Western Springs Zoning Battle Delayed

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A zoning battle that is splitting a Western Springs neighborhood has been put off to another day.

Earlier this week, the Village Board decided to send the matter back to the Plan Commission, which held a hearing in February.

Tim Holcer, a resident in the Timber Trails development, is seeking an enclosed porch at 1102 White Pine Lane, which requires the village's approval.

Holcer originally proposed the porch as an individual homeowner. But because of the village's rules for planned unit developments, the request ended up including two-thirds of the neighborhood's more than 230 lots.

Village President Alice Gallagher proposed a delay because of unresolved issues and the project's changed scope.

"I thank the Holcers for their good nature and cooperative spirit in pursuing this application," she said. "The Holcers have been put in a difficult position because of the (planned unit development) ordinance requirements.

"They did not seek to represent all similarly situated residences, but were advised by the village this was a necessary course of action," Gallagher said. "As a result, they have acted in good faith from the outset. And I ask the Timber Trails community to accord them the same respect that they have shown through this process."

After the Village Board voted for the delay, residents asked officials why they have already approved a permit for a patio at Holcer's house. They said the village failed to inform the homeowners association.

Martin Scott, the village's community development director, said the Holcers have the right to build the patio under village regulations.

Scott said the village wasn't required to get the association's go-ahead. But he said the village's documents indicated the owner must receive the association's approval.

The developer, Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development, backed Holcers' request, bringing in the other lots into the process.

In letters to the village, neighbors have said allowing more enclosed porches would worsen stormwater problems. They also said the developer wanted bigger houses to make as much money as possible.

Earlier this week, Holcer commented on the zoning issue on the Facebook page for Western Springs Patch. He said 80 percent of the owner-occupied lots support his request, while more than 80 percent of the comments against it were written by unaffected property owners.

"Timber Trails is the only community in Western Springs that has common area walking paths, which we also enjoy, yet the homeowners are responsible for paying the maintenance of a 35 (foot) common area walking path between their inner lots in our case, and are granted zero flexibility within their own property, effectively taking more of their property for their own use and enjoyment," Holcer said. "The rights of everyone else come before the rightful owners, interesting times."

He lamented the response to his request.

"It’s the reason no one steps forward as they get results like this and have to endure nonsense of this nature," he said.