The City of Berwyn unanimously adopted a revised zoning ordinance on September 12, 2017 to promote a sustainable environment that enhances vitality and quality of life within the community. Previously, the City created and adopted the Berwyn Comprehensive Plan in 2012. To implement the Comprehensive Plan, the City has already undertaken initiatives to revitalize commercial centers and install bike signage to promote safe biking. The adoption of the zoning ordinance was another major step in implementing the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan.
With help from CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, the City of Berwyn and the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) embarked on an interactive, community-based process to update and modernize the City's zoning ordinance. The ordinance update helps to implement the long-term vision established in the Comprehensive Plan. Specific topics addressed include zoning districts; permitted uses; parking and loading; landscaping; and signage requirements.
The planning process to revise the ordinance included four main phases. The first phase included a detailed existing conditions review, which built upon the information compiled during the comprehensive planning process. Phase two focused on creating and vetting initial recommendations based on findings from the existing conditions analysis, stakeholder interviews, and public workshops. The third phase comprehensively revised the Zoning Ordinance, with an emphasis on streamlining and modernizing regulations to make the document as user-friendly as possible. The fourth and final phase presented the document to the public for review and approval.
