Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for March 3, 2026

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | March 3, 2026

Overall Meeting Summary
The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission convened on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to review a series of residential property variances. The commission approved three separate variance requests across New Lenox, Crest Hill, and Joliet. Notably, the commission chose to override a staff recommendation of denial for an oversized accessory building in New Lenox, siding with the applicant’s attorney who argued the property’s large size necessitated the structure. The board also approved setback reductions for an accessible home addition and a detached garage, while postponing one case due to an advertising error. Readers are encouraged to review the standalone articles for comprehensive details on the approved zoning cases.

Peotone Setback Variance Postponed Due to Signage Error
The commission voted to postpone Case ZC-25-125, a requested variance for a property at 11335 W. Kennedy Road in Peotone Township. Applicant Elizabeth Botello is seeking to reduce the street yard setback from 100 feet to 85 feet to bring an already-constructed covered front porch into compliance. Chairman Hugh Stipan informed the commission that there was a problem with the public signage and advertising for the case, requiring a delay to ensure proper legal noticing. The case was formally postponed to the commission’s April 7 meeting.

Special Meetings Scheduled for Voluminous Crete Case
Chairman Hugh Stipan announced that the commission has scheduled two special meetings on March 18 and 19 to handle a major zoning case originating in Crete. Due to the anticipated high attendance and the “voluminous” nature of the application packet, the special meetings will be held off-site at the Renaissance Center in Joliet rather than the standard County Board Room. Commissioners briefly discussed parking logistics for the event, noting that public parking and first-come, first-serve handicap parking are available directly across the street from the venue.