Sugar Grove vet, village come to terms on trees
Some ordinances definitely do not fall into the category of "one size fits all."
The Sugar Grove village board recently came to this conclusion after veterinarian Craig Zabel balked at a bill of $10,400 the village handed him after reviewing his plans to redevelop two lots he owns in downtown Sugar Grove.
It was rather ironic that the issue was tree removal.
Zabel is not only a popular veterinarian, he has been active in the local chapter of the Sierra Club for years, recruiting speakers and serving on the club's global warming committee.
"I can appreciate trees, but they shouldn't be the issue here," Zabel told the board.
After hearing from Zabel on March 18 when the board met as a committee of the whole, trustees directed staff to meet Zabel halfway and reduce the $10,400 fee by 50 percent.
Zabel still thought it was unfair and when he pleaded his case further at the April 1 village board meeting the board voted to waive the ordinance so as not to hinder his building plans.
"Dr. Zabel brought up some valid points," said Village President Sean Michels. "In most cases, a general ordinance pertains well to every situation. But there will definitely be discussion about developing a similar ordinance that fits in with downtown development and our Main Street enhancement plan."
It all began when Zabel submitted plans to build a new two-story animal hospital on two lots he owns at 110 and 130 S. Main St. The total parcel is about one acre. The new building will replace his existing animal hospital on Cross Street.
Plans call for removing one of the existing houses and 16 trees. Zabel planned to keep 15 trees and add 27.
The village had to require the money to enforce a rather complicated, formulated village tree mitigation ordinance.
Zabel owns property on which previous owners had planted 11 pines trees close together to serve as a buffer against a gas station at Route 47 and Cross Street.
As the ordinance is based in part on the number of existing trees before re-development, the quantity as well as quality increased what Zabel owed the village.
The ordinance deals with not only the number of trees but also their density, and Zabel was faced with "owing" the village 26 3-inch caliper trees. And if the added trees can't fit on the property, the developer (in this case Zabel) must pay the village a fee in-lieu. That added up to $10,400.
Zabel focused on how many trees he plans for his property and the board saw his point.
"By keeping 15 trees and adding 27, I'll have more trees per acre than my downtown neighbors," Zabel told the board April 1.
Village trustees agreed, and expressed their delight at Zabel's architectural drawings. The new brick facility will be a welcome boost to Sugar Grove's downtown.
Zabel is happy, too.
"Everything was done in fairness and consideration," he said.
His new 5,500-square-foot animal hospital will double the size of his present one.
"The business wanted to grow," he said. "I didn't want to stop it."