By Andrea Earnest | Enterprise Staff
news@enterprisepublications.com
@PlainfieldNews
The Plainfield Village Board and Plan Commission held an open discussion last week to consider potential changes to the village’s zoning code.
Some of the topics discussed during the Jan. 11 joint committee of the whole meeting included signage, landscaping and regulation of various uses as special uses.
Village planner Jonathan Proulx explained that the current zoning code was adopted in 2006 and that this isn’t a comprehensive update.
The purpose and intent of the zoning code is to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the village and its residents.
Other purposes include ensuring adequate light, air and open space, as well as maintaining and promoting orderly land use patterns.
Proulx added that the discussion was being held to protect the quality of life for residents and to protect the character of existing neighborhoods, among several other reasons.
The first topic discussed involved corner side-yard fences. Currently, a provision prohibits fences in corner side yards, stating that a fence shall be no closer to the road than the nearest point of the house.
“Residents sometimes find that that’s a hardship for them,” said Proulx, who added that families with children and pets may want a secure backyard with fences.
Village staff recommended maintaining the existing regulations for fences, citing aesthetics in the streetscape and the possibility that fences could block the sight lines of drivers.
Trustee Ed O’Rourke said he liked the idea of having side fences allowed 10 feet from the property line or sidewalk and added that it would still provide a buffer for safety reasons.
Several members of the plan commission and village board argued to keep the code as is, but allow residents to approach the plan commission on a case-by-case basis.
The next topic discussed during the meeting was signs, including height, size and LED lighting. Currently, monument signs can be 10 feet in height and have a maximum sign area of 48 square feet.
Trustee Bill Lamb said he would like to permit variances in special situations if a business would like a taller sign.
Staff did not recommend changing the current zoning code, which allows LED signs that are not more than 50 percent of the area of the sign.
Trustees and commissioners agreed with the recommendation, saying they didn’t want to change the character of the town by allowing too many LED or video signs.
Proulx then moved the discussion to the village’s site plan review process.
Currently, the village regulates building materials and development for all housing except single-family homes or duplexes. Staff recommended keeping the current code and reviewing plans on a case-by-case basis, if necessary.
Village regulation of drive-thru operations was the last item discussed during the meeting. Staff recommended guidelines prohibiting drive-thrus within a certain number of feet away from residences. However, the board and commission decided against setting a certain amount of footage and said each case would decided on individually.