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A Presentation and Resolution Authorizing the Adopting the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan for the Roosevelt Road Business District
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Introduction
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The Lakota Group will present the final draft of the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan for adoption which has been collaboratively led by the Berwyn Development Corporation and the Village of Oak Park.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Resolution.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following Action:
- March 4, 2025: The Village Board authorized RES 25-158, the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with the Lakota Group.
- December 19, 2024; The Village Board entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and the City of Berwyn.
Background
The current “Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt Road” was completed in 2001 and adopted by the Village Board in March of 2005. The plan is a joint-municipality study for the Roosevelt Road corridor prepared by Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design firm in collaboration with the City of Berwyn. The Roosevelt Road corridor is a major asset for both Oak Park and Berwyn, and a portion of Cicero. The plan was initiated with an Illinois Tomorrow Grant awarded to the Berwyn Development Corporation in partnership with the City of Berwyn and the Village of Oak Park. This plan was in collaboration with the two adjoining communities to establish the first-ever comprehensive redevelopment study of this corridor. Subsequently, the three adjoining communities formed a new relationship by implementing a mutual corridor-wide streetscape initiative as well as achieving common zoning regulations.
The Roosevelt Road corridor is a major asset for the three communities. Along its one-and-a-half-mile length between Harlem Avenue on the west and Austin Avenue on the east, the corridor comprises hundreds of businesses that employ thousands of people, providing goods and services to tens of thousands more. Roosevelt Road contains more than 1 million square feet of commercial space, roughly the size of a large shopping center or a thirty-story office building.
In the latter half of the twentieth century, the Roosevelt Road corridor changed from a bustling, pedestrian-oriented Main Street to an auto-oriented street. In recent decades, many traditional shops have been replaced by fast-food restaurants, gas stations, strip shopping centers with suburban-style parking lots, and industrial uses. In the early 1980s, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) designated Roosevelt Road as a state highway, which further increased the intensity of vehicular domination.
At one time, the Roosevelt Road corridor was nearly built out with traditional one and two-story "main street" buildings. Two relatively intact segments of a traditional main street still exist on the corridor with viable pedestrian-oriented retail. A Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt Road plan recommends that these mini-Main Streets be retained and strengthened by promoting new complementary businesses and by directing new housing development to other nearby parts of the corridor.
Through the Village Board’s development of community-wide priorities, a goal to update the Roosevelt Road plan was adopted. Village staff prepared a Request for Proposals seeking an urban design/planning firm to assist in updating the current plan. Staff received fifteen (15) responses from very qualified firms. Between the Berwyn Development Corporation’s and Village staff’s review of those responses, the number was reduced to four (4) firms for consideration and interview. Interviews were conducted in February, resulting in the Village’s agreement on the firm identified in this item.
The Roosevelt Road Plan is distinct from the Economic Vitality study. The update to the Roosevelt Road Plan will analyze more specific conditions along the Roosevelt Road corridor in Oak Park and Berwyn, rather than a more generalized community-wide plan. The outcome of this planning effort will identify site-specific goals in keeping with the communities’ desires for increased economic development, better design principles, and ensuring compatible land use through a series of recommended actions designed to meet specific objectives.
The Lakota Group, which began this project in March of 2025, held multiple community meetings, focus groups, steering committee meetings, and individual conversations with representatives from both the City of Berwyn and the Village of Oak Park. The steering committee consisted of five representatives from the City of Berwyn and five from the Village of Oak Park, including representation from the Village, residential neighborhood, business district, and Chamber. The draft plan contains several recommendations for the corridor, including zoning changes and policy changes that would help create a more cohesive structure to better manage and support development along the corridor.
Timing Considerations
There are no specific timing considerations associated with this item.
Financial Impact
The project cost was supported by both the City of Berwyn and the Village of Oak Park for a total of $100,000. Each municipality contributed a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000. The Berwyn Development Corporation provided the Village of Oak Park with its portion of the funding allowing the Village to receive invoicing and make payments accordingly.
The Village Board approved this line item for the Planning and Urban Design Division GL Account (1001-46202-101-530667) for the 2025 FY. A portion of this line item was reallocated for the 2026 FY budget.
Operations Impact
This project has been supported by a contracted consultant with oversight and management by Village of Oak Park’s Development Services staff. The consultant has spent multiple hours preparing this plan, holding steering committee meetings, focus groups, community meetings, meetings with staff, etc. Staff have spent multiple hours meeting with the consultant, attending steering committee meetings, focus groups and community meetings over the past year. The Village of Oak Park’s Neighborhood Services Department and Economic Vitality Office staff have also sent time attending and participating in a variety of meetings.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact associated with this item.
Community Input
The consultant team held community meetings, steering committee meetings and focus group as well as conversed with multiple individuals during the year long process. The consultant team presented the draft plan to the Oak Park Plan Commission resulting in constructive feedback. The consultant team also mirrored their Village of Oak Park community engagement with the City of Berwyn residents, including elected and appointed officials.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the Resolution adopting the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan.
Advantages:
• The Village of Oak Park will have a more relevant and up-to-date plan for Roosevelt Road.
• The plan will be in line with the City of Berwyn’s planning for this corridor.
• The plan solidifies the amalgamation of the Village’s shared commercial corridor.
• This planning effort supports the Economic Vitality Plan’s goals and objectives.
• This planning effort will also support the Envision Oak Park Comprehensive Plan update.
• The plan is alignment with Village Board Goals.
Disadvantages:
• There are no disadvantages to this action. The planning document has no regulatory control.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Board can elect not to adopt the Plan.
Advantages:
• Staff would rely on more general planning documents, such as the Envision Oak Park Comprehensive Plan and Economic Vitality Plan, as well as the previously adopted corridor plan from 2005, to guide development activities.
Disadvantages:
• Current trends and desired policy changes would not be supported.
• This would not support the Village Board's goals toward identifying trending economic vitality initiatives.
Alternative 2:
The Board can ask the consultant to make changes to the Plan.
Advantages:
• Changes may enhance the quality of the Plan.
Disadvantages:
• Changes may conflict with what was heard from the community and various organizations.
• Changes would delay the adoption of the Plan.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no anticipated future actions in relation to this item.
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. Resolution
2. Presentation
3. Draft Final Plan Document