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Palos Park council directs attorney to draft ordinance allowing alternative pool barriers under strict conditions
Summary
The Village Council voted to direct staff to prepare an ordinance amending chapter 14‑82 to permit specified alternative pool barriers for private pools, subject to size, material, transparency and height limits; the motion passed 3‑1 with Commissioner Polk voting no.
PALOS PARK, Ill. — The Palos Park Village Council voted June 23 to direct the village attorney to prepare an ordinance amending chapter 14‑82 of the village code to allow alternative pool barriers for private pools under specified conditions.
Council members said the village previously adopted the 2021 International Codes for building regulation but did not adopt the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code in full because the current village code required pool barriers be fences of wood, steel, stone, wrought iron or wrought‑iron‑style aluminum. Under the council direction, alternative barriers would be allowed only for pool area enclosures (not the full property perimeter), limited to an area no greater than six times the water surface area, and must comply with section 305 of the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code regarding pool barriers.
The motion specifies additional conditions: the alternative barrier may not be chain link; it must meet required loading and impact resistance set out in the adopted building codes; it shall not exceed 6 feet in height; it must provide a minimum of 70% openness or transparency per linear foot; and a lockable safety cover shall not be an acceptable alternative barrier. All remaining gate, latch and related requirements would remain in effect.
Vote and context
A motion directing the village attorney to prepare the ordinance language passed on a roll call with Commissioner Patan, Commissioner Reid and Mayor Nicole Milovich Walters voting yes; Commissioner Polk voted no. The minutes record the motion and the conditions the council specified for review by the attorney.
Why it matters
The change would permit alternatives to currently enumerated fence materials but only under narrowly defined circumstances. The amendment process will require ordinance drafting and subsequent council consideration; the meeting record does not include a public hearing date or an enactment timeline.
