OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cook County Zoning and Building Committee Meeting - March 11, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodyCook County, Illinois
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Yes, maybe okay.

0:02

With the hour of 9 30 a.m.

0:03

arrived, I would like to call the Cook County's uh Kukani Zoning and Building Committee to order.

0:09

Madam Secretary, can you please call the roll?

0:11

Thank you, Chairman.

0:12

Commissioner Naya.

0:14

Is present.

0:14

Thank you.

0:15

Commissioner Britton is absent.

0:17

Commissioner Daly.

0:18

Thank you.

0:19

Commissioner Deckman.

0:20

Thank you.

0:21

Commissioner Gaynor.

0:22

Thank you.

0:23

Commissioner Laurie?

0:24

Present.

0:24

Commissioner McCaskill.

0:26

Commissioner Miller.

0:28

Thank you.

0:29

Commissioner Moore.

0:31

Commissioner Moore.

0:34

Is absent.

0:35

Commissioner Marita.

0:38

Is absent.

0:39

Commissioner Kevin Morrison is excused.

0:42

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

0:44

Thank you.

0:45

Commissioner Scott.

0:45

Present.

0:46

Commissioner Stammes.

0:47

Present.

0:47

Commissioner Trevor?

0:49

Commissioner Vasquez.

0:50

Present.

0:51

And Mr.

0:51

Chairman is present.

0:52

Chairman, you have all members present.

0:54

Let me revisit those that did not respond.

0:56

Commissioner Britton.

0:57

Commissioner Morita.

0:58

Commissioner Morita's present.

0:59

Commissioner McBriden is absent.

1:01

Commissioner Moore is absent.

1:03

Commissioner Marita has joined us and participating remotely, so we require a remote roll call.

1:08

And there's an excuse absence for Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

1:11

You do have a quorum, sir.

1:12

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

1:14

Okay, the Chairman will entertain the motion to allow members who are not here with us to participate remotely.

1:20

First by uh uh first by your vice chair Sean Morrison and second by Commissioner Trevor.

1:27

Can you please have a for roll call?

1:29

And that was moved by Commissioner Sean Morrison and second by Trevor.

1:34

Thank you.

1:34

Commissioner Naya, your vote?

1:36

Aye.

1:37

Commissioner Britton is absent.

1:40

Commissioner Daly.

1:42

Uh your vote aye.

1:43

Thank you.

1:43

Commissioner Degman.

1:44

Aye.

1:45

Previous votes were all aye.

1:46

Thank you.

1:46

Commissioner Gaynor.

1:47

Aye.

1:48

Commissioner Laurie.

1:49

Aye.

1:49

Commissioner McCasco.

1:50

Aye.

1:51

Commissioner Miller.

1:52

Miller, aye.

1:52

Commissioner Moore.

1:54

Is absent.

1:55

Previous votes were all aye.

1:56

Commissioner Marita.

2:00

Morita I.

2:01

Commissioner Marita is aye.

2:03

Commissioner Kevin Morrison is excused.

2:05

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

2:07

Commissioner Scott.

2:08

Aye.

2:09

Commissioner Stamps?

2:10

Aye.

2:10

Commissioner Trevor.

2:12

Aye.

2:12

Commissioner Vasquez.

2:13

Aye.

2:14

And Mr.

2:14

Chairman, your favorite.

2:15

Aye.

2:16

Mr.

2:16

Chairman, we have 14 ayes, three absent.

2:19

They are for Britton Moore.

2:22

Excuse Kevin Morrison.

2:24

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

2:25

Manager, do we have any changes?

2:27

Changes in the agenda.

2:28

Chairman, no changes to your agenda.

2:29

You do have one speaker.

2:30

Public speakers.

2:32

May I have the public speakers around the mic?

2:35

Public speaker is George Blake Moore.

2:39

Good morning, Mr.

2:39

Blake Moore.

2:40

Please be reminded of the rules in order to speak before the board.

2:49

The zoning committee.

2:54

Yes, sir.

2:55

You know.

2:57

What toxic ways.

3:00

The definition.

3:02

A lot of time they zone things in a way that is negative to the black community.

3:13

And another thing, anything can be zoned in the city of Chicago.

3:19

You see y'all talking again.

3:23

Sir, did you hear me when I look?

3:26

Did you hear me when I spoke before?

3:28

It is your duty, your obligation to keep you the chairman of the committee to make sure that they respect the public.

3:40

When you don't do it, I'm not supposed to do that.

3:44

That's what you are over the committee, and you should run this committee in a professional way.

3:50

It's not for me to tell Mr.

3:52

Scott to stop talking.

3:55

That's not my duty.

3:57

That's your duty.

3:58

And you supposed to uh uh enforce it.

4:05

That's what a chairman would do of the committee.

4:10

Anyway, zoning.

4:12

Anything can be zoned in the city of Chicago, any and in Cook County, any time and any place if you pay to play.

4:25

What are you saying, Mr.

4:26

Blake Moore?

4:27

I said it.

4:30

How do you know this, Mr.

4:31

Blake Moore?

4:32

Because uh I'm constantly going to these meetings, and uh say I can't read and I can't write.

4:40

Uh I can't uh fail.

4:42

I can smell something is rotten.

4:46

Pay the play.

4:48

The zoning.

4:49

That's what happened to Burton all zoning.

4:52

One minute.

4:53

So uh lease zoning is very important where something will be built.

5:04

So you uh have a very important committee, and you all pay the plate and it said it wasn't watch it.

5:13

It's not me.

5:14

These are bureaucrats here, they work here.

5:16

I don't 30 seconds so watching all three.

5:21

I no objection.

5:26

This is out of control.

5:28

No check and balance.

5:31

Brief corruption.

5:34

Thank you.

5:35

Madam President Secretary, can you add Commissioner Britton to the to the uh to the roll?

5:39

Yes, sir.

5:41

Thank you.

5:41

First yeah, first we have the item number 26.

5:44

Any any uh any more public speakers before I concludes your speakers?

5:48

Thank you.

5:48

First thing I'll be on the on the agenda we have items number 26-0971, approval of the minutes from February 4th, 2026.

5:57

I have a motion by Vice Chair Morrison, second by Commissioner Britton.

6:04

Madam Secretary, uh is it a roll call or that is a voice vote, sir.

6:09

Voice call voice call to approve item 260971.

6:14

All in favor?

6:15

Objections?

6:16

No, ayes have it.

6:18

Next, next uh I need a motion to discuss item number 260734, a special use uh SU 2500 two for a drive through Duncan Donuts and the southwest corner west of Grand Avenue in Marion Avenue and Marion Avenue section 30 in unincorporated Franklin Park.

6:40

Do I have a motion from Vice Chair Morrison and a second by uh Commissioner Scott to approve?

6:46

To approve some move, second by Commissioner Scott, ZBA uh has approved an application and township supervisor Rocco Pascalio believes that the business will be an asset to the area.

6:59

Are there any additional questions?

7:02

Yeah, none.

7:03

Hearing none, ma'am secretary, you please call the road.

7:06

And this is a uh motion to approve, made by Commissioner Sean Morrison, second by Commissioner Scott.

7:12

Commissioner Nye, your vote, ma'am?

7:14

Aye thank you.

7:14

Commissioner Britton.

7:15

Aye, Commissioner Daly, Commissioner Decknan.

7:19

Aye, Commissioner Gaynor.

7:20

Aye, Commissioner Laurie, aye, Commissioner McCasco, aye.

7:23

Commissioner Miller Miller, aye.

7:25

Commissioner Moore.

7:26

Previous votes were all aye.

7:28

Commissioner Moore is absent.

7:29

Commissioner Marita.

7:32

Morita I Commissioner Morita's vote is aye.

7:34

Commissioner Kevin Morrison is excused.

7:37

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

7:39

Aye.

7:39

Commissioner Scott.

7:40

For first.

7:42

Aye.

7:42

Commissioner Trevor.

7:44

Aye.

7:44

Commissioner Vasquez.

7:48

Is absent.

7:50

Mr.

7:50

Chairman, your vote.

7:51

Aye.

7:52

Mr.

7:53

Chairman, we have 14 ayes and three absent.

7:56

They are for absent votes are for Commissioner Moore.

7:58

Excuse for Kay Morrison and Vasquez.

8:01

The ayes have motion passed this.

8:03

Next, I need a motion to discuss item number 2607 35.

8:10

First by Vice Chair Commissioner Sean and second by Commissioner.

8:18

ZBA.

8:20

The zoning board of appeals is recommending the variance of fee 2500 56 at 690 Echo Drive in Echo Lane.

8:30

Palatine, Illinois.

8:31

Applicant The motion to approve.

8:34

Number 260735.

8:44

Palantine, Illinois.

8:45

Applicant seeks to the variance to reduce the lot with within from minimum required 150 feet to an existing 100 feet to construct a new single family residence on well and perspective.

8:58

Any questions?

8:59

Mover and seconder, please.

9:04

Sean Marison and uh first and uh Vice Chair Morrison and uh uh Commissioner McCaskill.

9:11

Secretary and I have please uh roll call.

9:13

And again, this is to approve item number 260735, moved by Commissioner Sean Morrison, seconded by Commissioner McCaskill.

9:20

Commissioner Naya, your vote ma'am.

9:22

Aye, Commissioner Britton, aye, Commissioner Daly, Commissioner Degnan.

9:26

Aye Commissioner Gaynor.

9:28

Aye, Commissioner Laurie, Commissioner Moore Casco.

9:32

Commissioner Miller.

9:33

Aye.

9:34

Commissioner Moore.

9:36

Is absent previous votes for all aye.

9:38

Commissioner Moore is absent.

9:39

Commissioner Marita.

9:41

Thank you.

9:45

Morita I.

9:46

Commissioner Marita is aye.

9:47

Commissioner Kevin Morrison is excused.

9:50

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

9:51

Aye.

9:52

Commissioner Scott?

9:53

Aye.

9:53

Commissioner Stamps.

9:54

Aye.

9:54

Commissioner Trevor.

9:55

Aye.

9:56

Commissioner Vasquez.

9:57

Commissioner Vasquez is absent.

10:00

Previous votes were all aye.

10:01

Aye.

10:02

Thank you.

10:02

Chairman, your vote.

10:03

Sorry, one second.

10:04

Chairman's vote is aye.

10:06

Chairman, your votes are 14 3.

10:08

Absences are for Moore.

10:09

Kay Morrison Vasquez.

10:11

Okay, motion passes.

10:13

We'll get some Dunkin' Donuts now.

10:15

All right.

10:16

Seeing no further discussion for business, may I have a motion to adjourn?

10:19

First by Vice Chair Morrison, second by Commissioner Scott.

10:23

All in favor, say aye.

10:24

Aye.

10:24

Opposed?

10:25

Oh the ayes have it.

10:26

Thank you very much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Zoning And Land Use██████████████20%
Racial Equity██████████15%
Summary of Proceedings

Cook County Zoning and Building Committee Meeting - March 11, 2026

The Cook County Zoning and Building Committee convened on March 11, 2026, to address routine approvals and zoning applications. Following a roll call establishing a quorum with 14 members present, three absent, and one excused, the committee approved the minutes from February 4th, 2026. The session included one public comment regarding systemic corruption in zoning practices, followed by the unanimous approval of a special use permit for a drive-through Dunkin' Donuts and a variance for a residential lot reduction in Palatine. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved the minutes from the February 4th, 2026, meeting (Item 26-0971) via voice vote at the motion of Vice Chair Morrison, seconded by Commissioner Britton.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Blake Moore: Expressed strong opposition and concern regarding the integrity of the zoning process. He claimed that "anything can be zoned... if you pay to play," described the process regarding Burton as "rotten," and alleged "brief corruption" and a lack of "check and balance." He further criticized the Chairman's failure to enforce meeting rules, stating the Chairman "should run this committee in a professional way."

Discussion Items

  • Item 260734 (Special Use 2500-2): A proposal for a drive-through Dunkin' Donuts located at the southwest corner west of Grand Avenue in Frank Park (Section 30, unincorporated). ZBA approved the application, and Township Supervisor Rocco Pascalio recommended the business as an asset to the area.
  • Item 260735 (Variance 2500-56): A proposal located at 690 Echo Drive, Palatine, Illinois. The applicant sought a variance to reduce the required lot width from a minimum of 150 feet to an existing 100 feet to construct a new single-family residence.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion Passed (Item 260734): Approved the special use permit for the Dunkin' Donuts drive-through. Vote tally: 14 Ayes, 3 Absent (Commissioners Moore, Kevin Morrison [excused], Vasquez), 0 Nays.
  • Motion Passed (Item 260735): Approved the variance to reduce lot width for the single-family residence. Vote tally: 14 Ayes, 3 Absent (Commissioners Moore, Kevin Morrison [excused], Vasquez), 0 Nays.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of business via motion by Vice Chair Morrison, seconded by Commissioner Scott.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, maybe okay. With the hour of 9 30 a.m. arrived, I would like to call the Cook County's uh Kukani Zoning and Building Committee to order. Madam Secretary, can you please call the roll? Thank you, Chairman. Commissioner Naya. Is present. Thank you. Commissioner Britton is absent. Commissioner Daly. Thank you. Commissioner Deckman. Thank you. Commissioner Gaynor. Thank you. Commissioner Laurie? Present. Commissioner McCaskill. Commissioner Miller. Thank you. Commissioner Moore. Commissioner Moore. Is absent. Commissioner Marita. Is absent. Commissioner Kevin Morrison is excused. Commissioner Sean Morrison. Thank you. Commissioner Scott. Present. Commissioner Stammes. Present. Commissioner Trevor? Commissioner Vasquez. Present. And Mr. Chairman is present. Chairman, you have all members present. Let me revisit those that did not respond. Commissioner Britton. Commissioner Morita. Commissioner Morita's present. Commissioner McBriden is absent. Commissioner Moore is absent. Commissioner Marita has joined us and participating remotely, so we require a remote roll call. And there's an excuse absence for Commissioner Kevin Morrison. You do have a quorum, sir. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Okay, the Chairman will entertain the motion to allow members who are not here with us to participate remotely. First by uh uh first by your vice chair Sean Morrison and second by Commissioner Trevor.

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