A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held April 13, 2026 at the Sharon Township Meeting Hall. Members present were Planning Commissioner Bryce Jacob, Rich Skowronski, and Jennifer Zipfel. Christopher Bedell was present by telephone. Also present were residents Paula Vasey and Gina Moore, Mayor Daniel Schlichting, and Solicitor Leah Reibel. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
- The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of January 12 were not read since each member had received a copy. Skowronski moved and Zipfel seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 3, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried (3-0). Bedell was not yet in attendance at the time of the vote
- An update to the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Gina Moore at 235 W Southington Ave to add an addition and patio to the rear of the house. The current request is to update the landscaping, patio, and walkway, and to expand the existing asphalt driveway to fit two cars. The existing walkway is to be replaced with pavers and a patio will be added at the rear. The revised driveway will start narrow near the apron and expand closer to the house. There will be no changes to the landscaping, only updates to the existing materials and layout.
The Planning Commissioner questioned if lot coverage numbers were available. The original application had included a current coverage calculation, but updates are needed for the expansion of the driveway. In addition, the Village code requires the driveway to be no closer than five feet to the lot line, but the plans with the expansion as shown appear to be closer. The Commission will need to verify that this is further than five feet before approval or the plans will need to be changed to make it so. The Planning Commissioner also recommended that the driveway be revised to a smoother design than the boxy design shown in the plans. Moore questioned if the approval for these changes would need to wait until the May meeting and the Planning Commissioner stated that the Commission could conditionally approve the plans pending submission of the requested information.
Skowronski moved to approve the plans as submitted conditional on receiving plans showing that the expanded driveway does not infringe on the five-foot setback and that the lot coverage does not exceed the 40% limit. Zipfel seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 3, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried (3-0). Bedell was not yet in attendance at the time of the vote.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance by Mike and Paula Vasey at 247 W Southington to add an addition and concrete patio to the rear of the house. The variance was being requested due to the addition being closer to the lot line than the ten foot setback called for in the Village code. Bryce Jacob detailed the project on behalf of Element One and explained that the addition will align with the existing house, which was built 5’9” off of the lot line, as was acceptable at the time. Several other additions throughout the Village have received variances for similar reasons. In addition, the addition will align with the addition constructed on the house next door.
As part of the plans, the floor of the mudroom will be raised to match the height of the addition and the door to the outside will be raised as part of this. This project will also bury the existing electric lines in the yard.
Zipfel moved to approve the plans as submitted and Skowronski seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 3, Bedell, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: None; Abstain: 1, Jacob. The motion carried (3-0-1).
- The Planning Commission discussed the potential changes to the Village zoning code around fences. The Solicitor was in attendance to discuss the changes that had been sent to her. She stated that she felt that some of the changes, including the proposed language to discourage demolition of houses in the Village, would be difficult to enforce as the Village does not lie in a historic district. The Solicitor will continue to research the changes that are laid out in the plans. The Mayor and Solicitor stated that they wanted to ensure that the proposed changes to the code will be enforceable and that they do not expose the Village to potential legal challenges.
Zipfel stated that the Commission would potentially also like to make revisions to the Certificate of Appropriateness application and questioned whether these changes would need to be approved by Village Council. The Solicitor stated that this would not be necessary, but that they should be made aware of the changes.
Skowronski moved and Zipfel seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner
Josh Mehling, Clerk