Long Battle Over? Elmhurst Panel Wants Tent Ban Lifted

Elmhurst IL

14 June, 2022

1:18 PM

Description

ELMHURST, IL – For years, Elmhurst has banned most versions of garden tents, known as hoop houses. Many residents objected to the policy. On Monday, a key city committee reversed course. It approved a proposal to allow many such tents as well as others, but with some restrictions. Under a proposal, hoop houses and temporary pergolas and gazebos are allowed without permits as long as they are less than 120 square feet. They must follow setback and height guidelines. Tents from 120 to 400 square feet would need permits. They must meet guidelines and are counted as part of the 30 percent building coverage rule. The ban would remain in place for tents more than 400 square feet. Many opponents of the ban called for allowing tents up to 400 square feet, which they said would give residents more room to grow food during the winter. Hoop house supporters contend they should have the right to grow their own food. The city is even providing an engineer's designs of a hoop house that it says would meet the proposed requirements. On Monday, residents Dan and Nicole Virgil, who have long called for allowing hoop houses, said the designs provided no ventilation. "It will kill the plants if you don't allow for ventilation," Dan Virgil said. Nicole Virgil said the designs were professionally done, but "it's clear the person doesn't know anything about growing food." She said a simple email to someone who grows food would prevent such problems. "It's discouraging," she said. During the meeting, a storm hit Elmhurst, causing the power to go out for a few seconds. "That's another reason to be self-sufficient," Nicole Virgil quipped. The two members of the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, aldermen Mark Mulliner and Dannee Polomsky, recommended the council approve the new rules. The third member, Emily Bastedo, was absent. In February, the city's Zoning and Planning Commission voted 6-1 for lifting the ban. In February 2019, a split City Council voted to continue the city's ban on hoop houses, with then-Mayor Steve Morley breaking a tie.