Title
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A Presentation on the Status of the Shape Oak Park - Missing Middle Housing Zoning Ordinance Update Project
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Introduction
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Opticos Design, Inc. and their team of consultants will provide an overview on the progress to-date, relative to the Missing Middle Housing Zoning Ordinance update project.
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Recommended Action
There is no staff recommendation, this item is for discussion purposes only.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following prior actions:
- On February 6, 2023, the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to initiate the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan process.
- On March 19, 2024, the Village Board adopted the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan
- On August 5, 2025, the Village Board approved a Professional Service Agreement with Opticos Design, Inc. to initiate the Missing Middle Housing Update to the Zoning Ordinance.
Background
The Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (“MMC”) to conduct a comprehensive housing study updating the Homes for a Changing Region report adopted in April 2012. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus provided support for the development of a new Strategic Vision for Housing Plan (“Housing Plan”). The vision was developed to evaluate the Village’s housing policy and to provide a framework for the Village to pursue over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond. MMC presented its final Housing Plan to the Village Board at their March 19, 2024, regular meeting.
The Housing Plan presented to the Village Board is intended to support future initiatives related to housing development and reform for all populations within the Village of Oak Park. This plan sets the stage for the transformation of Village regulatory and policy documents, which control and shape development activities and processes. Recommended strategies within the Housing Plan are based on much public discourse and discovery. One of the strategies recommends considering Missing Middle Housing opportunities for the community.
The Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and Opticos Design, Inc. who will conduct a study on Missing Middle Housing and associated parking regulations as it relates to zoning within the Village. Shape Oak Park is led by Opticos Design, a team of urban designers, architects, and strategists who believe in the transformative power of beautiful, sustainable, walkable communities for all. Opticos principal Daniel Parolek coined the term “Missing Middle” in 2010 to describe a range of multi‑unit or clustered housing types, compatible in scale with single-family homes, that help meet the growing demand for walkable urban living. Opticos is joined by All Together, a design studio specializing in placemaking, community branding, and engagement, and Sightline Planning and Zoning, an urban planning firm dedicated to guiding development so communities can grow stronger. Each company has offices in the Chicago area, and multiple team members reside in Oak Park.
The consultant team kicked off the project in September 2025 by developing messaging and community engagement strategies. A dedicated Shape Oak Park webpage was launched within Engage Oak Park to give the public an overview of the project, its purpose, and the ways to offer feedback. The page also hosted a survey that received multiple submissions between November 2025 and January 2026. In addition, a steering committee of 12 Oak Park community members was formed and, together with Village of Oak Park staff, was tasked with guiding the consultant team’s progress and serving as an essential litmus test for a wide range of issues.
The consultant team also conducted a series of stakeholder meetings with subject matter experts and community-based representatives, who were invited to share candid insights on Oak Park’s housing landscape, from emerging opportunities to persistent challenges.
Complementing these meetings, the consultant team hosted pop‑ups at several outdoor holiday events, meeting residents where they were already set to gather. Through a variety of engagement activities, they collected feedback on residents’ housing ideas and concerns, as well as reactions to specific Missing Middle Housing typologies and where those types might be most appropriate in Oak Park.
These engagement activities provided valuable insight into residents’ priorities and concerns, which in turn informed simultaneous analysis of Oak Park’s built environment (ranging from the historical impact of zoning and where middle housing exists today to lot widths and building height), its existing policy framework, and the community’s most pressing housing issues. A zoning code assessment identified five overarching barriers to enabling Missing Middle Housing:
• Use Restrictions
• Further Enabling Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Development
• Development Standards
• Parking & Landscaping
• Design Standards & Process
The project team also developed “test fits” to evaluate what could be built on a series of typical lots within relevant zoning districts (residential and housing on primary corridors) under the current code and what might be possible if key provisions, such as density or parking requirements, were modified. Findings from these exercises, combined with community input, are now informing a set of projected scenarios. For example, the consultant team is considering the impact of consolidating districts to improve equity and enable more predictable outcomes for all areas of Oak Park. Key aspects of these scenarios were presented for public feedback during two Community Workshops on Monday, March 2, at the Community Recreation Center at 229 Madison Street, and Wednesday, March 4, at the Veterans Room in the Main Library at 834 Lake Street. An informational memorandum and slide deck were provided to the Village Board at the end of February in preparation for this presentation.
Timing Considerations
The target date for completion of this report is early June 2026. After the final presentation and acceptance by the Village Board, staff will seek direction from the Village Board to amend Zoning Ordinance regulations to effectuate the change. Public hearings before the Plan Commission will need to be held.
Financial Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this presentation.
Operations Impact
There is no operating impact associated with this presentation. The item aligns with the department’s core service delivery.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact associated with this presentation.
Community Input
There have been multiple touch points of community input given in relation to this item.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends moving forward with Board direction.
Advantages:
• This will set the framework as intended within the Housing Plan.
• The direction is tailored to the Village - modeled through best practices.
• The outcome will support Village values and housing strategies.
• This strategy will advocate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Disadvantages:
• Potential impacts to long-term traffic congestion.
• Potential impacts to parking supply and demand.
• Community discomfort regarding change.
Alternatives
There are no alternatives for this item.
Anticipated Future Actions
It is anticipated that the consultant and Staff will return for the final presentation in June. Upon Village Board direction, Staff will prepare for a public hearing then return with a recommendation from the Plan Commission and staff regarding Zoning Ordinance amendments later in 2026.
Prepared By: Craig Failor, Development Services Director
Reviewed By: Jack Malec, Assistant to the Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Presentation
2. Memo