VOTE ON B&B DELAYED
FRUSTRATION ABOUNDS AS ...
JOLIET -- No matter what happened at Thursday's zoning board of appeals meeting regarding a proposed bed-and-breakfast on Western Avenue, someone was going to leave unhappy.
But as it turned out, some of the neighbors opposing the B&B and the couple wanting to open the business walked away frustrated that the board put the issue on ice for 90 days.
Dan Maher, who has lived on Western Avenue for 35 years and opposes the bed-and-breakfast, said he was confused as to why the matter was tabled.
"I'm not certain what additional information they want," Maher said.
Dennis and Terry Yohnka, who want to open the bed-and-breakfast in their home at 958 Western Ave., also weren't sure what the delay will accomplish.
"I'm not thrilled to put it on hold for another 90 days," said Terry Yohnka, who added the delay was better than a denial.
The Yohnkas purchased the home this summer and submitted their plans to open a four bedroom B&B.
Before the Yohnkas can open the establishment, they must obtain city approval because the area is zoned for homes, not businesses.
But their proposal has met with opposition from neighbors.
The main concern of Cathedral-area homeowners seems to be the establishment of a business in a residential area. Neighbors are worried that other businesses will follow and that the street of family homes will turn into a row of businesses within historic houses.
"I don't want a floodgate to open up," said Diane Nelson, who lives in the Cathedral area. "I don't want to live in Geneva."
The Yohnkas' business plan also was scrutinized during the meeting, which was attended by several dozen homeowners, many of whom opposed the B&B.
"We are disturbed by a total lack of market research," homeowner Steve Mott said of the information the Yohnkas have presented.
Neighbors also are worried about the bed-and-breakfast's effect on traffic and property values.
The Yohnkas' said their neighbors are not taking an important factor into account: "We are going to live there, and it's our home," said Dennis Yohnka, adding they would not allow anyone inside who they are uncomfortable with.
The couple also countered that they spent two years creating a business plan.
"We're not going into this blindly or stupidly," said Terry Yohnka, who said she has an MBA, after the meeting.
CAPA board member Tom Cawley was the only person at the meeting to speak in favor of the bed-and-breakfast.
While he has opposed bed-and-breakfasts in the past, Cawley said the Yohnkas' plan will introduce people to the Cathedral area, giving visitors a positive image of Joliet.
He said the B&B would accomplish goals similar to the area's annual house walk.
"I believe this bed-and-breakfast is a continuation of that theme," Cawley said.
"I think it would be a good thing," she said.
But Merriman wanted more information from the real estate appraiser the Yohnkas' have consulted regarding the B&B's effect on property values and from neighbors who live near a bed-and-breakfast in Naperville.
In this case, the zoning board of appeals acts as a recommending body: The city council has the final call.
The 90-day delay on the zoning board's vote means that the council will not have to consider the issue until after the city election April 17.
And by then, the council could have another member beside Jan Quillman living on Western Avenue: Two of the District 5 candidates, Wayne Horne and Deborah Lisy, reside on the well-known street.
Quillman attended Thursday's meeting but did not speak.
"I'm here just trying to weigh all the facts and be as fair as I can even though I live there," said Quillman who is not up for re-election until 2009.
District 2 Councilman Tim Brophy also has taken an active interest in the issue and attended other meetings on the matter.
He does not live in the Cathedral area but represents many of its residents.
Brophy, who so far is running unopposed in the April election, said he has not made a final decision but thinks there has to be an overwhelming consensus among the neighbors to make such a change in the neighborhood.
View Andrea Hein's Web log at http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/ahein/or contact her at (815) 729-6018 or via e-mail at ahein@scn1.com
