TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Beth Beatty, City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Ordinance Approving a Variation of Use to allow a five-unit residence in an R-3 (one & two family residential) zoning district, located at 515 Summit Street (ZBA 2024-19)
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BACKGROUND:
The petitioner and property owner, Philip Soto, is requesting a Variation of Use to allow a five-unit residence in an R-3 (one & two family residential) zoning district, located at 515 Summit Street.
The building at 515 Summit Street is a factory complex of four connected buildings dating back to 1865 which served the Scheidt & Stephens Brewery and later Frederick Sehring's brewery operations. The oldest buildings are the four-story and two-story Joliet limestone buildings facing Summit Street, as well as remnants of the icehouse. After the complex was no longer needed to support brewing operations, various small manufacturing, auto repair and storage operations have occurred here. According to the petitioner, the rear autobody use will gradually be phased out. The R-3 (one & two family residential) zoning classification has never matched the land-use of this property.
The petitioner and a business partner bought the subject property in 2022 with plans to repurpose the former brewery complex into a use complementary to the niche hospitality operations at Bishops Hill Winery, which is located across the street from the subject property at 310 Bridge Street. The petitioner, with a different group of investors, own and operate Bishops Hill Winery.
The petitioner seeks to redevelop a portion of the complex - the oldest portion of the complex - into a five-unit residence with the main entrance on Summit Street. The petitioner plans to operate the five-unit residence as short-term rentals which he believes would complement the winery. He stated that clients hosting private events at the winery are often in Joliet for several days and desire lodging in a setting other than a hotel. The petitioner indicated...
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