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An Ordinance Amending the Table of Contents for Article 12 (“Ordinance Administrators”), Amending Article 5 (“Commercial Districts”), Amending Article 7 (“Design Standards”) and Amending Article 12 (“Ordinance Administrators”) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance Regarding the Community Design Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
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Introduction
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At the direction of the Village President, in order to improve efficiency of citizen commissions, development reviews, and staff time, the proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment is meant to merge the Community Design Commission with the Zoning Board of Appeals and other commissions and staff processes.
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Recommended Action
Staff supports and recommends this Ordinance be approved.
This agenda item is a companion with ORD 25-111 (Sign Code), and ORD 25-112 (Village Code)
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
The proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendments are meant to merge certain functions of the Community Design Commission with the Zoning Board of Appeals and eliminate all references to the Community Design Commission within the Zoning Ordinance. This initiative is occurring due to direction from the Village President in order to improve the efficiency of citizen commissions and staff time thereby merging commission processes, e.g. sign variance applications. In a greater examination of the Community Design Commission functions, other responsibilities of theirs will go to other entities; e.g. The Cavalcade of Pride Awards program would become a function of the newly created Neighborhood Services Department, participation with public infrastructure improvement project would become the responsibility of the Plan Commission. These changes will occur within the enabling regulations within in the Village Code.
Timing Considerations
It is anticipated that this text amendment will be approved prior to what would be the regularly scheduled Community Design Commission meeting in late February, if at all possible. Currently, staff has a sign variance application which can be scheduled for the Zoning Board of Appeals’ regularly scheduled March 5, 2025 meeting, creating a seamless transition, provided all text amendments are approved at the March 4, 2025 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
The Plan Commission met on February 6, 2025. There were no public comments on this item. Staff provided an overview of the justification relative to the removal of the Community Design Commission, per the Village President’s direction. The reasoning for the removal was provided within the staff report. The Plan Commission was informed of the requirements to complete the task which includes amending the Zoning Ordinance, Sign Code and Village Code. The Plan Commission unanimously supported the request with a 7- 0 roll call vote.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments.
Advantages:
• Three staff members will increase efficiency.
• Increase efficiency for application review process.
• 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 Commissions 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 Zoning Ordinance
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. Findings of Fact Report
3. Staff Report
4. Zoning Ordinance Articles