Monee Zoning Board Approves Accessibility Variance for Local Duplex

Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting | December 17, 2025

Article Summary: The Monee Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals approved a multi-part variance request for a residential duplex to accommodate accessibility needs for a handicapped resident. The decision allows for reduced setbacks for an existing shed and a proposed ADA-accessible pool deck and pergola.

Monee Planning and Zoning Board Key Points:

• ADA Priority: The variances were requested by homeowner Tammy Pecho to support the mobility and “quality of life” of her elderly, handicapped mother.

• Setback Reductions: The board approved a 3.5-foot setback for an existing shed and an encroachment on the 10-foot pool setback for a new deck.

• Therapeutic Use: The proposed structures include a doctor-recommended pool deck for water therapy and a pergola designed as an ADA-compatible greenhouse.

The Monee Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, voted unanimously to approve a variance application for a duplex located at 26033 S. Locust Place. The request, submitted by resident Tammy Pecho, sought relief from standard village setback requirements to maintain and construct essential accessibility-related structures for her handicapped mother.

Pecho, who has lived in the duplex since 2022, explained that her mother moved into the other half of the building in 2023. The variance covered three specific items: an existing steel shed, a proposed ADA-accessible pool deck, and an attached pergola intended to function as a greenhouse.

Regarding the shed, Pecho admitted it was built without a permit and placed only 3.5 feet from the property line, rather than the required five feet. She testified that the location was necessitated by a large, pre-existing birdhouse pole and the need for a wheelchair ramp to provide her mother access for “therapeutic gardening activities.”

Interim Director of Building Services Lance Becker testified that while the shed lacked a permit, Pecho had been diligent in obtaining permits for all other extensive renovations on the property. Becker noted the yard’s unique challenges, including a large tree and the property’s odd angle between Locust Place and Compass Lane.

The most significant proposed addition is an ADA-compatible pool deck featuring winding stairs to provide safe access for water therapy. Pecho stated that her mother’s doctor recommended the therapy, but the current pool setup makes access “impossible.”

Pecho noted that while most neighbors supported her efforts, one neighbor had filed a complaint regarding the shed’s proximity to the fence. However, the board found the requests reasonable. Becker confirmed that the total lot coverage would remain well within the 30% limit allowed by village code.

The variance recommendation will now move to the Monee Village Board for final consideration during their meeting on January 14, 2026.