Planning & Zoning

• Development Applications require research and analysis of the request versus the impact of approval of the proposed change. 
  • Our department coordinates the plan review and comments from other departments and commissions on planning and zoning petitions (Public Works, Inspectional Services, Fire and Police).
• Text amendments can be initiated either by the Village Board, the Development Commission or staff. 
  • Amendments require research and analysis of codes of the surrounding municipalities to ensure our requirements are complementary with our neighbors. 
  • Recently, we adopted several amendments to the Zoning Code in order to align with current development trends and to advance the Comprehensive Plan.

Guide Applicants Through the Entitlement Process & Review New Development

• Guide applicants through the Development Review process if the development requires zoning relief for rezoning, variation, special use, subdivision, or Planned Unit Development. 
• If no zoning relief is required, then building permits for all work proposed are reviewed and approved for code compliance.
• Hold meetings with the applicant and coordinate meetings with the Development Review Committee consisting of staff from every reviewing department.

• Concept Plan Review
  • The Village offers a Concept Plan Review process, which allows the applicant an opportunity to gather feedback from our Development Commission and/or Village Board prior to making a full application which could require significant investment of time and money. 
  • We also identify any foreseeable issues, and based on feedback, ensure these are incorporated in the final design when submitted. Please call the department phone number for more information.
• Pre-Application Meeting
  • The Village requires a pre-application meeting with staff from the Fire/Inspectional Services Department, Public Works-Engineering Division, and Community Development to discuss the proposed project, identify any issues that may require amendments, address missing information, go over the submittal requirements, assess any required zoning relief and explain the development review process and the building permit process. 
  • Staff prepares an agenda and maps, takes meeting notes, and distributes to all in attendance to enable clear understanding of process and requirements, and whom to call for questions.

• Both long and short-range planning efforts include the following tasks:
  • Update the Comprehensive Plan (RFP, consultant selection, meetings, process, etc.)
  • Implement and continuously evaluate the Village Center/Transit Oriented Development Plan
  • Review the findings of the past Village studies: 
    • Irving Park Road Corridor Study 
    • Homes for a Changing Region Housing Study
    • Lake Street Corridor Study  
• Both plans were multi-year processes that involved significant public input, coordinating with the consultants who were contracted to prepare the study, multiple meetings with ad-hoc committees, our Village Board and Planning & Zoning Commission.
• As staff to the Development Commission, we research information, and draft guidelines/requirements for various sections of the Zoning Code (Chapter 110 of the Municipal code).

Efforts involving zoning code administration include:

• Answer questions related to the code
• Propose text amendments to make the code user friendly and easier to administer
• Review and Interpret the code
• Review building permits for compliance with the Code

Employees of the Community and Economic Development Department act as Development Commission Staff Liaisons and do the following:

• Coordinate the review and approval of all development petitions
• Preparation, research and analysis for workshops the Commission holds
• Prepare all the documentation and staff reports for Planning and Zoning petitions
• Prepare text amendments for the Development Commission

Information dispersion efforts include:

• Maintain FAQs on the web
• Pre-Application Meetings
• Respond to inquiries from residents, property owners, business owners, developers, other agencies, other departments, commissioners and board members via the phone, correspondence, email and counter
• Update application forms

• The Department works with the Census Bureau periodically to ensure the Census information is up to date and post it online.

Mapping efforts done by the department include:

• Create maps for development proposals, pre-app meetings, and various projects.
• Respond to mapping inquiries
• Update the Zoning Map annually with assistance from Public Works/DuPage GIS

• Annexation requests involve the following steps, though no annexations have been processed recently:
• Circulate Mylar for signature
• Making sure a complete and accurate application is filed with the Village Clerk
• Notify township/highway department, any fire, school, library district, if applicable
• Prepare the affidavit of service, notarize and record the document
• Prepare board packets and Annexation ordinance