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*Concur with the Plan Commission’s Recommendation and Adopt an Ordinance Approving a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment by Adding Reception/Banquet Facility - Small as a Permitted Use
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Introduction
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The Petitioner, the Village of Oak Park, seeks a Zoning Ordinance text amendment by adding the use and definition for Reception/Banquet Facility - Small as a permitted use in all commercial Districts. Staff is also proposing to add a definition for Reception/Banquet Facility - Large. Larger facilities would be required to seek a special use permit to operate in certain zoning districts.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Ordinance.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
This initiative is occurring due to a sharp increase in demand for private, professional, and community event spaces in Oak Park. Event spaces in Oak Park are called Reception/Banquet Facilities. These facilities are defined as follows:
“A facility that provides hosting and rental services of a banquet hall or similar for private events including, but not limited to, wedding receptions, holiday parties, and fundraisers, with food and beverages that are prepared and served on-site or by a caterer to invited guests during intermittent dates and hours of operation. Live entertainment may be provided as an ancillary use as part of an event. A reception facility is not operated as a restaurant with regular hours of operation.”
The Village of Oak Park seeks an amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance by adding a new use called Reception/Banquet Facility - Small that would allow smaller reception facilities by-right in commercial zoning districts. The proposed amendment would be a change in zoning policy that would allow small reception facilities defined as a facility up to a maximum of 900 square feet, minus the areas devoted to the kitchen and bathrooms, as a permitted use in all commercial districts. Please note, however, the current use restrictions in the Downtown Districts DT-1 and DT-2) would continue to prohibit these uses on the ground floor within 50 feet of the street line but not in above-grade spaces.
In contrast, the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance currently does not allow reception/banquet facilities, regardless of size, as a permitted use in any zoning district. This use currently requires a special use permit in the DT District, GC District, MS District, NA District, and the RR District. In fact, this use is not allowed at all within the Harrison Street District and the Neighborhood Commercial District.
A small reception/banquet facility would be defined as follows”
Reception/Banquet Facility - Small
A facility that provides hosting and rental services of a banquet hall or similar for private events in an area no greater than 900 square feet that is available for rent for, but not limited to, wedding receptions, holiday parties, and fundraisers, with food and beverages that are prepared and served on-site or by a caterer to invited guests during intermittent dates and hours of operation. Live entertainment may be provided as an ancillary use as part of an event. A reception facility is not operated as a restaurant with regular hours of operation.
The goal is to allow small, intimate facilities (up to 100 Guests) designed for smaller, more personal events and to avoid excessive traffic impacts to an area. These spaces work well for engagement ceremonies, ring ceremonies, small birthday celebrations, anniversary dinners, bridal showers, corporate board meetings, and private dining events. Small reception facilities align with the community’s goals by activating underutilized spaces and supporting pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighborhoods. Small event venues bring visitors who spend money at nearby restaurants, hotels, and retail shops. Additionally, these facilities create partnerships with local caterers, florists, and musicians, keeping money inside the local economy.
Reception facilities and their occupant loads are determined by dividing the net or gross floor area of the space by the specific occupant load factor outlined in the International Building Code (IBC). An occupant load is the maximum number of people allowed in an event space at one time, calculated by dividing the room's square footage by a specific space-use factor. More specifically, the occupant load for a reception facility is calculated using specific net or gross square footage allowances per person based on how the space is configured. Standard code factors range from 3 to 15 net square feet per occupant depending on whether guests are standing, sitting at tables, or in rows.
Occupant Load Factors for Reception Spaces
• Banquet/Seated Dinner: Plan for 15 sq ft per person. This gives guests enough room to pull out their chairs and allows staff to serve food.
• Standing Reception/Cocktail: Plan for 5 sq ft per person, as guests do not need seating.
• Theater/Ceremony Style: Plan for 7 sq ft per person since rows of chairs pack together tightly.
• Dance floors: 3 to 5 net square feet per person (depending on local jurisdiction amendments).
• Fixed seating: Exact count of installed seats (or 18-24 inches per person for pews/booths without dividing arms)
Staff is also proposing to add a definition Reception/Banquet Facility - Large as follows:
A facility that provides hosting and rental services of a banquet hall or similar for private events in an area greater than 900 square feet that is available for rent for, but not limited to, wedding receptions, holiday parties, and fundraisers, with food and beverages that are prepared and served on-site or by a caterer to invited guests during intermittent dates and hours of operation. Live entertainment may be provided as an ancillary use as part of an event. A reception facility is not operated as a restaurant with regular hours of operation.
Facilities larger than 900 square feet would be required to obtain a special use permit. Requiring a special use permit is in line with the current treatment of reception/banquet facilities in most commercial districts, although they are not allowed in the HS District and the NC District entirely, even by a special use permit. The special use requirement would allow control over where larger venues can be located and thus reduce the impact of traffic and noise.
Reception facilities are subject to more restrictive fire life safety requirements. For instance, occupant loads greater than 50 guests will require a commercial fire alarm; occupant loads greater than 100 will require a sprinkler system and a fire alarm. The high cost of adding a sprinkler system to an existing commercial space may naturally limit the number of guests allowed in these facilities to no more than 100 guests. The high cost of adding a sprinkler system and the 900 square foot size limitation will limit the size of these facilities and keep guest counts at 100 or below, which should reduce associated traffic issues.
On August 24, 2026, the Project Review Team (PRT) reviewed the proposal. The PRT consists of representatives from various departments and divisions within the Village.
On August 26, 2026, a legal notice was published in The Wednesday Journal.
On September 10, 2026, the Plan Commission held a public hearing on the application.
Timing Considerations
The Village Board must act on the application within 60 days of receipt of the Plan Commission recommendation. If the Village Board does not act upon the application within 60 days of receipt, the application is deemed denied.
Financial Impact
The cost of the Public Notice was $308 from GL account 1001.46202.101.550652.
Operations Impact
There is no operating impact associated with this item. The item aligns with the department’s core service delivery. Approximately ten (12) hours of staff time have been put toward this item. Managing text amendment applications is a standard operating function of the Planning & Urban Design Division within the Development Services Department.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact associated with this item.
Community Input
The Plan Commission held a public hearing on September 10, 2026. There was no one in attendance in opposition or support of the amendments. However, staff presented opposing thoughts at the hearing that the necessary parking supply within the HS Harrison Street District and the NC Neighborhood Commercial Districts makes them unsuitable for larger venues, even with special permit conditions. Thus, staff recommended that the Plan Commission adopt the proposed amendments with the exception of allowing larger facilities via a special use permit in the HS Harrison Street District and the NC Neighborhood Commercial Districts, areas that are currently prohibited and not allowed by special use permit.
In contrast, the Plan Commissioners determined that larger facilities should be granted a path forward through the special use permit process, leaving it to the applicant to demonstrate neighborhood compatibility and parking sufficiency. The Plan Commission recommended approval of all the amendments, including allowing larger facilities, with a 5 - 0 vote in favor. The Findings of Fact report is attached to this agenda item and can be viewed at the Commission TV link: <https://www.oak-park.us/your-government/citizen-commissions/commission-tv>
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the proposed text amendments that include allowing “Reception/Banquet Facilities - Small” in all commercial districts. However, staff does not support allowing "Reception/Banquet Facilities - Large" (over 900 sq. ft.) to seek special use permits in the HS Harrison District and NC Neighborhood Commercial Districts due to limited parking ability. Reception/Banquet Facilities are currently not allowed at all within the HS Harrison Street District and the NC Neighborhood Commercial District. Staff’s recommendation is in line with current treatment of these facilities in the HS and NC Districts. Venues often lack adequate on-site parking. Restricting them prevents event guests from crowding local streets and blocking driveways.
Advantages:
• Small reception facilities can repurpose vacant storefronts, historic buildings, or underutilized light-commercial spaces. These amendments can energize the downtown areas and commercial districts where parking is available.
• Small facilities host limited guest counts and would not overwhelm neighborhoods adjacent to commercial districts with available parking.
• Small facilities offer much-needed, affordable venue options for the community, local nonprofit fundraisers, art showcases, and small family celebrations.
• This amendment would support the Village Board’s goal of increasing visitor destinations and nightlife.
Disadvantages:
• Additional nighttime activity may require additional Police presence.
• Potential noise increases during the night hours.
• Even small events often involve amplified music, microphones, and outdoor socializing. This noise can bleed into nearby residential zones, especially late at night.
• Reception facilities create concentrated bursts of traffic. Dozens of vehicles arrive and depart at the exact same times, potentially impacting residential streets.
• Venues often lack adequate on-site parking in certain zoning districts. Restricting them prevents event guests from crowding residential streets and blocking driveways.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Board can choose to approve all proposed amendments that include larger facilities via a special use permit pursuant to the Plan Commission’s recommendation.
Advantages:
• Allows larger facilities a path forward through the special use permit process, leaving it to the applicant to demonstrate neighborhood compatibility and parking sufficiency in all zoning districts.
• Small reception facilities can repurpose vacant storefronts, historic buildings, or underutilized light-commercial spaces. These amendments can energize the downtown areas and commercial districts where parking is available.
• Small facilities host limited guest counts and would not overwhelm neighborhoods adjacent to commercial districts with available parking.
• Small facilities offer much-needed, affordable venue options for the community, local nonprofit fundraisers, art showcases, and small family celebrations.
• This amendment would support the Village Board’s goal of increasing visitor destinations and nightlife.
Disadvantages:
• Additional nighttime activity may require additional Police presence.
• Potential noise increases during the night hours.
• Even small events often involve amplified music, microphones, and outdoor socializing. This noise can bleed into nearby residential zones, especially late at night.
• Reception facilities create concentrated bursts of traffic. Dozens of vehicles arrive and depart at the exact same times, potentially impacting residential streets.
• Venues often lack adequate on-site parking in certain zoning districts. Restricting them prevents event guests from crowding residential streets and blocking driveways.
Alternative 2:
The Board can choose not to adopt the text amendments.
Advantages:
• Maintains the current night activity and vehicular traffic.
• Protects residents from small events that involve amplified music, microphones, and outdoor socializing. This noise can bleed into nearby residential zones, especially late at night.
• Reception facilities create concentrated bursts of traffic. Dozens of vehicles arrive and depart at the exact same times, potentially impacting residential streets.
• Venues often lack adequate on-site parking in certain zoning districts. Restricting them prevents event guests from crowding residential streets and blocking driveways.
Disadvantages:
• Staff would have to consider other opportunities to support the Village Board's goals of increasing tourism and nightlife activity.
• There is demand for this type of facility in Oak Park.
Alternative 3:
The Board can remand the proposed text amendments back to the Plan Commission.
Advantages:
• This would allow for more review and possible modifications of the amendment, including allowing cocktail lounges in the MS Madison Street Zoning District.
Disadvantages:
• This action could result in delays to any potential business owner.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no anticipated future actions for this text amendment, beyond potential special use applications for consideration.
Prepared By: Mike Bruce, Village Planner/Planning & Urban Design Manager
Reviewed By: Craig Failor, Development Services Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance - Plan Commission
2. Ordinance - Staff
3. Findings of Facts
4. Staff Report