Politics & Government
Willmette Seeks Public Input on Zoning Rewrite
Village boards make progress in modernizing 21-year-old ordinance as Oct. 12 hearing is set.
The character of Wilmette's neighborhoods is on the line—the zoning line, that is.
After more than two years of deliberation and planning, the village's Ad Hoc Zoning Ordinance Review Committee is proposing multiple residential subdistricts for the village's R-1 district before rewriting the zoning ordinance, which was last updated in 1990.
The original proposal called for a single residential district in R-1, which makes up 60 percent to 70 percent of the village, according to John Adler, director of community development. But because of the ever-evolving features of new construction in the village and unique characteristics of older properties, the committee decided more differentiation is needed.
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More on the rewrite:
Moreover, much has changed in the last 21 years, including advancements in construction techniques and environmental technologies, which have some residents requesting solar panels, wind turbines and more absorbent surfaces for their properties.
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“In the recent past, it has been raised as a concern that we're seeing homes built out of character of their neighborhood,” Adler said. “Our zoning ordinance doesn't deal with [new construction or home technology] as correctly as it should.”
According to the village website, the committee—which comprises the Plan Commission, Land Use Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals—seeks to accomplish two things: “to make it easier for existing homes to meet [proposed] regulations...and to encourage new construction to match the character of the neighborhood."
Whether residents' concerns include property heights or widths, porch designs or setbacks, among other things, the committee is ready to listen, Adler said.
“We're going to hear what concerns residents have...then we'll report [them] to the zoning committee,” which will then come up with final recommendations, he explained. “We do expect that there are some people or neighborhoods that are OK with how things are, so they're might not be changes made.”
The proposed subdistricts, if implemented, will split neighborhoods into East Wilmette, CAGE, Central Wilmette, West Wilmette, Hollywood, Hillville, Connecticut Village and Kenilworth Gardens.
The first public forum will be held at , 1200 Wilmette Ave., at 7 p.m. Oct. 12. For a complete schedule of the public hearings, the village has it posted here.
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