The Village of Lake Bluff’s Joint Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals voted April 16 to recommend that the village board approve the updated comprehensive land-use plan drafted by Teska and Associates and staff.

Staff told the commission the draft reflects outreach that began in 2023 and that updated language addressed earlier public comments on affordable housing and Block 2/North Avenue height references. During discussion commissioners suggested small editorial and cross‑reference edits — for example, linking transportation and business-park objectives to later tables that expand on pedestrian, sidewalk and bike connectivity — and requested a short statement encouraging property owners in the downtown subareas to coordinate on shared public benefits such as parking efficiency, stormwater management and pedestrian safety.

Nick Anderson, a downtown stakeholder who spoke during public comment, asked the commission to include language encouraging property owners in Block 2 and other downtown parcels to "work together to make the downtown function more efficiently." The PCZBA asked staff to incorporate that language as a sub-area objective and directed minor clarifications, including a requested phrasing change offered by a public commenter about a 2.5-story maximum on a segment of North Avenue.

Commissioners and staff said the update is a multi‑year, multi‑topic document and noted that staff will continue to refine cross-references and minor mappings before the village-board hearing. With the requested edits the PCZBA voted to forward the plan to the village board. The plan will then be presented to the village board for final adoption and public outreach about next steps once the board acts.