Submitted By
Plan Commission through Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Director
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
Concur with the Plan Commission’s Recommendation and Adopt an Ordinance Amending Article 8 (“Uses”) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance to Add Outpatient Behavioral Health in the HS-Harrison Street Zoning District as a Special Use
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Overview
Overview
The applicant, Jeffrey Bergren of Mosaic Counseling and Wellness, LLC, seeks an amendment to Article 8 (“Uses”), Section 8.3 (“Use Restrictions”), Table 8-1 (“Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, by adding “Outpatient Behavioral Health” as a Special Use (“S”) within the “Use” column within the HS - Harrison Street Zoning District. This is a companion application to ORD 21-41 for a Special Use Permit.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Plan Commission Recommends Approval of the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Staff supports the Plan Commission’s Recommendation.
Fiscal Impact
Cost of Legal Advertisment ($378) Account # 1001.46202.101.550652 - This is inclusive of both requests of the applicant.
Background
The applicant is the contract purchaser of the property located at 213-215 Harrison Street, where the space will convert from the historically vacant space into an outpatient behavioral health use, if approved. The subject building and several other properties along Harrison Street were purchased by an investment group, Harrison Street Ventures, LLC, several years ago who has been in the process of revitalizing the Lombard Avenue and Harrison Street area.
Alternatives
Deny the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment.
Approve the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment with modifications.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Oak Park Zoning Ordinance does not list Outpatient Behavioral Health as a use within the HS-Harrison Street zoning district. A text amendment application is required in order to seek a modification of the Zoning Ordinance to include a new use. These requests require a public hearing before the Plan Commission, where any member of the public, in particular those from the immediate neighborhood, can attend and make their concerns or support known.
The applicant, Jeff Bergren and associate Carey Carlock, presented their proposal on both applications by explaining the reasons why they chose Oak Park and Harrison Street and what their operation will consist of. They also reviewed the standards for both applications. They indicated that they are contract purchasers of the property and discussed parking and customer frequency. The Plan Commission asked questions regarding parking, building maintenance, Zoning Ordinance regulations, taxes and future use of the remaining unused space. Staff read into the record several of the emails and letters submitted, which are attached to this report, all of which were supportive of the applications. There was no opposition to either this application or the companion special use application. The Plan Commission supports this application with an 8-0 vote in favor of the request as they found that the application meets the Standards for Text Amendments. Link to Plan Commission meeting: <https://www.oak-park.us/your-government/citizen-commissions/commission-tv> Select May 6, 2021.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Zoning and land use matters are unique to Village government within the corporate limits of Oak Park and therefore, intergovernmental cooperation opportunities do not exist.