City Council approves zoning, land‑bank transfers, park design and equipment purchases

Kankakee City Council on a unanimous vote approved multiple zoning, land‑use and procurement measures, including conditional‑use permits for downtown housing and an auto dealership, rezonings of several parcels to residential use, transfers of two improved parcels to the city land bank, acceptance of a design contract for Legion Park and a purchase of a replacement excavator for the Environmental Services Utility.

The measures move projects forward on redevelopment, riverfront planning and public‑works operations. Council members repeatedly cited planning‑board recommendations and prior precedent in approving the items.

Most items were briefed by Director King of planning and proceeded with procedural motions to suspend rules and place ordinances on final reading. The planning department told council that planning board votes on the key zoning items were unanimous (5–0) before the council considered final passage.

Votes at a glance: - PB2025‑8‑5: Approved a major variance to allow use of heat‑treated asphalt grindings for an industrial parking/outdoor storage lot at the northwest corner of Stamford Drive and Grinnell Road; planning board recommended approval 5–0; council vote 11–0. - PB2025‑9‑2: Approved a conditional‑use permit for dwellings above the ground floor at 909 and 917 N. Fifth Ave.; planning board recommended approval 5–0; council vote 11–0. - PB2025‑9‑3: Approved a conditional‑use permit to allow used motor‑vehicle sales and service at 382 N. Schuyler Ave., with site‑plan conditions including fencing, landscaping and signage; planning board recommended approval 5–0; council vote 11–0. - AB2025‑9‑4: Approved a map amendment rezoning several parcels from commercial to residential (addresses listed in ordinance); council vote 11–0. - Ordinance amendment (2022‑57): Removed two city parcels from the city’s sale list so they can transfer to the Kankakee Land Bank Authority; council vote 11–0. - Resolution (13a): Authorized transfer of two improved parcels to the Kankakee Land Bank Authority; council vote 11–0. - Resolution: Accepted Hitchcock Design Group to provide preliminary design and engineering for the Legion Park portion of the riverfront; council vote 11–0. - Resolution: Authorized purchase of a 2021 Volvo EC200EL excavator for the Environmental Services Utility at $120,000 (with a trade‑in of the older machine for roughly $20,000); council vote 11–0. - Resolution: Authorized the city’s purchase of two tax‑sale parcels from Kankakee County for demolition and cleanup; the price was corrected on the record to $813 per parcel; council vote 11–0.

Planning and conditions Director King told council there is precedent in the city for using heat‑treated asphalt grindings in industrial parking and storage lots and that the planning board recommended conditional approvals for the downtown housing and auto‑sales requests, each by 5–0. For the used‑car permit at 382 N. Schuyler, King said the vehicle display/storage area would be restricted to the rear of the property, that the applicant will repave, install a decorative iron fence facing Schuyler, add required landscaping and update building paint and signage as part of site‑plan conditions.

Land bank and demolition Council approved removing two improved parcels from the city sale ordinance so they could be transferred to the Kankakee Land Bank Authority. Council discussion and a subsequent resolution say the land bank will pursue county grant funds (the county program described on the record allows up to $70,000 per improved parcel) to complete exterior and interior rehabilitation where possible; if full rehab is not possible the land bank may seek a developer under an RFP process.

Equipment, acquisitions and next steps Environmental Services staff briefed council that the department found a 2021 Volvo excavator with substantially fewer hours than the existing machine; the council approved a $120,000 purchase with a trade‑in offset. Council also authorized acquiring two county tax‑sale parcels to remove persistent blight; the recorded purchase price on the record was corrected to $813 per parcel and council intends to use the neighborhood stabilization fund for demolition and cleanup.

What wasn’t decided No council member moved to delay or remand any of these items; each ordinance and resolution approved on final reading passed unanimously (11 ayes, 0 nays). Several council members asked staff to monitor the site‑plan conditions and follow up with the planning department or the land bank on implementation schedules.

Ending Council adjourned after an executive session; the meeting record notes action resulting from executive session and subsequent approval of a resolution but the public minutes do not provide further details on that action.