Trustees advance RV special-use permit and hear first reading on tougher outdoor-storage rules

Trustees received first readings on two land-use measures during the community and economic development portion of the meeting: a special-use permit that would allow recreational vehicles to be stored on specified manufactured-home park lots, and an amendment to the village code restricting open or outdoor storage of accumulated equipment and similar items.

Dan, speaking for planning and zoning/building and zoning staff, described the RV proposal as a special-use permit process already approved 5–0 by the planning-and-zoning board. He said the applicants have submitted required inspections and that the use is intended to be temporary rather than permanent: “No, no, these are just temporary…no more than six months and then they can renew if they want to stay longer through the process,” Dan said, noting common tenants include visiting nurses and personnel from Scott Air Force Base. The applicant (identified in the meeting as Rocky) confirmed temporary stays and said the most recent state inspection yielded full compliance.

A trustee noted a personal relationship with the applicant and formally recorded an abstention/recusal on that vote in committee. After discussion, committee members moved to forward the special-use ordinance to the full board for further consideration.

On the open/outdoor storage amendment, Dan said the change was intended to give code enforcement a clearer tool for dealing with properties habitually storing disassembled lawn mowers, small-engine parts and similar items that create neighborhood nuisance concerns. The proposed language would require that those items be kept in an enclosed structure (garage, shed or building) or otherwise be subject to enforcement where accumulation rises to a nuisance. Trustees asked about construction exceptions, temporary staging of materials for active home repairs, and informal sales via online marketplaces; staff said they would use judgment and follow-up letters for temporary work and that habitual accumulations would be targeted for enforcement.

Both items were handled as first readings and will return to the board for further action; no final ordinance adoption occurred at this meeting.