Drawn-Out Permitting Upsets Western Springs Resident

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A Western Springs resident this week questioned why it took more than four months to get the village's permission to add a screened-in porch.

Osman Keskin, who lives in the 3900 block of Harvey Avenue, told the Village Board that the village's engineering review fee was $1,600 for a $9,000 project.

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He said he was familiar with the village's permitting process. A couple of decades ago, he said he built a house and experienced no problems with the procedures.

"What I've been told is that in my situation, there was a big miscommunication between administrative staff, the engineering team, the code people," Keskin said. "Whatever the case, it should not take 4½ months to get a permit."

He said he was also told, "Well, there are so many homes that get a permit and go against their permit."

"I shouldn't be punished for that," Keskin said.

He said he spoke several times with the village's manager, Ellen Baer.

Village President Heidi Rudolph thanked Keskin for bringing the matter to the board's attention.

"I'm sorry for the experience," she said. "We will look into it. We want our residents, our builders and others who work with our community to have a positive experience. So give us a moment to look into it."

Baer said she had found the fees in Keskin's case were appropriate, following the village's code.

She also said the fees described by Keskin were not just for engineering, but included items such as the plan review.