Westchester Zoning Update

Feb 14, 2017

Westchester Zoning Update

The Village of Westchester, in partnership with CMAP, wishes to create a new zoning ordinance and updated zoning map to guide future redevelopment and help to implement its recently adopted Comprehensive Plan. Westchester is a developed suburban community that consists predominantly of single-family homes, with scattered commercial and industrial development. The Comprehensive Plan, developed with technical assistance from CMAP, sets forth the overarching land use goals of providing a greater range of housing options to foster a diverse population and revitalizing the Village's commercial corridors. These goals are reflected in the Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use Map, which designates some of the Village's existing single-use commercial areas as areas of potential mixed-use development. The Village is particularly interested in creating a village center at the intersection of Cermak and Mannheim Roads, but currently lacks the proper zoning tools, such as a downtown-specific zoning district, to achieve this vision. The Comprehensive Plan also recommends including design standards in the new ordinance to improve the aesthetics and character of mixed-use areas.

This planning process consists of three main phases. The first phase focuses on kicking off the project, evaluating existing conditions, including an assessment of current ordinances, and conducting initial stakeholder and public engagement. At the end of the first phase, initial recommendations for code changes will be created and vetted with the project's steering committee and Village staff and presented at a public meeting. Second, a comprehensive revision of the zoning ordinance will occur, with an emphasis on making the regulations more user-friendly and facilitating redevelopment. This phase will entail intensive review of the draft regulations by Village staff and the steering committee before rolling out the regulations to the public. Finally, the third phase will present the document for public hearings and approval. The ordinance is expected to be adopted in summer 2017.

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Feb 14, 2017

Westchester Zoning Update

The Village of Westchester, in partnership with CMAP, wishes to create a new zoning ordinance and updated zoning map to guide future redevelopment and help to implement its recently adopted Comprehensive Plan. Westchester is a developed suburban community that consists predominantly of single-family homes, with scattered commercial and industrial development. The Comprehensive Plan, developed with technical assistance from CMAP, sets forth the overarching land use goals of providing a greater range of housing options to foster a diverse population and revitalizing the Village's commercial corridors. These goals are reflected in the Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use Map, which designates some of the Village's existing single-use commercial areas as areas of potential mixed-use development. The Village is particularly interested in creating a village center at the intersection of Cermak and Mannheim Roads, but currently lacks the proper zoning tools, such as a downtown-specific zoning district, to achieve this vision. The Comprehensive Plan also recommends including design standards in the new ordinance to improve the aesthetics and character of mixed-use areas.

This planning process consists of three main phases. The first phase focuses on kicking off the project, evaluating existing conditions, including an assessment of current ordinances, and conducting initial stakeholder and public engagement. At the end of the first phase, initial recommendations for code changes will be created and vetted with the project's steering committee and Village staff and presented at a public meeting. Second, a comprehensive revision of the zoning ordinance will occur, with an emphasis on making the regulations more user-friendly and facilitating redevelopment. This phase will entail intensive review of the draft regulations by Village staff and the steering committee before rolling out the regulations to the public. Finally, the third phase will present the document for public hearings and approval. The ordinance is expected to be adopted in summer 2017.

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