Will County P&Z Forwards Monee and Manhattan Residential Projects

Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026

Article Summary: The PZC approved zoning requests facilitating residential improvements in Monee and Manhattan. The approvals allow for the construction of a new home on a narrow lot in Monee and the expansion of a historic home in Wilton Center.

Residential Zoning Key Points:

• Monee Variance: Christina Jenkins received approval to build a home on a lot with 127.6 feet of frontage, less than the required 150 feet.

• Wilton Center Expansion: Robert and Anna Kohl were granted a special use permit to expand a home built in 1938 that is legally non-conforming in a commercial zone.

• Unanimous Support: Both items faced no objectors and passed with unanimous support from the commission.

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, approved requests enabling single-family home projects in Monee and Manhattan.

In Monee Township, Christina Jenkins was granted a variance for lot frontage at a vacant property on South Murphy Lane. The R-2 zoned lot has 127.6 feet of frontage, falling short of the current 150-foot requirement. Staff supported the request, noting the lot was created by a division of land in 2022 and is currently unbuildable without the variance.

“The variance… will bring the lot into compliance and allow a single-family residence to be built,” said county staffer Alec Van Patton. The measure passed unanimously.

In Manhattan (Wilton Township), the commission approved a special use permit for Robert and Anna Kohl at 29450 S. Cedar Road. The couple sought to expand their single-family home, which was built in 1938. Because the property was rezoned to commercial use in 1947 and residential use was restricted in 1978, the home is considered a non-conforming use. The permit legalizes the residential use, allowing the expansion to proceed.