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Westmont moves to modernize zoning, expand TIF and incentives to speed development
Summary
Village leaders outlined a push to rewrite a zoning code last updated in 1979, expand targeted Tax Increment Financing (TIF) uses and grow a downtown incentive program to accelerate development and make it easier to do business in Westmont.
Mayor Steve Nero and village officials said Wednesday that Westmont will pursue a rewritten zoning ordinance, targeted recruitment of developers and expanded incentive funding to speed up stalled projects and increase commercial investment.
The zoning ordinance, Nero said, has not been updated since 1979, and the village has scheduled a third public hearing on the rewrite for June 11 at 6 p.m. at Village Hall. "Simplicity is speed and we're going to make things quicker," said Jim Gunther, village manager trainee, describing the rewrite and related process improvements.
Why it matters: officials argued that an updated code, clearer use tables and faster permitting will attract builders and businesses and increase property- and sales-tax revenue. Nero said the village will use market analytics to pick parcels for targeted recruitment, add staff resources to community development and adopt a "spirit of yes" approach while not circumventing rules: "We will be easy to do business with. We will have a spirit of yes," Nero said.
Key details from the presentation: the village maintains two active TIF districts—60 Third Street (anchored by Mariano's) and the downtown district (anchored by Quincy Station). The Downtown Incentive Program (DIP) allows existing downtown businesses to access grants of up to $100,000. Officials reported about $150,000 awarded in fiscal 2023–24 and a $250,000 DIP budget for 2025. Online permitting and a zoning map that splits downtown into "core" and "edge" areas were highlighted as near-term tools to speed projects.
Officials described outreach to developers and builders as part of the plan: Gunther said community development staff held listening sessions with single-family home builders and the planning-and-zoning chair to identify procedural barriers. Nero said the village is already meeting weekly with prospective developers and commercial real-estate firms, naming CBRE as a recent participant.
What officials said about staffing and return on investment: Nero said the village will add personnel to economic development and community development because, he said, "there's not many things you could do in a village organization that has an ROI. This is one of them." Gunther and Nero emphasized speed and clarity—Gunther: "Simplicity is speed and we're going to make things quicker."
Community input and next steps: Gunther listed the zoning rewrite public hearing on June 11 and urged residents and business owners to participate. The village also plans more community engagement around a new comprehensive plan, downtown streetscape work and branding efforts to run alongside the zoning update.
Ending: Officials said they will report progress next year; the zoning rewrite and added permitting tools are intended to shorten development timelines and let the village "throttle up" recruitment work already underway.
