Village Board Passes Car Tarp Restrictions

The new restrictions will be enforced starting June 1.

The Lake in the Hills Board of Trustees passed an amendment Thursday night restricting the use of car tarps in the village. Without discussion, the Board of Trustees adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance that allows only fitted car tarps to be used in the village. Those with tarp-covered motor vehicles will be required yearly to demonstrate to village inspectors that their covered vehicles are operable and have current license-plate stickers.  Enforcement of the new ordinance starts June 1. About 50 properties in the village have tarp-covered vehicles on them. Orlando Gonzalez, a resident with a tarp-covered vehicle on his driveway, told trustees he would comply but added that he had his doubts about the zoning amendment. "I'm …

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Village Board to Vote on Car Tarp Restrictions

If passed, only fitted tarps would be allowed.

The Village Board is expected to pass on Thursday an amendments that would put more restrictions on parked vehicles with car tarps in Lake in the Hills. An amendment to the LITH zoning ordinance would require parked vehicles to be operable, have up to date-licenses and if those vehicles are covered by a tarp, that the tarp be commercially made to fit the vehicle.  There will be a grace period, said Village President Ed Plaza, but “total compliance” of the ordinance would be expected by June 1. Dan Olson, director of community development for the village, said that last year neighbors complained that tarp-covered cars in their neighborhoods were unsightly and running down property values. The village did a visual survey and found more than …

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Commission OKs Car Tarp Restrictions

The amendment does not ban tarps outright but requires residents to purchase fitted tarps for their vehicles.

The Village of Lake in the Hills is no longer seeking an outright ban on car tarps, but is proposing that only fitted tarps be allowed as a way to improve neighborhood aesthetics. Planning and Zoning Committee members voted 4-0 Monday night to endorse a proposed amendment to its zoning ordinance that would require vehicles to be covered by fitted car tarps that are manufactured for that purpose instead of the type of tarp that needs to be tied down. Also part of the proposed amendment would be a provision that allows yearly police inspections of cars under tarps to ensure that the covered vehicles still operate and have up-to-date license plates. The village took up the issue last year after receiving complaints from residents, claiming …

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In Their Words

Tell Us What You Think About Car Tarp Restrictions

Several readers comment on proposed regulations.

Over the past month, several Lake in the Hills residents have come to LITH Patch to sound off on what they think about proposed regulations on car tarps in the village. For more information, visit our most recent LITH Patch article on the proposed regulations. Here are some of the comments we have received from readers: Village Resident I've spoken with an employee from the village of Lincolnshire and they don't have any ban like this one. It is believed that if something is such an eyesore it would be covered under the public nuisance ordinance. I agree this is a worst case scenario, and also agree that many people wouldn't want to live near it, I wouldn't mind but hey that's my hobby. I'd probably be out there helping him fix up that car…

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Car Tarp Complaints to be Heard at Public Hearing

The village's planning and zoning commission will meet tonight.

Residents will have the opportunity to sound off on proposed car tarp restrictions during a public hearing tonight. The hearing will be held during the Lake in the Hills Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 600 Harvest Gate. Commissioners will discuss a proposed amendment that would look at limiting the use of car tarps within the village. P&Z commissioners will review an amendment that would ban the use of car tarps and covers on unlicensed and inoperable vehicles, said LITH Community Development Director Dan Olson. The regulation would allow owners, such as those with collectible cars, to use the tarps as long as the cars are licensed and drivable. The village has received complaints from residents who …

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Public Hearing on Car Tarp Restrictions Monday

Residents will be able to voice their concerns during the LITH Planning and Zoning Commission at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The Lake in the Hills Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Monday to discuss a proposed amendment that would look at limiting the use of car tarps within the village. The public hearing will take place at Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate. The tarp-use amendment falls under section 18 of the village zoning code regarding off-street parking and loading, said LITH Community Development Director Dan Olson.  P&Z commissioners will review an amendment that would ban the use of car tarps and covers on unlicensed and inoperable vehicles, Olson said. The regulation would allow owners, such as those with collectible cars, to use the tarps as long as the cars are licensed and drivable. The village has received …

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Village Committee Expected to Discuss Car Tarp Ban

Planning and Zoning Commission could look at the issue next month.

Owners of vintage automobiles may say they're protecting their investments from the elements, but a neighbor may say that a tarp covering a '57 Chevy is an eyesore, running down property values.    The Lake in the Hills Village Board of Trustees is expected tonight to hand off the issue to the Planning and Zoning Commission, so members of that panel may consider a recommendation on whether car tarps ought to be banned.  A public hearing for a car-tarp debate could occur on Jan. 17, said Dan Olson, community development director. Trustees at a Tuesday night committee meeting were shown photographs of cars parked on residential property, covered with tarps.  "We've gotten complaints," Olson told trustees.  He added that village police are …

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