Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - January 21, 2026
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Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met on January 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM (agenda time; the transcript begins with a reference to 1:00 PM date but no time discrepancy noted). The board considered one old business item (a special exception for solid fill) and two new business variance requests. All decisions were made with a quorum of three members present.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against any agenda item. The board opened public hearings for each new business item, and no remonstrators appeared.
Old Business
- 25-SE-07 BZA – Aaron Hacker – Special Exception for solid fill at 13535 Iowa Street, Center Township. This item had been deferred at the two previous meetings. The board voted to defer again, referring the matter to the members without further discussion. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
New Business
- 25-V-49 – Richard J. Oostman – Variance from development standards to allow a 40’ x 40’ (1,600 sq. ft.) accessory building at 14126 W. 115th Place, Hanover Township. The maximum permitted floor area is 1,525 sq. ft. After a public hearing with no opposition, the board voted to approve the variance. The motion passed by voice vote (all ayes).
- 26-V-01 BZA – Brian Mabry – Variance from development standards to allow a 20’ x 54’ addition (total 3,996 sq. ft.) to an existing accessory building at 14620 W. 93rd Avenue, St. John Township. The maximum permitted floor area is 1,307 sq. ft. The petitioner described the addition, noting it does not infringe on any setbacks. After a public hearing with no opposition, the board voted to approve the variance. The motion passed by voice vote (all ayes).
Key Outcomes
- Deferred: Special Exception for solid fill (25-SE-07) – deferred again without a fixed return date (the agenda previously listed October 18, but no date was set at this meeting).
- Approved: Variance for Oostman accessory building (25-V-49) – granted.
- Approved: Variance for Mabry accessory building addition (26-V-01) – granted.
- The board operated with a three-member quorum; Commissioner Sharp is noted as making a seconding motion.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call the R zoning a POS meeting to occur for Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. Can't change for emergency that it's an exmission's courtroom. So season the stairs goes in the second floor and exit building. Not after an elevator in an emergency. Please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible to research seasons. And uh according to your note. Okay. Um number of minutes approved. Uh questions on motion. Aye. Same time. Communications on the both of the gentleman to the left. Uh Zubric is a member of the war zone that he's also welcome board. Uh and that can't be communications. We don't want to. Sorry. I'm sorry. I remember 125-SE-07. Aaron Hacker. Or a hacker, character. Property located two tenths of a mile north of less 137th Avenue's east side of Highway Street. And then we said 13535 Iowa Street Center Township. Request is a special exception from the uninquible county unit final number of title 154. Article 16 additional regulations on general complicability. Chap 880 and regulations for subsolid filling. Special exceptions required. Any action on it? So I recommend that we refer to the members. Any questions on the motion? All in favor signify by saying aye. Moving on from old business, which is referred to this business. Richard J. Property is located approximately three-tenths of a mile east of County Meth Street. Chapter 20, Dach Accessory Drives and Storage Buildings. Okay. Same thing none. We need a program hearing on this item. We will ask if there's anyone here this evening that wants to demonstrate in favor or against this petition. Anybody here want to demonstrate in favor or against this petition? Anybody here want to remonstrate in favor or against this petition? Seeing none, we can bring it back to the board. And um any other questions or proposals or motions. No, we do not. I forgot. So I just for those of you that are taking for those who are monstrators in the audience. And out of which three would need to vote to take any action, even if there's only three here, whether it's to approve or deny any action that's recognized. Correct, yeah. If you have the unlikely circumstances, you're more than welcome to have your right of referred to tonight's meeting for any actual comeback to the October 18th meeting date. So we've got to go back to it. There's nothing else on the property, right?
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