The Kankakee City Planning Board voted Nov. 18 to grant a one-year extension of a major variance from parking requirements for the property at 344–352 West Court Street.

Adam Baumgartner, the project applicant, told the board he was "basically just asking for a 1 year extension on our project at Court Street" because other projects had taken priority; he estimated work would likely begin in late summer or early fall of the following year.

Planning staff and board members reiterated the scope of the original approval: the planning-board table showed 32 required parking stalls and 19 provided under the approved plan, a shortfall staff characterized as roughly a 60% reduction from the standard. Staff also noted a prior planning-board condition that, if two restaurant uses occupy the site, the businesses should have staggered peak-demand hours (for example, a daytime coffee use and an evening restaurant) to reduce parking conflicts.

After the brief public hearing — which drew no speakers — the board moved to grant the extension. Motion by Steve Case, seconded by Deb (name variant in transcript). The board conducted a roll-call vote and the chair announced the decision: the extension was granted. Planning staff reminded the board that, under local code practice discussed at the meeting, an extension normally requires that construction be commenced within the extension period and that failure to commence could require reapplication.

The extension allows the applicant additional time to resolve site details and to begin the project; the board did not change the terms of the original variance. The applicant thanked the board after the vote. The board’s next procedural step on the matter will be compliance monitoring as construction activity is reported or permits are pulled.