Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – November 19, 2025

The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals convened on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (agenda time 6:00 p.m.; meeting timestamp 2025-11-19 13:45:00+00:00). The board approved eight requests, denied one special exception, and deferred one solid-fill petition that had been carried from the Plan Commission. All votes were voice votes; no numerical tallies were recorded. Transcript spellings vary for some names/case numbers (e.g., Doka vs. Bilka, 25-B-48 vs. 25-V-48); agenda names and case numbers are used below.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 2025 meeting minutes by voice vote.
• Received the 2026 projected meeting dates for the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission; the planning committee is expected to act on them at the December meeting.
• Agreed to move petition 25-V-48 (Mike Bilka backyard-cottage variance) to the first agenda item because it is related to special exception 25-SE-04.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 25-SE-05 (Nedić short-term rental): Lauren Ayer, Ashton Hospes, Gianni Strike, and Sharon Dirks opposed the request. Ayer cited a September 14 police incident and said the owners intended to run the property as a full-time Airbnb; Hospes said neighbors would reconsider living in the area; Strike said the neighborhood felt unsafe; Dirks simply stated opposition. The chair noted five letters of remonstrance on file from the Plan Commission hearing.
• 25-SE-06 (Cross Creek Ranch agritourism): Robert Panzer, an adjacent neighbor, expressed 100% support, saying the property is well-maintained and the community needs a place for children and nature-oriented events.
• 25-V-45/46 (Martin accessory building): Stephen Gow and Lisa Gowell, adjacent neighbors, and Lynn Tamondi, who owns property behind the site, raised concerns about stormwater runoff, flooding, loss of sunlight for a 20-year garden, noise, and visual impact. They asked for water diversion and a row of trees but did not ask to stop the project.

Discussion Items

• 25-SE-04 / 25-V-48 – Mike Bilka, Eagle Creek Township: Special exception to allow a backyard cottage in an A-1 zone and variance to allow 2,200 sq ft (ordinance limit: 49% of principal dwelling floor area or 580 sq ft, whichever is less) within an existing accessory building. Counsel said the property is about 10 acres, the barn was an unfinished shell, and the owner wants to finish part for personal use. The board confirmed one of the two residences must remain owner-occupied and the building was not already converted.
• 25-SE-05 – Darko Nedić & Sarah Nedić, Hanover Township: Special exception for a non-owner-occupied short-term rental in an R-2 zone. Petitioner's attorney acknowledged earlier problems with long-term renters, said a property management company was hired, and stated the home would be partially blocked off for owner use. The board noted that long-term rentals are allowed as of right and that an owner-occupied short-term rental would not require board approval. Public opposition was significant.
• 25-SE-06 – LHA Properties / Cross Creek Ranch (C/O Timothy Kuiper), Center Township: Special exception for agritourism-agritainment in an A-1 zone. The board noted that alcohol sales and some events require separate county approvals and that the exception is not a blank check. Adjacent neighbor Robert Panzer supported the request.
• 25-SE-07 – Aaron Hacker, Center Township: Special exception for deposit of solid fill. The petition was deferred by the Plan Commission and was not acted upon by the board.
• 25-V-44 – Victoria L. & Joseph A. Marcinov, St. John Township: Variance to allow a 30' x 45' accessory building (1,878 sq ft requested vs. 1,525 sq ft permitted) for personal use. No public comment; approved.
• 25-V-45 / 25-V-46 – Benjamin & Samantha Martin, Center Township: Variances for a 96' x 48' accessory building with a 408 sq ft porch (requested floor area 7,344 sq ft vs. 3,267 sq ft permitted) and for building height of 25 ft vs. 22 ft permitted. A board member calculated that the new building itself is about 4,600 sq ft, with the 7,344 sq ft figure representing all accessory structures. The petitioner said the building will be set 10 feet from the property line and drainage will be directed away from neighbors.
• 25-V-47 – Lindsey Kolakoski, St. John Township: Variance to allow a 1,680 sq ft secondary suite (ordinance limit: 49% of principal dwelling or 580 sq ft, whichever is less). The petitioner bought her parents' home to care for them; relocating utilities from the middle of the house would be a major project.
• 25-UV-04 – Sarah Lawson (owner) & Mike Michalski (petitioner), Winfield Township: Use variance to construct a second detached house while the owner occupies the existing house until the new construction is complete. The petitioner provided an affidavit that the old house will be demolished within 90 days after occupancy of the new home. The board indicated this condition has been used previously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved 25-SE-04 (backyard cottage special exception) and 25-V-48 (2,200 sq ft variance) by voice vote.
• Denied 25-SE-05 (non-owner-occupied short-term rental) by voice vote.
• Approved 25-SE-06 (agritourism-agritainment) by voice vote. Findings of fact were included in the motion.
• Deferred 25-SE-07 (solid fill) by prior Plan Commission deferral; no board action.
• Approved 25-V-44 (Marcinov 30' x 45' accessory building) by voice vote.
• Approved 25-V-45 (Martin 96' x 48' accessory building with 408 sq ft porch) and 25-V-46 (25-ft height) by separate voice votes.
• Approved 25-V-47 (Kolakoski 1,680 sq ft secondary suite) by voice vote.
• Approved 25-UV-04 (Lawson/Michalski second detached house) by voice vote, with the condition that the existing dwelling be removed within 90 days after occupancy of the new home and a demolition permit obtained.
• Next steps: approved applicants may proceed with county permitting; the planning committee will consider the 2026 meeting schedule in December.