A Villager with a hearing problem will have a second opportunity to present a request for a birdcage to the Architectural Review Committee.
Robert Benning is attempting to win retroactive approval for a birdcage he built 12 years ago onto his home in the Greenwood Villas in the Village of Calumet Grove.
He has been denied by the ARC and on Friday afternoon he appealed the ARC’s decision to Community Development District 4 supervisors.
But Benning made it clear that he has a hearing problem and it was determined that his hearing problem could have negatively impacted his due process.
Apparently, Benning’s birdcage, which the ARC determined is encroaching on an easement and in violation of deed compliance, has become a sore point in the neighborhood.
Neighbor Bob Matz, also of the Greenwood Villas, took to the podium to allege that Benning has committed other violations with his birdcage. After Matz stepped away from the podium, Benning blew him a sarcastic kiss, something that is said to happen frequently in this neighborhood feud.
The issue came to light after a neighbor anonymously complained about the birdcage.
During his appeal Friday, Benning claimed he had been “railroaded” by the ARC. But he also admitted he had not submitted an application to add on the birdcage more than a decade ago.
Hearing assistance equipment was made available to Benning at Friday’s CDD 4 meeting. He did not have the benefit of that equipment at the ARC meeting earlier this year.
The CDD 4 supervisors agreed to send the case back to the ARC and to ensure that the proper assistive hearing is available for Benning’s next trip to the ARC.
