Zoning Board of Appeals meeting summary | 150 West Jefferson Street | Joliet | The Common News

Summary

Zoning Board of Appeals meeting summary

JolietMay 21, 20263 min read

At a glance

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The board approved truck trailer parking variations at 2700 Ellis Road; approved a truck parking facility with mobile CNG fueling and allowed above‑ground CNG tanks at 23656 S. Houbolt Road (3–2 votes); denied requests to allow container storage and three-high stacking at the same Houbolt Road site; and approved repealing a prior four‑unit residential variation at 556 Ward Avenue. The April 16, 2026 minutes were also approved.

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Zoning Board of Appeals

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TransportationPublic SafetyCommerceHousingUtilities

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What this means

The board approved several permits that may increase truck parking and introduce mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling and above‑ground CNG tanks at an industrial site on Houbolt Road; those decisions passed by narrow votes in some cases. The board rejected plans to store and stack shipping containers up to three high at the same location. The board also removed a prior allowance for a four‑unit rental at 556 Ward, returning that property to one‑ and two‑family residential zoning. Nearby residents can expect potential increases in truck activity where parking and fueling were approved and that safety and setback concerns were discussed during the meeting.

Key decisions

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Approved April 16, 2026 Zoning Board of Appeals minutes.
Approved PETITION 2026-23: Variation to allow truck trailer parking on the short side of a building at 2700 Ellis Road.
Approved PETITION 2026-23 (second variation): Allow truck trailer parking with a double-row at 2700 Ellis Road.
Approved PETITION 2026-24: Special Use Permit for a truck parking facility with mobile CNG fueling as an accessory component at 23656 S. Houbolt Road (Aye: Bias, Hennessy, Stiff; Nay: Radakovich, McGrath Schmig).
Approved PETITION 2026-25: Variation of Use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for CNG fueling in the I-1 district at 23656 S. Houbolt Road (Aye: Bias, Hennessy, Stiff; Nay: Radakovich, McGrath Schmig).
Denied PETITION 2026-26: Special Use Permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high at 23656 S. Houbolt Road.
Denied PETITION 2026-27: Variation of Use to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high in the I-1 district at 23656 S. Houbolt Road.
Approved PETITION 2026-28: Repeal of a Variation of Use that allowed a 4-unit residence in an R-3 zoning district at 556 Ward Avenue (restoring R-3 standards).

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Meeting information

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Zoning Board of Appeals

May 21, 2026, 12:00 AMCity Hall, Council Chambersscheduled

Agenda

Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS
This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Zoning Board of Appeals members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak.
OLD BUSINESS: PUBLIC HEARING
During the Public Hearing, members of the public will be allowed to present evidence and ask questions subject to the rules of the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS: PUBLIC HEARING
During the Public Hearing, members of the public will be allowed to present evidence and ask questions subject to the rules of the meeting.
OLD/NEW BUSINESS—NOT FOR FINAL ACTION OR RECOMMENDATION
PUBLIC COMMENT
This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding non-agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Zoning Board of Appeals members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact The City Clerk Office, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780.
Approval of April 16, 2026 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes
PETITION 2026-23: A Series of Variations to allow truck trailer parking on the short side of a building with a double-row, located at 2700 Ellis Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5)
PETITION 2026-24: Special Use Permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling as an accessory component, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-25: Variation of Use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-26: Special Use Permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-27: Variation of Use to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5)
PETITION 2026-28: Repeal of a Variation of Use to allow a 4 unit residence, an R-4 (multifamily residential use), in an R-3 (one-and-two-family residential) zoning District, located at 556 Ward Avenue (COUNCIL DISTRICT #4)
PETITION 2026-24: Special Use Permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling as an accessory component, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-25: Variation of Use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-26: Special Use Permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-27: Variation of Use to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5)
PETITION 2026-24: Special Use Permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling as an accessory component, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-25: Variation of Use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-26: Special Use Permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-27: Variation of Use to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5)
PETITION 2026-24: Special Use Permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling as an accessory component, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-25: Variation of Use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-26: Special Use Permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5) PETITION 2026-27: Variation of Use to allow container storage and stacking up to three-high in the I-1 (light industrial) district, located at 23656 S. Houbolt Road. (COUNCIL DISTRICT #5)

Documents from this meeting

Minuteshttps://joliet.legistar1.com/joliet/meetings/2026/5/2629_M_Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_26-05-21_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Agendahttps://joliet.legistar1.com/joliet/meetings/2026/5/2629_A_Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_26-05-21_Meeting_Agenda.pdf

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