McHenry Times

Village of Fox River Grove President and Board of Trustees met Aug. 6

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Village President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Center. Present at roll call were Trustees Knar, Hester, and Migdal. Trustees, Curtiss, Schladt, and Wall were absent. Also, present were Administrator Soderholm, Assistant Administrator Bechler, Chief Waitrovich, and Clerk Caesar. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Angie Gunn, 1100 Bayview Ct. - Mrs. Gunn requested clarification regarding golf cart and side-by-side (UTVS) rules in the Village. Mrs. Gunn stated her family recently upgraded to a UTV and wanted to ensure they were okay to drive io on Village streets. Mrs. Gunn stated her UTV is fully equipped with all the required State of Illinois street safe regulations. 

VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE REPORTS 

Village President - President McLaughlin stated the Fox Fest is only one board meeting away. 

Trustee Knar mentioned Picnic Grove Park has not been overly crowded the past few weekends and besides some grills still being brought in, he feels there is improvement over past summer crowds. 

1. APPROVAL: CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVAL VIA ONE VOTE FOR ALL 

A. Village Board Meeting Minutes - July 16, 2024 

B. Accounts Payable - August 6, 2024 

C. Treasurer's Report - June 2024 

D. Ordinance 2024-08, 100 Ski Hill Road, Accessory Structure Variations - Exceeding 12' in Height,  576 Square Feet in Area, Side Yard Location 

E. Ordinance 2024-09, 220 Gladys Avenue, Accessory Structure Variation - Exceeding 576 Square  Feet in Area 

F. Ordinance 2024-10, Text Amendments to the Fox River Grove Zoning Ordinance 

G. Award of Bid, Picnic Grove Park Monument Sign, Milieu Landscaping 

H. Waive Raffle Fee & Fidelity Bond Requirement for Fox River Grove PTO 

I.  Waive Temporary Liquor License Fee for Fall Fun - October 19, 2024 - Fox River Grove Lions Club 

Trustee Hester requested to remove item E from the consent agenda. 

Trustee Hester made a motion to approve consent agenda items A, B, C, D, F, G, H, and I. Trustee Migdal seconded. Roll Call: Trustee Knar, Hester, Migdal, and President McLaughlin -all "yes." MOTION PASSED. 

E. APPROVAL: ORDINANCE 2024-09, 220 GLADYS AVENUE, ACCESSORY STRUCTURE VARIATION — EXCEEDING 576 SQUARE FEET IN AREA 

Trustee Migdal made a motion to approve consent agenda item E. Trustee Hester seconded. 

A discussion was held. 

Trustee Hester stated that he feels that a legitimate hardship was not present to justify the variance requested by the petitioner to build an accessory structure greater than the allowed 576 square feet in area. Trustee Hester stated he is not in favor of granting variances for accessory structure size without a hardship. 

Trustee Migdal stated that he supports the variance request for the additional 104 square feet, siting the houses are smaller in that area, the petitioner doesn't have a garage at all, and presented with the opportunity to build one, the extra space isn't placing the structure any closer to the lot and neighbors were not objecting to the variance request. 

President McLaughlin supported Trustee Hester's statement that a true hardship was not there and that the Villages code, requiring a hardship by the petitioner may be outdated. President McLaughlin directed Staff to look into updating the requirements for granting variances for accessory structures. 

 A vote was taken to approve Ordinance 2024-09, 220 Gladys Avenue, Accessory Structure Variation — Exceeding 576 Square Feet in Area. Roll Call: Trustee Hester, Knar, and President McLaughlin — all "no." Trustee Migdal - "yes." MOTION DID NOT PASS. 

2. OTHER BUSINESS 

Trustee Knar asked for an update on Block B. 

Administrator Soderholm stated the dirt and hydro seeding has been completed. Fences will remain up for another week or so to allow the grass to start coming in. Other than a minor punch list of items being addressed, the project is wrapping up. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Trustee Knar made a motion to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 6:45 p.m. Seconded by Trustee Migdal. A voice vote was taken. Trustee Knar, Hester, Migdal, and President McLaughlin-all "yes". MOTION PASSED.

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/foxrivergrove/document%20center/Minutes/Village%20Board/Village%20Board%20Minutes%208-6-2024.pdf