Frankfort Plan Commission Modifies Home Building Standards

Anti-monotony and architectural design elements were fine-tuned for incoming housing construction developments.

  The Frankfort Plan Commission approved modifications to the village's zoning ordinance concerning single-family residential development standards. In an effort to ensure the integrity of existing homes in subdivisions with a substantial number of vacant lots, the board revamped its ordinance. Specifically, the anti-monotony rule and building materials standards were evaluated. The proposed changes come on the heels of an uptick in housing construction; however, current construction does not necessarily mirror the level of upscale designs that dominated the scene between 2000-2008. Planning and Building Supervisor Zach Brown was tasked with identifying areas that potentially could pose a problem, if left alone. Brown noted that these …

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joe ziganto

8:27 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013

there is a subdivision with stricter covenants? sounds like it will affect like 90% of subdivisions if not more.   more ›

Village Board Oks Rezoning for Currie Motors

The board voted 5-1 in favor of rezoning two adjacent parcels from residential to commercial to advance the project.

Despite several opposing comments and a history of contention over the Currie Motors Ford expansion plan, the Frankfort Village Board at the regular Monday meeting voted 5-1 in favor of rezoning two lots on 95th Avenue from residential to commercial use. The majority of the board favored the move to rezone property to accommodate the overall $2.5-plus million expansion. Anticipated sales tax revenue and the bump in property tax from the car dealership was the motivator. The renovation and expansion by Currie Motors was approved in August 2012. Complications for a plan that calls for the creation of a new vehicle storage lot along 95th Avenue bubbled to the top Plan Commission meetings in January and again in March. Trustee Cynthia Corso-…

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Unexpected Offer May Stop Controversial Currie Ford Expansion

After nearby residents spoke out against a proposed Currie Ford parking lot expansion during a public hearing Thursday, a local property owner offered his land as a potential site for the dealership.

The Frankfort Plan Commission public hearing Thursday evening to discuss the contentious parking lot expansion proposed by Currie Motors Ford of Frankfort yielded an unexpected potential solution. In the final moments of Thursday’s meeting, Bill Bright, whose father-in-law owns a piece of land at the intersection of 95th Avenue and Lincoln Highway, west of Currie Ford, said that he would be willing to consider leasing the property to the dealership on a long-term basis. This offer could render the pre-existing proposal that caused so much local unrest irrelevant. “Currie has always been interested in buying contiguous property,” said Matthew Creen, who served as general counsel for Currie Ford at the meeting. “This property has never been …

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Homeowner Opposition to Currie Ford Expansion Intensifies

Several residents expressed concerns regarding Currie Ford's proposed parking lot project during the public comment portion of Tuesday's village board meeting.

There was standing room only at Tuesday’s meeting of the Frankfort Village Board of Trustees, as residents of the 95th Avenue and Cambridge Court neighborhood came to voice their opposition to a proposed rezoning project during the call for public comments. Currie Motors Ford of Frankfort proposed a parking lot expansion to the village plan commission at a meeting on Jan. 10. The project would require the rezoning of two residential lots on 95th Avenue as commercial property. “It’s going to definitely change the quality of my life,” said Keith Weyker, who lives next to the site of the proposed parking lot. Weyker said that when he purchased his house in 1999, four residential properties stood between his home and the nearest commercial …

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UPDATE: Currie's Parking Lot Proposal Sparks Tension With Residents

Homeowners objected to a proposal from Currie Motors to rezone residential property for a new storage lot at a village plan commission meeting Thursday.

Updated: 1:14 p.m. Friday Due to a request from Currie Motors, the plan commission public hearing originally scheduled for Jan. 24 has been moved to Feb. 14. --- The room was so crowded at Thursday’s village plan commission meeting that the commission members had to bring out extra chairs in order for everyone in attendance to have a place to sit. Most of the meeting attendees were residents of 95th Avenue, 94th Avenue, Cambridge Court and Lawndale Court. They attended the plan commission meeting to object to a parking lot expansion proposed by Currie Motors Ford of Frankfort, their neighbor to the north. “I think it’s unfair for people who have been there for 20 years to now have to defend their own homes,” said Diane Cullen, a resident …

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More Frankfort Residents Building Homes in 2012

The village has seen a significant increase in the number of single-family residential building permits processed in 2012 compared to recent years.

Home construction in Frankfort appears to be stabilizing, after several years of limited building. “We’re starting to see an improvement in the number of new homes being built,” said Trustee Mike Stevens, who serves as plan commission liaison for the Frankfort Village Board. The village has processed 60 single-family residential building permits so far this year, according to Planning and Building Supervisor Zach Brown. Brown expects that the village will process another 5-10 such permits in the coming weeks. Last year, the village processed 42 single-family residential permits. In 2009, 19 permits were processed. Brown said that price reductions on lots in recent years have made home construction more appealing for the buyer and that …

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The File Cabinet

Plan Commission Meeting Agenda for Oct. 11

The board will consider a public hearing request.

The illage Plan Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Frankfort Police Station. Agenda items include commission and village board updates, and consideration of a request for a building materials variance. Two Ways to Stay Connected to Frankfort Patch:

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Little Joe's Will be 'Different Experience' When it Opens in Frankfort

The Frankfort location won't be quite like the Little Joe's Famous Pizza restaurants in New Lenox and Tinley Park, the owners say. Doors at the new space should be open by next month.

As residents of Frankfort, the owners of Little Joe's Famous Pizza, which has locations in New Lenox and Tinley Park, have always wanted to open an eatery in the village. Although it's taken longer than they had hoped, setting up a pizza place in their hometown will soon become a reality. The Village Plan Commission recommended Thursday the approval of special use permits for outdoor dining and a liquor license for a Little Joe's location in the Crown Center Building on Lincoln Way Lane in the storefront that formerly housed Smooth Joe's Cafe. The Frankfort Village Board now needs to give final approval. READ: Little Joe's Pizza to Open Frankfort Location "I'm excited you guys are coming," said Commissioner John Newton. "I've always …

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lala

8:57 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013

You should go to a village board meeting and ask questions.   more ›

Little Joe's Pizza to Open Frankfort Location

The pizza restaurant, which has locations in New Lenox and Tinley Park, goes before the Village Plan Commission on Thursday. Find out where Little Joe's wants to open in Frankfort.

Little Joe's Famous Pizza, which has pizza places in New Lenox and Tinley Park, is looking to open a location in Frankfort. READ: Support Rt. 30 Through These Tough Construction Times The pizza restaurant goes before the Village Plan Commission on Thursday, Aug. 9, to request special use permits for outdoor seating and liquor sales for a Little Joe's location at 9645 Lincoln Way Lane, suite 107. If the commission recommends these permits, they will go before the Frankfort Village Board for approval. Senior Village Planner Zach Brown said Little Joe's owners have been developing the location, which formerly housed the cafe Smooth Joe's Coffee Shop, for about a year. READ: Village Board OKs Currie Motors' Expansion Project A spokeswoman for …

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Burger, Spa Chains Propose New Locations in Frankfort

Meatheads Burger & Fries, Massage Envy and indoor sports facility Roma Sports Club will go before the Village Plan Commission to discuss opening spots in the village.

On the heels of a new Mariano's Fresh Market coming to Frankfort, the Village Plan Commission will consider the special use requests of three businesses hoping to locate to the village. Here's a look at the companies trying to become corporate citizens in Frankfort with some background on what they need to make that happen: Meatheads Burgers & Fries: The Bloomington-based hamburger chain is asking for a carry-out restaurant and outdoor seating permit for a new location in the Prairie Crossings Shopping Center at 11143 W. Lincoln Hwy. The village and Meatheads have been in talks to come to Frankfort for about a year, said Planning Supervisor Zach Brown. The burger restaurant would be a good fit in the shopping center, complementing Chipotle…

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