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Adopt a Resolution Creating an Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force Relative to Advancing Affordable Housing Strategies Recommended by the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan and Missing Middle Housing initiatives
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Introduction
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The Strategic Vision for Housing Plan adopted by the Village Board identifies key housing challenges and recommends strategies that will enable progress towards Village goals. The ad hoc task force will help prioritize and develop these strategies further in conjunction with the Missing Middle Housing initiative.
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Recommended Action
Staff supports the creation of an ad hoc Housing Advisory Task Force.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following prior action(s):
• On July 28, 2026, the Village Board forwarded Shape Oak Park (Missing Middle Housing) recommendations to the Plan Commission for public hearing.
• On June 6, 2026, the Village Board approved an additional services agreement with Opticos Design, Inc.
• On August 5, 2025, the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with Opticos Design, Inc.
• On March 19, 2024, the Village Board adopted the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan.
Background
HISTORY:
On January 23, 2024, the Village Board adopted a Goals, Priorities, Key Projects, and Initiatives work plan. Within that plan, the chapter on Vibrant Diverse, Connected Neighborhoods outlines the goal of advancing affordable housing. Key projects and initiatives in achieving that goal include: (c, i) evaluating single-family zoning and missing middle housing opportunities, and (c, iii) considering additional housing types beyond ADUs and ways to allow additional units within the single-family zoning districts. This project directly relates to the adopted 2024 Board Goals and is reaffirmed in the adopted 2026 Village Board Goals. This initiative also supports key recommended strategies from the Strategic Vision for Housing plan related to housing in business districts, missing middle housing, and the relationship between housing and parking.
Prior to the Village Board goals adoption, the Village engaged the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in February 2023 to begin an update to the 2012 Homes for a Changing Region Report. This resulted in the adoption of the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan in March 2024. After the completion of this Plan, the Village was accepted into the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ Missing Middle Housing Peer Network, supported by Opticos Design, Inc. This network consisted of a consortium of 19 Chicagoland communities that met regularly regarding missing middle housing, zoning regulations, development tools, communication, advocacy, and implementation techniques.
Prior to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus engagements, the Village began updating the Zoning Ordinance with recognized zoning reform initiatives that increased opportunities for more affordable housing options, such as Accessory Dwelling Units and adaptive reuse opportunities within abandoned churches. Later, the Village Board approved a dual-use provision for Places of Worship, which will allow the incorporation of multiple-family dwellings into and with an existing place of worship.
Based on these initiatives, the Village Board directed staff to research and actively pursue changes to residential zoning classifications, which would increase density, diversity, and equity within residential and commercial zoned areas. The Professional Services Agreement with Opticos Design, Inc. supports the Village Board’s direction.
The Strategic Vision for Housing Plan (“Housing Plan”), adopted on April 11, 2024, provides strategies to implement the Village Board’s key projects and initiatives regarding single-family zoning and missing middle. To implement the Housing Plan and achieve Board goals, staff prepared several single-family residential zoning district variations that include missing middle housing options for consideration. The options included are based on a combination of Board direction, best practices nationwide, and creative solutions developed by Development Services staff. Zoning and housing reform considerations are on the rise in the United States and abroad. Many eastern and western coastal cities and states have already embraced this concept.
While the Envision Oak Park Comprehensive Plan does not anticipate the elimination of single-family zoning classifications, it encourages housing variety in each neighborhood that responds to specific needs of residents of various ages, incomes, and levels of mobility.
The Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and Opticos Design, Inc., which conducted a study (Shape Oak Park) on Missing Middle Housing and associated parking regulations as it relates to zoning within the Village. Their recommendations have been reviewed by the Village Board at the July 28, 2026, meeting and have been referred to the Plan Commission for public hearing. The public hearing is scheduled to start on October 1, 2026.
The Missing Middle housing initiative is only part of the recommendations found in the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan. The ad hoc task force would not only focus on the remaining recommendations, which will support the missing middle housing program, but also on other affordable housing initiatives.
TASKFORCE:
Implementation of the housing supply recommendations in the Village’s Strategic Vision for Housing plan will require multiple interconnected and concurrent steps. These steps will need to include input from multiple perspectives to quickly implement the full system of changes needed to incentivize the creation of new housing envisioned by changes to the zoning code.
Given this, staff recommends that the Village Board create an Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force. This group would bring together representatives of multiple current Village commissions and committees to make unified recommendations to the Village Board on several key next steps to the Shape Oak Park recommendations. The work of this body could occur concurrently with two other efforts. The Plan Commission would be vetting the specific zoning code changes that need to move through the hearing process before final action by the Village Board. Staff will separately be looking to develop any necessary parking system changes.
Staff anticipates significant community interest in the steps associated with implementation. As an ad hoc task force appointed by the Village Board, all meetings would be public meetings, noticed and clearly open to the public. The Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force will review and recommend to the Village Board on increasing the number of housing units and improving economic integration.
Potential tasks may be:
1. Review and recommend a pattern book or other pre-approved plans for housing development.
2. Review and recommend loans, programs, grant programs, fee waivers, or other financial incentives to encourage housing production that is affordable, including affordability for households earning between 120% of AMI and 80% of AMI.
3. Review and recommend changes to the Village’s building codes to encourage housing production in a timely manner.
4. As needed, make recommendations on any additional modifications to the Village’s zoning code needed to further implementation of other recommendations.
The Ad Hoc Housing Task Force will run for 6 months (possible additional sporadic meetings as needed) and be made up of the following 11 members, including 2 ex officio members:
• 3 members from the Plan Commission
- Frank Sullivan (former multiple family development)
- Daniel Gillen (architect)
- Mike Sturino (Attorney/Planner)
• 3 members from the Housing Programs Advisory Committee
- Keith Spencer (planner/transportation)
- Sarah Louise Beck (multiple family affordable development)
- Ryan O’Malley (teacher)
• 1 member from the Building Code Advisory Committee (TBD)
• 1 member from the Historic Preservation Commission
- Asha Andriana (business owner)
• 1 member of the Transportation Commission (TBD)
• 1 member from the Aging in Community
- Marc Blessoff
• 1 member with economic development/ real estate experience
- Bob Tucker (housing development)
• 2 ex officio members of the Village Board (TBD)
Timing Considerations
It is important to appoint this task force in a timely manner so there can be a concurrent and overlapping process with the Shape Oak Park initiative, which will conclude with a more formulated housing program for the Village.
Financial Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this item. Budgetary needs associated with any of the activities for the Task Force will be addressed through the budget process.
Operations Impact
Key staff members from Neighborhood Services and Development Services would be associated with the task force by attending and facilitating meetings, preparing necessary documentation, minutes, etc., and any appropriate reporting that will inform other boards and commissions as necessary. It is anticipated that the task force will be in place for up to 6 months for this project but may be called upon in the future for any specific topic related to these housing initiatives.
DEI Impact
The ad hoc Housing Advisory Task Force members will consist of various disciplines and community focuses.
Community Input
There has been no community input given in relation to this item.
Staff Recommendation
Staff supports the appointments for this ad hoc committee. Advancing the remainder of the Strategic Vision for Housing plan is critical to the development of a holistic housing program.
Advantages:
• The task force will provide support to help realize Village Board-approved housing initiatives.
• The task force will support the current zoning reform recommendations
Disadvantages:
• There is no disadvantage to this action.
Alternatives
Alternative 1: Do not appoint this ad hoc task force
Advantages:
• There are no advantages to this alternative if the Village Board wishes to advance housing initiatives in support of zoning reform recommendations.
Disadvantages:
• The zoning reform recommendations would not serve as the conduit to affordable housing expectations as envisioned for this process without implementing the next steps found in the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan.
Alternative 2: Hire a consultant to formulate the remaining recommendations in the Strategic Vision for Housing Plan
Advantages:
• This would save citizens time and effort on this project.
Disadvantages:
• This would take more time and money to develop.
• This may not align well with the zoning reform recommendation process.
Anticipated Future Actions
Recommendations from the ad hoc Housing Advisory Task Force may return to the Village Board in the form of considerations and/or possible adoption.
Prepared By: Craig Failor, Development Services Director, and Jonathan Burch, AVM / Neighborhood Services Director
Reviewed By: Jack Malec, Assistant to the Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Strategic Vision for Housing Plan
2. Resolution