The Oak Park Village Board voted unanimously to refer single family zoning changes to the Planning Commission for further discussion.
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Opticos Design, an architecture group partnering with the village, gave a presentation at the July 28 meeting giving recommendations and next steps regarding zoning changes in the village.
In the proposed changes, single-unit dwellings would still be allowed in all districts where they’re already permitted and multi-unit buildings would no longer be grouped into just one category, but would be divided into subcategories based on the numer of units up to five. Those with six units and more would constitute another category.
Opticos also recommended changes to Oak Park zoning rules that would allow height increases from 30 to 35 feet to residential district homes that mostly include single-family homes.
Jennifer Settle, the principal at Opticos, and Marisa Schulz, principal at All Together, an engagement organization, spoke at the meeting and said the proposed changes wouldn’t drastically change the look of the village’s residential neighborhoods.
“This is about protecting that scale and that form as well as that yard and green space,” Settle said. “Just because you’re allowing two or three or four units, they don’t get a bigger size than what’s allowed for a single family home in that district.”
Height limits for buildings in current multi-family residential districts were recommended to increase from 35 feet to 50 feet.
The proposal also would allow height increases to buildings in the commercial districts, with limitations when those buildings are within 25 feet of single family homes.
Community members said the process of making a decision on the matter should slow down and questioned how the zoning would make way for affordable housing in the future.
Board members said they are on the same side as the community and said more discussion will go into the zoning changes to account for diversity and affordability.
Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson said she’s been both supportive and critical of elements of the zoning changes, but agreed more conversations need to happen.
“To the point of many people here, zoning changes in and of themselves do not guarantee affordability nor maintain or retrieve some of our lost diversity, so that’s why I’ve been very loud and probably annoying about some of those things, particularly the inclusionary housing ordinance,” she said.
Starting early August, a zoning comparison tool will launch that will allow people to put in a property address and see what changes could be made.
An economic consultant is conducting financial tests to help answer questions about feasibility, impact and affordability. A presentation on their findings is expected to be in late August.
Community members will have opportunities to voice their concerns and pose questions on the proposed zoning changes, the first of which is planned from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St.
The accepted recommendations will go before the Plan Commission at its Sept. 17 meeting and another meeting on Oct. 8, if necessary.
After public hearings, the Planning Commission could vote on the recommendation on approval, approval with conditions or denial to the board.
A final vote on the matter is set to take place in October.
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