P&Z Commission: Peotone Area Variances Forwarded for Garage and Pole Barn

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | December 2, 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved variance requests for two properties in Peotone Township, allowing homeowners to build accessory structures that did not meet standard setback requirements. In one case, the commission overruled a staff recommendation for denial.

Peotone Zoning Variances Key Points:

• EK Motors LLC (Kennedy Rd): The commission approved five variances for a 0.5-acre lot to allow the construction of a new detached garage, acknowledging the lot was created in 1967 and is significantly undersized by modern standards.

• Algozine Trust (Barr Rd): The commission approved a variance to reduce a rear setback from 50 feet to 20 feet for a new pole barn, despite staff recommending denial.

• Board Discretion: Commissioners accepted the Algozine owner’s argument that topography and existing farm structures made other locations on the 5-acre parcel impractical.

JOLIET, Ill. — The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved zoning relief for two Peotone-area property owners on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, enabling new construction on agricultural lots.

In the first case, EK Motors LLC requested variances for a property at 7958 Kennedy Road. The parcel, created in 1967, is only 0.507 acres—far smaller than the current 10-acre minimum for the A-1 Agricultural district. The owner sought relief from setback, lot area, and frontage requirements to build a compliant detached garage and legalize existing structures.

Staff recommended approval, noting the “hardship was not created by the applicant” and that the lot was “significantly deficient to meet any A-1 standards whatsoever.” The commission approved the variances unanimously.

The second case involved the Edward A. Algozine and Bessie F. Algozine Trust at 9333 W. Barr Road. The owners sought to build a 60-by-80-foot pole barn 20 feet from the rear property line, violating the 50-foot setback requirement.

County staff recommended denial, arguing the hardship was self-imposed and that the 5-acre parcel had other suitable locations for the barn.

“The desire to build a structure encroaching onto setbacks is a personal desire and cannot be considered a unique circumstance,” said staff presenter Jesus Briseno.

However, owner Edward Algozine testified that existing livestock barns, a septic field, and a hill on the property made the requested location the only practical option. “This is kind of the only place that it really fits,” Algozine said.

The commission sided with the property owner, voting to approve the variance despite the staff recommendation.