TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
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Ordinance Approving an Amendment to a Variation of Use (Ordinance #18661) to Allow a Six-Unit Residence in an R-3 (One-and-Two-family Residential) Zoning District, Located at 515 Summit Street
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BACKGROUND:
The petitioner and business owner, Philip Soto, is requesting an amendment to a Variation of Use (Ordinance #18661) to allow a six-unit residence in an R-3 (one and two family residential) zoning district, located at 515 Summit Street. The City Council approved the original request for a five-unit residence on June 18, 2024. The petitioner now seeks to convert storage space on the main level into an ADA compliant unit in order to eliminate the need for an elevator to the units on the second and third levels of the structure while still complying with requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for the overall project. The petitioner still wishes to redevelop the second and third levels of the former brewery malthouse into five units. Therefore, an amendment to the original Variation of Use approval is required to move forward with residential redevelopment plans for 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 and a different group of investors own and operate Bishops Hill Winery.
The petitioner's operational plans for this residential redevelopment project have not changed since the June 2024 Variation of Use approval. He will operate the six-unit residence as short-term rentals, which he believes would complement the winery. The petitioner has stated that clients hosting private events at the winery are often in Joliet for several days and desire lodging in a ...
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