Westmont commission continues wide-ranging rewrite of zoning code; public hearing set for June 11

Village of Westmont Planning & Zoning Commission members continued a public hearing May 25 on a proposed comprehensive rewrite of the village zoning ordinance, voting to resume the hearing at the commission’s regular meeting on June 11, 2025.

The rewrite would repeal Appendix A of the Westmont Code of Ordinances and establish a new Chapter 95, reorganizing and updating zoning districts, development standards, planning procedures and related rules across the village. "The zoning ordinance hasn't been updated since 1979," Senior Planner Scott Williams told the commission, summarizing staff's recap of the draft posted April 8.

Why this matters: The draft rewrites rules that govern where houses, businesses and manufacturing can be built, how tall and how close to lot lines buildings may be, and what accessory uses are allowed. Commissioners and members of the public used the May 25 continuation to press staff on details that could materially affect property rights, neighborhood form and future development in downtown and other parts of Westmont.

Most important points

- Scope and process: Williams and the village consultant described the rewrite as comprehensive: new districts (including downtown-specific districts and a public/institutional district), rewritten use tables, and reorganized administration. The draft was posted to the village website April 8 and had not been changed before the May 25 meeting. Staff said further edits will be prepared following commissioner direction and public comment.

- Public input and next step: The commission reopened the hearing for additional public comment and discussion by commissioners; after debate and multiple requests for staff edits, the commission moved and unanimously approved a staff-requested continuance to June 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (Motion: Commissioner Simpson; Second: Commissioner Thomas; roll call votes: Simpson, Thomas, Peterson, Sharp, Lynn, Donahue and Chairperson Carmichael — all yes).

- Anticipated further changes: Staff signaled many items will be refined before the next meeting; Williams said the rewrite is intended to be developer-friendly in places while preserving transitions between higher-intensity downtown areas and surrounding single-family neighborhoods.

Supporting details and background

The package reorganizes many separate sections of the current code into a single, article-based ordinance (for example, consolidating business and employment district rules). Some specific, recurring topics at May 25 included accessory dwelling units, parking minimums, lot coverage and stormwater constraints, contextual setbacks for older corner lots, downtown form-based rules and a daylighted debate about outdoor uses in manufacturing districts. Commissioners and members of the public repeatedly asked staff to clarify precise measurement rules, how older existing conditions would be treated, and which changes would require separate rezoning hearings.

Staff repeatedly noted that, if the ordinance text is adopted, any change of zoning for specific properties would be handled later through separate public hearings with mailed notification to property owners. Williams said the draft does not itself rezone properties; rezoning would be a later, separate step.

Ending note

The commission’s next opportunity to continue the hearing is a date-certain June 11, 2025, at 6 p.m.; staff said a revised draft and a marked-up list of changes will be provided to commissioners and posted for public review before that meeting. The commission also reminded members of the public that the draft materials and prior presentations remain available on the village YouTube channel and the village website.