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PCZBA prioritizes R-5 zoning review among comprehensive plan action items
Summary
At an implementation workshop the PCZBA identified reviewing R-5 zoning rules to allow more missing-middle housing as its top priority, and also discussed industrial-park zoning, ADUs, heritage trees and subdivision ordinance updates as near-term tasks.
The Village of Lake Bluff Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals held a workshop on May 21 to prioritize implementation actions from the draft comprehensive plan and flagged a review of R-5 zoning rules as the commission’s top focus.
Commissioners said examining R-5 regulations could unlock opportunities for modest multifamily or missing-middle housing where the village’s zoning and code provisions now limit density and housing-type options. Members also recommended parallel work on changes to the industrial park regulations to allow mixed-use or multifamily redevelopment, revisiting accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, reviewing heritage-tree protections, and updating the subdivision ordinance.
Miss Gable, village staff, noted the implementation section of the draft plan lists goals with suggested lead agencies and timelines and that some items—such as Block 1 streetscaping—already have designs prepared. Commissioners said staff should extract the clear code changes identified in the Opticos zoning review (included with the plan) and begin work at the staff level where feasible.
Commissioners discussed coordination with the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) on several items that overlap with design guidelines. Member Russell recommended starting work on R-5 rules because those changes could be a practical avenue for adding housing without major opposition in certain parts of the village. Commissioners also suggested staff pursue a zoning review of the industrial/business park to clarify whether mixed-use or multifamily options should be allowed there.
Miss Gable said the comprehensive plan will go to the Village Board for second-reading consideration the following Wednesday and that staff will begin turning priority items into actionable work plans. Commissioners left the workshop with a working list that places R-5 zoning review first, followed by industrial-park zoning, ADU policy review, heritage-tree considerations and subdivision-ordinance updates.
