OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Park Ridge Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - March 19, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, March 19, 2026
BodyPark Ridge, Illinois
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, March 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

All right.

0:03

We'll call to order the meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals for March 19th, 2026.

0:12

The first item of business is a roll call starting from my left.

0:17

Accord here.

0:18

Vlasic here.

0:19

Serial here.

0:20

Deslin here.

0:21

Genko here.

0:23

And Schilling here.

0:24

We have a quorum.

0:26

Next item is the approval of minutes from February 26, 2026.

0:32

Do I have a motion to approve those minutes?

0:36

So moved.

0:37

Serial motion.

0:39

We have a second from Vlasich.

0:44

Any discussion?

0:45

Corrections.

0:52

Seeing none, let's have a vote starting from my right.

0:57

Yes.

0:59

Deslin, yes.

1:01

Stereo I.

1:03

Accurate, yes.

1:04

And shilling, yes.

1:06

Uh the minutes are approved.

1:08

Uh tonight uh we have no appeals.

1:11

And uh we have one variance.

1:14

So we will start uh there with a variance at 652 North Northwest Highway, suite B, case VA-26-06.

1:27

It is a major variance.

1:29

I see we have our applicant here.

1:32

Um we'll start with our staff uh memo.

1:36

Thank you, Chair.

1:36

As introduced, this is 652 North Northwest Highway, suite B, case number VA-26-06.

1:46

Um excuse me, my program wanted to fail me.

1:49

Give me one second.

1:52

Um sorry.

2:10

Uh the subject properties improve with a single story multi-tenant commercial building, which is considered a shopping center.

2:16

Suite B will be occupied by Hot Works.

2:19

Hotworks is located on the east side of the courtyard area.

2:22

The project involves a new illuminated wall sign directly above the suite.

2:27

Due to the proposed work, the following major variants has been identified.

2:30

A wall sign that does not face a public street.

2:33

Um I know I tried to provide um images in the uh packet.

2:39

The applicant provided a lot of information regarding that, which was great.

2:42

Um, and just kind of going over the variance request.

2:46

This is a major variant, so this will require city council approval uh per section 14.10 point G.2 of the zoning code.

2:55

A wall sign must face a public street except where a building has a secondary entrance, such as a rear parking lot, an additional wall sign is it is permitted, but shall be limited to no more than 16 square feet and may only indicate the name of the business and the words entrance, enter or similar term.

3:11

The suite location faces a courtyard in the middle of the development, and this is considered the only entrance to the space.

3:17

Um staffs here if uh if there are any questions.

3:21

Thank you.

3:22

Um right now we'll have the applicant come forward.

3:25

I will swear you in, and then we'll uh hear from you with a description of your application and how it meets our standards.

3:32

So please raise your right hand.

3:33

Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

3:38

I do so swear.

3:39

Thank you.

3:40

Good evening.

3:41

My name is Michelle Fores.

3:43

I'm here on behalf of Carbon Klaus Sign Company and also representing the client who is hot works.

3:48

Um the matter before you is our request for the variance due to the code requiring the signage to face a major street.

3:58

The orientation of this building is such that their main entrance is facing into a courtyard, so it does not face directly to a street, nor do they have a rear entrance into the facility.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Code█████████████████████████████████████████████75%
Procedural████████14%
Signage Regulation███████11%
Summary of Proceedings

Park Ridge Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - March 19, 2026

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on March 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board considered one major variance request and adjourned at 7:10 PM. All votes were unanimous (6-0).

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (February 26, 2026): The minutes from the previous meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote (motion by Commissioner Sirio, second by Commissioner Vlasich).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke or were present.

Discussion Items

  • Variance at 652 N. Northwest Highway (Suite B) – VA-26-06 (Major): The applicant, Michelle Fores of Carbon Klaus Sign Company, representing tenant Hot Works, requested a major variance to permit an illuminated wall sign that does not face a public street. The suite faces an interior courtyard, and the zoning code requires wall signs to face a public street unless at a secondary entrance (limited to 16 sq ft and specific wording). The applicant argued that strict adherence would cause undue hardship due to the building's unique orientation and that the proposed sign would match existing signs of other tenants. Commissioners noted a similar variance had been granted previously in the same development and agreed the situation constituted a unique circumstance not covered by the code. The board found the staff-prepared findings of fact sufficient, including that strict compliance would cause undue hardship, the plight was due to unique circumstances, and the variance would not alter the essential character of the locality.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Recommend Approval to City Council: Commissioner Sirio moved to recommend approval of the major variance as shown in submitted plans (case VA-26-06). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Vlasich and passed unanimously (6-0). As a major variance, the matter will proceed to the Park Ridge City Council for final action. Staff will assist the applicant with next steps.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. We'll call to order the meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals for March 19th, 2026. The first item of business is a roll call starting from my left. Accord here. Vlasic here. Serial here. Deslin here. Genko here. And Schilling here. We have a quorum. Next item is the approval of minutes from February 26, 2026. Do I have a motion to approve those minutes? So moved. Serial motion. We have a second from Vlasich. Any discussion? Corrections. Seeing none, let's have a vote starting from my right. Yes. Deslin, yes. Stereo I. Accurate, yes. And shilling, yes. Uh the minutes are approved. Uh tonight uh we have no appeals. And uh we have one variance. So we will start uh there with a variance at 652 North Northwest Highway, suite B, case VA-26-06. It is a major variance. I see we have our applicant here. Um we'll start with our staff uh memo. Thank you, Chair. As introduced, this is 652 North Northwest Highway, suite B, case number VA-26-06. Um excuse me, my program wanted to fail me. Give me one second. Um sorry. Uh the subject properties improve with a single story multi-tenant commercial building, which is considered a shopping center. Suite B will be occupied by Hot Works. Hotworks is located on the east side of the courtyard area. The project involves a new illuminated wall sign directly above the suite. Due to the proposed work, the following major variants has been identified. A wall sign that does not face a public street. Um I know I tried to provide um images in the uh packet. The applicant provided a lot of information regarding that, which was great. Um, and just kind of going over the variance request. This is a major variant, so this will require city council approval uh per section 14.10 point G.2 of the zoning code. A wall sign must face a public street except where a building has a secondary entrance, such as a rear parking lot, an additional wall sign is it is permitted, but shall be limited to no more than 16 square feet and may only indicate the name of the business and the words entrance, enter or similar term. The suite location faces a courtyard in the middle of the development, and this is considered the only entrance to the space. Um staffs here if uh if there are any questions. Thank you. Um right now we'll have the applicant come forward.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com