Commission recommends rezoning to permit sale of Emmanuel Church parsonage in Elgin

The Elgin Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a parcel split and rezoning that would allow Emmanuel Church of Elgin to sell the church parsonage at 1172 Larkin Avenue as a separate single-family lot.

Planning staff said the proposal would reclassify the parsonage lot from CF (Community Facilities) to RC2 (Residential Conservation) so the single-family residence would conform to adjacent zoning. Staff described the property as roughly 1.25 acres on the north side of Larkin Avenue and noted that some existing improvements — including a shed and parking area — encroach into required setback or transition-yard distances. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions listed in the staff packet.

Doug Sheflow, an attorney representing Emmanuel Church, said the church intends to separate the parsonage from the church campus and sell it to the pastor, who has lived there for decades. "This project is vital for the church," Sheflow said, explaining that selling the house would free up value for the congregation and provide flexibility for future pastors. Pastor Richard Sander, who told the commission he lives in the house, described long-term residency and ties to the neighborhood.

Commissioners asked whether future occupants would be required to be church members; Sheflow answered that the church does not plan to impose such a restriction. Commissioners also asked about yard lines, parking, and the proximity of existing structures to new lot lines; staff and the applicant clarified that the resulting lot would meet site design standards with the requested deviations and that the lot would be approximately 9,583 square feet. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period on the item.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend that City Council approve petitions 36-25 and 37-25 subject to the conditions in the staff packet and to adopt the packet conclusions as the commission’s recommendations. The commission approved the motion by roll call, 6–0.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action; staff will incorporate any final technical edits before the council packet.