception. Smith, Anita Mital, Joe Snyder and Al Paveza voted in favor, while Franzese and Schiappa were against.

Last month, the board voted against a homeowner who wanted an exception to exceed the maximum for detached buildings. She had done unpermitted work.

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