Rochester Times
Village board approves zoning change Monday
By Greta Myers
      After a short debate, the Rochester Village Board voted 5-1 to change the zoning classification for
property at 100 Park Forest from an R-2 (single family housing) to R-5 (multi-family) with no restrictions,
during its monthly meeting on Monday.
      The property was originally zoned as R-2 in 1979. During this time, R-2s allowed for multi-family units.
But when the zoning classification changed, the village map was not altered to reflect these changes.
      Patrick Joyce, an attorney who represented the owner, said that it was also important that the building
be re-zoned as an R-5 because when the property was recently appraised as an R-2, the property was
devalued. “I think it’s more of an administrative error and it’s punishing him (the property owner) for the
village’s mistake,” Joyce said.
      Though the Zoning Board had recommended that the property be re-zoned as R-5 with restrictions,
village attorney Mark Cullen said that it was not necessary to include “with restrictions” to the zoning label
because the development process is already scrutinizing. Trustee John Shoudel, who voted in favor of
dropping the restrictions cautioned that,"We need to have a very realistic and appropriate development of
this area.”
      Trustee reports during the meeting:
      Trustee Harry Hendrickson said that the village received a lower water bill for the month of February. He
also said that the water tower needed painting and the village needed to replace some leaky water lines.
      In his sewer report, Trustee Joe Hill said that the village engineer is preparing plans to be completed by
the end of the month for the large sewer project to be completed this year.
      During the public health and public safety report, trustee Mike Greer said that the brush site will begin
opening on Saturdays on April 2. Residents who would like to utilize the service before then should pick up
the site’s key at the village hall during regular business hours.
      Trustee Wayne Liken said that the first budget meeting will be this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and will
continue on every Thursday throughout the month.
      In the village manager’s report, Dale Lanningham said that the village police department is developing
a new web site at www.rochesterilpolice.com. He added that last month, the village police participated in a
training program that monitors the reaction of police through a computer based program.
      Also at the meeting:
      — Lanningham said that several tons of material has been used to fill in pot holes and that the
community’s involvement has helped facilitate the process.
      -— The board approved two three-year contracts, totaling $11,000 for maintenance of the village’s four
generators.
Issue Date: March 17, 2011