Elmhurst Man Wants Exception To Get Cool Relief

ELMHURST, IL – A resident on Prospect Avenue wants an exception to Elmhurst's zoning rules that would allow him to build a structure that he said would provide some cool relief.

On Monday, a City Council committee is set to consider the issue.

Last month, the city's Zoning and Planning Commission split on the request, meaning the panel made no recommendation.

The resident, Ernesto Alvarez, who lives at 782 S. Prospect Ave., is asking the city to allow him to build a pergola in his back yard. He needs the exception because, otherwise, it would violate setback regulations.

A pergola is defined as an archway covered with vines or other plants.

In a letter to the city last month, Alvarez said his entire back yard is exposed to the sun from midday to evening. No mature trees exist for quite a distance, he said.

"That means for that part of the day, it is extremely hot with no real relief from the sun and its rays and not enjoyable in the least," Alvarez said.

He explained why other solutions such as umbrellas, curtains, ceiling fans and air conditioning have not worked.

A pergola, he said, seems to check all the boxes.

"It would provide shade for the entire patio without having to use a myriad of umbrellas or more expensive options in the sunroom," he said. "Since it is attached to the house, it would provide continual shade to the sunroom, so it should never warm up to a point that the existing ceiling fans could not keep it cooled to a more reasonable level."

The matter goes to the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee on Monday. The full council has the final say.