The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM to consider three petitions: one special exception for agritourism and two variances for residential structures. All three petitions received unanimous approval from the board.
26-V-11 BZA – Mark L. Caruso, Owner/Petitioner (Variance for Detached Garage): The property at 8902 Edison Street in St. John Township sought a variance to allow a detached garage in the side yard instead of the rear yard only. The petitioner explained that septic systems in the back prevent placement there, and he desired additional covered parking. The board noted the garage meets all other requirements (square footage, height) and that the lot is long, making the side-yard placement reasonable. No public comments. Vote: Unanimous (all aye).
26-V-12 BZA – Robert Stiegel, Owner/Petitioner (Variance for Building Setback): The property at 15008 W. 150th Lane in Cedar Creek Township requested a variance to allow a 26-foot setback (instead of the required 30-foot) for an addition to an existing residence. The petitioner, Cindy Sagunski Stiegel, presented photos and plans showing a garage addition that would encroach four feet into the required setback. She emphasized the addition would enhance property values and not obstruct views. No public comments. Vote: Unanimous (all aye).
Motion quite chair. Yes, make a motion to uh accept them. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor by saying aye. Aye. Anything on communications, Steve? I do not have anything under communications this evening. Okay, we start first item on old business. Old business letter number one, petition number 26-se 03. Minerva Moys on a petitioner. The property is located approximately eight tenths of miles south of West 197th Avenue on the east side of State Line Road at 20407, State Line Road in West Creek Township. Request is a special exception from the uninformated county unified development ordinance, title 154. Article 2, agricultural residential districts, chapter 20, principal uses A, Agriculture and Residential District News Table 2-2, Agriculture and Residential District use regulations, agritourism permitted by an A in an A1 agricultural zone by special exception. Purposes to law on agro tourism aggregatement use. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Steve. Nathan Biss here on behalf of the owner petitioner, Minerva Moya. Here tonight to seek a special exception approval to allow agri-tourism, aggregate uses. I don't want to be complicitous and redundant, but we do need to put this onto the record earlier this evening at the Plant Commission. There was a favorable recommendation. The property that we're here to discuss is located west of Lowell near the state line with Illinois. On the first page of the packet that I've handed before you at the very top is just an overview of the 20 acres that's zoned A1. And below is a drawback and aerial overview that showcases other than the properties right across the street. The nearest Indiana residential property that's located in proximity to this from the far right edge of the arena is a little over 2200 square feet when I went on to the GIS. If we turn to the second page, it was interesting, kind of a step back in time. This property starting back in 1985 had approval to allow uh raising, breeding, training, and conducting horse shows. And that was originally what it was approved for dating back to 1985. In about 2003, 2004, my clients purchased the property. At that time, they submitted application to enlarge the arena that was approved with the Lake County Building Department. They continued a wide variety of operations until 2010, at which time they conducted a pretty major rodeo. Cars are parked in the street. It went late. There was a citation that led to on pages three and four mediation settlement agreement that was reached with the Lake County Plan Commission in 2012, 2013, and recorded against the property. From there forward, my clients uh conducted rodeos throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. And then last uh summer, it's my understanding that uh Mr. Neemeyer received a concern about music, was brought to Ned's attention, and that started the process late last fall, where my client came before uh members uh inside the staff and said, What is it going to take to conduct this property within the new UDO? Interestingly, and I shared this uh about an hour or so ago when I was in law school back in 2008, 910. Agri-tourism was not one of the words that was part of our equation. It now is part of your new UDO, and it's something that candidly want to encourage, but recognizing that it is new and unique. It's a special exception which requires, I think, special scrutiny to be applied, recognizing your engaging now, not just tractors, not just cows, not just horses, but a wide variety of things and just regular agricultural zones. So, what is it that is being promoted? If you turn to page five, these are some pictures from just this last year of what goes on at the arena. And it's really exciting. You can see on the top page of five just the quality of the structure. This has been vetted, this has been approved, this has been inspected by the Lake County Building Department. You can also then see bottom right of page five, it encompasses a wide variety of ages from H3 to H90 are the riders. Then turning again to page six.