Vote on tent ordinance delayed
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Due to a procedural “snafu,” the Chatham Village Board did not vote on a proposed ordinance
relating to tents and outdoor storage structures at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The item was inadvertently left off the agenda, so the board will have to wait until its next regular
meeting, Aug. 10, to take up the matter again.
Instead, there were only two action items dealt with in the 15-minute meeting, one dealing with the
approval of the final plat of Wellington Estates, and the other extending by three months a loan with
Illinois National Bank for payments on the new electric substation work.
Also, Mayor Tom Gray informed the board that the village has applied for a federal Tiger grant, with
the work involving widening Mansion Road to five lanes for about a half-mile from the Route 4
intersection to the west. The grant would be 90-10 (village’s share 10 percent).
Still, there was some discussion on the proposed tent ordinance. The Country Valley Estates
neighbors involved in the dispute leading to the creation of the ordinance spoke to the board, though
Jim Ruffatto’s comments were brief.
His neighbors, Mike and Rhona Hall, both spoke to the board. They are the owners of the
structure in question, which they described as a “portable garage.”
Ruffatto, who said his house is no longer for sale, called the structure, which is open on the
bottom, “unsightly.”
The Halls said they are storing working vehicles in the outdoor structure, which Ruffatto has said
attracts rodents and other wild animals.
“I am very displeased that the village is wasting its time worrying about what’s in our backyard,”
Rhona Hall told the board. “This is ridiculous. This village has better things to do with its time.
“It just blew us away that this has gone this far,” she said later.
“I travel state-wide,” Mike Hall added. “Chicago is the only city in Illinois that has a tent ordinance.”
The proposed ordinance went through the Chatham Plan Commission, which did not recommend
passage, essentially calling it an issue between two neighbors.
However, the ordinance looks to have the support of most of the village board, save for trustee Joe
Schatteman, who has helped to rewrite the ordinance. Schatteman said he is backing the decision of
the Plan Commission.
In rewriting part of the ordinance, Schatteman said, “I thought the original ordinance had some
unintended consequences. All this is talking about now is storage.”
The ordinance is short, and includes these restrictions: “1. No storage tents within a business or
industrial zone may be erected on a lot for more than an aggregate of 60 days in a calendar year. The
Village Manager may grant an extension upon request.”
“2. No storage tents within a residential zone may be erected unless the Village Manager grants
permission to do so. The Village Manager may grant permission only in cases of emergency.”
Also, the ordinance defines a storage tent as, “Any membrane structure, enclosure or shelter that
is constructed of canvas or any other pliable material supported in any manner and used for the
storage of any personal property including, without limitation, vehicles, goods or equipment.”
There is also a section explaining what an emergency is (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.) that may
necessitate such outdoor structures to be permitted temporarily.
“This ordinance covers more than just a tent,” trustee Chuck Herr added. “It covers things like a
tarp.”
Attorney John Myers indicated he may have some minor tweaking still to do, but Herr said the
ordinance should look essentially the same in two weeks when it should come up for a vote.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Due to a procedural “snafu,” the Chatham Village Board did not vote on a proposed ordinance
relating to tents and outdoor storage structures at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The item was inadvertently left off the agenda, so the board will have to wait until its next regular
meeting, Aug. 10, to take up the matter again.
Instead, there were only two action items dealt with in the 15-minute meeting, one dealing with the
approval of the final plat of Wellington Estates, and the other extending by three months a loan with
Illinois National Bank for payments on the new electric substation work.
Also, Mayor Tom Gray informed the board that the village has applied for a federal Tiger grant, with
the work involving widening Mansion Road to five lanes for about a half-mile from the Route 4
intersection to the west. The grant would be 90-10 (village’s share 10 percent).
Still, there was some discussion on the proposed tent ordinance. The Country Valley Estates
neighbors involved in the dispute leading to the creation of the ordinance spoke to the board, though
Jim Ruffatto’s comments were brief.
His neighbors, Mike and Rhona Hall, both spoke to the board. They are the owners of the
structure in question, which they described as a “portable garage.”
Ruffatto, who said his house is no longer for sale, called the structure, which is open on the
bottom, “unsightly.”
The Halls said they are storing working vehicles in the outdoor structure, which Ruffatto has said
attracts rodents and other wild animals.
“I am very displeased that the village is wasting its time worrying about what’s in our backyard,”
Rhona Hall told the board. “This is ridiculous. This village has better things to do with its time.
“It just blew us away that this has gone this far,” she said later.
“I travel state-wide,” Mike Hall added. “Chicago is the only city in Illinois that has a tent ordinance.”
The proposed ordinance went through the Chatham Plan Commission, which did not recommend
passage, essentially calling it an issue between two neighbors.
However, the ordinance looks to have the support of most of the village board, save for trustee Joe
Schatteman, who has helped to rewrite the ordinance. Schatteman said he is backing the decision of
the Plan Commission.
In rewriting part of the ordinance, Schatteman said, “I thought the original ordinance had some
unintended consequences. All this is talking about now is storage.”
The ordinance is short, and includes these restrictions: “1. No storage tents within a business or
industrial zone may be erected on a lot for more than an aggregate of 60 days in a calendar year. The
Village Manager may grant an extension upon request.”
“2. No storage tents within a residential zone may be erected unless the Village Manager grants
permission to do so. The Village Manager may grant permission only in cases of emergency.”
Also, the ordinance defines a storage tent as, “Any membrane structure, enclosure or shelter that
is constructed of canvas or any other pliable material supported in any manner and used for the
storage of any personal property including, without limitation, vehicles, goods or equipment.”
There is also a section explaining what an emergency is (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.) that may
necessitate such outdoor structures to be permitted temporarily.
“This ordinance covers more than just a tent,” trustee Chuck Herr added. “It covers things like a
tarp.”
Attorney John Myers indicated he may have some minor tweaking still to do, but Herr said the
ordinance should look essentially the same in two weeks when it should come up for a vote.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: July 29, 2010