Schaumburg still mulling over garage rules

An attempt to further restrict the size of detached garages in Schaumburg is returning to the drawing board after the zoning board found it too restrictive.

By a 5-1 vote, the zoning board rejected a proposal to lower the maximum size of new detached garages from 650 to 528 square feet, or 22-by-24 feet.

The suggestion initially came from the village's planning, building and development committee as an adequate size for a so-called 2½-car garage.

Zoning board Chairman Roger Williams said his board didn't create a counterproposal but simply recommended against the change to the current standard.

Rather than overruling or agreeing with the zoning board, village trustees voted Tuesday to send the issue back to the planning committee on March 6.

The issue was first brought to the committee by residents near of a house with a 649-square-foot detached garage on the 1100 block of Lowell Lane.

Though that garage doesn't violate current standards, committee members agreed with the neighbors that 650 square feet may be too large.

The law that allowed garages to be built to that size took effect only last April.

But neighbors of that residence were also concerned because they said that about five more cars were being parked in the backyard, and that the garage's placement on a slope made it appear taller from the back than its true 15 feet.