Planning commission rezones Orland Park Sportsplex to open‑space district

The Orland Park Planning Commission voted to rezone the Orland Park Sportsplex property, identified in staff materials as 11350/11351 Ninth Street, from E‑1 Estate Residential to the OS Open Space District.

Planner Marcus asked that the staff report be entered into the record and said the change was requested “just to align this property with our other village‑owned sites, and a zoning district that better serves the use of the property.” He said there are currently no development plans for the site.

The commission heard that the roughly 10.3‑acre parcel is surrounded by commercial outlots (Caputo’s Plaza) to the east, agricultural land and single‑family residential to the south and west, and unincorporated Cook County to the north. Marcus told the commission that the village’s comprehensive plan designates the property for community and institutional land use and that the proposed OS zoning would preserve the site for public recreational uses.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions during the hearing. One commissioner asked whether additional similar “cleanup” rezonings were expected; staff said they believed this would be the last such cleanup. A commissioner also asked about preliminary discussion of potential pickleball courts behind the building; staff replied that no concept plan had been submitted and any such improvements were still very preliminary.

Commissioner Shelby moved, and Commissioner Fenton seconded, approval of the staff‑recommended zoning map amendment. The motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

The rezoning does not authorize new construction; staff said the change is intended to ensure that future use of the property remains for public recreation and to avoid permitting residential development that would be allowed under the default E‑1 classification.