SOUTH HOLLAND | The village's Plan Commission has asked three business owners to work out an agreement regarding a fence variance request that two of the owners say hurts their businesses.
Midwest Town Storage, owned by Scott and Jill Jabaay, filed a petition requesting a fence variance for the frontage of the property at 1534 - 1548 168th St.
The current ordinance calls for a frontage setback of 15 feet. The variance, if approved, would allow the Jabaays to install a fence within one foot of the property line.
Midwest Town Storage has had an estimated 15 break-ins and thefts in the past year, according to the Jabaays. The fence will provide much needed security for their business.
The variance was requested because trucks would have a hard time maneuvering into the storage facility if the fence was 15 feet from the property line.
Dave Swets, owner of Van's Iron Works, is located next door at 1528 E. 168th St. He opposed the variance because the proposed fence location would stop truck deliveries to his business.
"My driveway is partially on Midwest's property line," Swets told the commission. "If the variance is passed and they put the fence within a foot of the property line, I would have to relocate or shut down my business."
Paul Paluch, owner of Top Notch Construction, 1525 E. 168th St., also opposed the variance. He said the fence posts needed would prohibit him from parking his Dumpster at the corner of his parcel.
Commission Chairman John Russell urged the three parties to work together and come up with a reasonable compromise that would allow all three businesses to achieve their objectives.
"There is room for compromise here," Russell told all the parties. "I suggest we table this request for one month until next meeting, and that you use that time to find a common ground that works for all of you."
The remainder of the commission agreed, and voted unanimously to table the request until next month.
All three parties agreed to meet and work out a compromise to present to the commission in August.
