Submitted By
Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Presentation and Discussion of Public Engagement and Development Entitlement Processes
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Overview
Overview
At their June 5, 2023 meeting, the Village Board directed staff to prepare a study session presentation relative to public engagement pertaining to general development in Oak Park with special attention toward the H-Hospital District. This presentation will provide the Village Board with information on current public participation requirements and practices for various development entitlement processes, including by-right development, Planned Developments, Variances, and Special Uses. It will also describe the process within other communities and provide a staff recommendation for enhancing public participation in development approval processes.
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Anticipated Actions/Commitments
Recommendation
Staff has been tasked with exploring how to maximize community input and ensuring public participation is collected and integrated with the development approval process. If the Board chooses to concur with staff's recommendation, staff will begin to work on the outlined tasks and work products. If the Board selects an alternate to staff's recommendation, staff will begin to prepare updated policies and proposed code revisions for review and review by the Board at a future Board meeting.
Report
Public participation is a critical component of the development process. Often, residents, business owners, and community members are the "experts in the field" and have a deep understanding of the site and how the community relates to the site. This in-depth understanding is complimented with technical expertise of staff and subject matter experts either on staff or acting on behalf of staff through a contract. Ideally, all of these elements come together to guide a development to the best outcome for the project and the community.
Staff received Village Board direction in J...
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