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Concur with the Plan Commission's Recommendation and Adopt the Ordinance Approving a Text Amendment Adding a Place of Worship - Dual Use to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as a Special Use
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Introduction
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The Village of Oak Park seeks a text amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance amending Article 8 ("Uses") - Table 8-1 ("Use Matrix") by adding "Place of Worship - Dual Use" as a special use in all zoning districts, except the OS - Open Space District and H - Hospital District and adding regulations for place of worship - dual use.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Ordinance
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance text amendments is to allow places of worship the ability to allocate unused areas within their existing facilities by either renting/selling space to outside businesses (office uses) or by converting underutilized space within the existing church building into residential use (R-7 Multiple-Family). The place of worship shall continue to use the sanctuary or area of worship. Expansion of the existing church building would not be allowed.
This initiative is occurring as a result of church leaders seeking ways to repurpose church assets in underutilized buildings. Over the years, congregations have decreased in numbers. The proposed amendments would allow places of worship facing challenges of declining membership and deferred maintenance to continue to fund their mission and outreach, and pay for the upkeep of their buildings while using space that may no longer match the place of worships' needs. The place of worship - dual use amendments allow for creative and flexible changes to uses of church structures encouraging their preservation in the Village in a reasonable manner, and are consistent with the formerly adopted adaptive reuse amendments enacted in 2023 to support the preservation of church structures in the Vi...
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