Committee Approves Wilton Township Land Division Despite Spot Zoning Concerns

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved a request to rezone a 1.75-acre parcel in rural Wilton Township from agricultural to residential, allowing the owner to sell a farmhouse separately from the surrounding farmland.

Wilmington-Peotone Road Rezoning Key Points:

• The committee approved a map amendment to rezone a 1.75-acre portion of a 27.9-acre farm from A-1 Agricultural to R-1 Single-Family Residential.

• The owner, Doris J. Robbins Revocable Trust, plans to sell the existing farmhouse at 12504 W. Wilmington-Peotone Road while retaining the remaining farmland.

• County planning staff had recommended denial, citing concerns about creating an isolated “spot zone” of residential property in a predominantly agricultural area.

• The Planning and Zoning Commission previously voted 5-0 to recommend approval.

WILTON TOWNSHIP, IL — A family seeking to sell a farmhouse separate from their farmland in Wilton Township received a favorable recommendation from the Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The committee approved rezoning a small portion of the property despite staff concerns about spot zoning.

The request, submitted by the Doris J. Robbins Revocable Trust, was for a map amendment to change 1.75 acres of a 27.9-acre property at 12504 W. Wilmington-Peotone Road from A-1 Agricultural to R-1 Single-Family Residential.

Edward Sharkey, an attorney for the trust, explained the family’s situation. “The family wants to keep farming the rest of the property but has no need for the farmhouse,” Sharkey said. “That’s the reason that we’re asking for the change of the zoning… so they can sell the house.” The newly created 1.75-acre parcel would meet the R-1 lot size requirements.

While the Planning and Zoning Commission had voted 5-0 to recommend approval, county staff had recommended denial. Staff’s concern was that the change would create an isolated parcel of R-1 zoning in an area dominated by agricultural zoning, a practice known as spot zoning.

Committee member Sherry Newquist questioned staff about alternatives, such as an E-2 Estate Residential zoning, which would be more consistent with nearby properties. Staff planner Jesus Briseno explained that an E-2 designation would have required the parcel to be larger, necessitating additional variances. The applicant chose the R-1 rezoning as the more direct path.

Despite the spot zoning issue, the committee ultimately sided with the applicant and the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation. The proposal now goes to the full Will County Board for a final decision.