Title
title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7, Article 7 (“Sign Code”) relative to Eliminating references to the Community Design Commission in the Oak Park Village Code
..end
Introduction
overview
At the direction of the Village President, in order to improve efficiency of citizen commissions, application reviews, and staff time, the proposed Sign Code Text Amendment is meant to eliminate the Community Design Commission from the Sign Code and replace it with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
end
body
Recommended Action
Staff Recommends Approval of this Agenda Item.
This is a companion agenda item with ORD 25-110 (Zoning Ordinance) and ORD 25-112 (Village Code).
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
The proposed Sign Code text amendments are meant to eliminate the Community Design Commission and their responsibilities from this code and reassign the sign variance responsibilities to the Zoning Board of Appeals. This initiative is occurring due to direction from the Village President in order to improve the efficency of citizen commissions, application reviews, and staff time.
Timing Considerations
It is anticpated that if this text amendment is approved prior to what would be the regularly scheduled Community Design Commission meeting in late February, if possible. Sign variance applications can be scheduled for the Zoning Board of Appeals’ regularly scheduled March 5, 2025 creating a seamless transition, provided the text amemdents are approved at the March 4, 2025 Village Board meeting.
Budget Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this item.
Staffing Impact
Three (3) Village staff members will be positively impacted by this change: the Zoning Administrator, the Village Planner, and the Forestry Superintendent. The Zoning Administrator supports the Community Design Commission regarding Sign Variance and Design Appeals application procedures. If the text amendment is approved, these applications would appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) who regularly processes Zoning Ordinance variation applications, in addition to Special Use and Zoning Appeals applications. The ZBA is also staffed by the Zoning Administrator, thereby reducing Village overtime costs and staff time spent for the Community Design Commission which will increase staff and development review efficiencies in the application process. The Village Planner is the main support for the Community Design Commission who oversees scheduling, agenda preparation, minute preparation, the Cavalcade of Pride Award oversight and other necessary coordination efforts for public improvement projects. The Community Design Commission participates in supporting public enhancement projects by either representing the CDC on an ad hoc committee or as the sounding board/review commission. These functions are compatible with the Plan Commission’s purpose relative to comprehensive and business district planning. Public enhancement projects generally are selected from recommendations proposed within such planning documents. The Village Planner is the Village staff support to the Plan Commission. Additionally, this change would make for a more efficient and streamlined public project review process. The Forestry Superintendent prepares reports for the Community Design Commission relative to public way tree plantings. The Forestry Commission merged with the Community Design Commission in 2011 and it is very rare that the Forestry Superintendent’s expertise is required for Commission work.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact associated with this item.
Community Input
There has been no community input given in relation to this item. All changes to the Sign Code are considered at a Village Board meeting, as with any modifications to other parts of the Village Code. The Sign Code is part of the Village Code.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the Sign Code amendments.
Advantages:
• Three staff members will increase efficency.
• Three staff members will reduce their time spent on this commission (workday and evening attendance).
• The Village removes a Commission that is difficult to fill.
• Consolidation of like functions can easily be absorbed into other like Commission and staff functions.
• Easily reallocate commissioners to existing Commissions lacking members.
Disadvantages:
• Elimination of a long-standing commission
• One less commission available for citizen appointments.
Alternatives
Do not adopt the Ordinance approving proposed changes to the Sign Code
Advantages:
• Continuation of a long-standing commission
Disadvantages:
• Does not increase staff and application review process efficiency
• Three staff members will not reduce their time spent on this commission (workday and evening attendance).
• The Village continues a Commission that is difficult to fill.
• Commissions may continue to be short of community members volunteers.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no anticipated future actions in relation to this item.
Prepared By: Craig Failor, Village Planner / Planning & Urban Design Manager
Reviewed By: Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance
2. Sign Code