Palos Park reviews major zoning-code changes; council adopts several limits on new uses and installations

Palos Park’s joint Village Council and Plan Commission reviewed a draft rewrite of the village zoning code that would formalize how older, undersized residential parcels are treated, set a 500-square-foot minimum for some rebuilds, and add rules for accessory structures, beehives, wind turbines and solar panels.

The draft, presented by staff, defines “legacy lots” as existing parcels between 20,000 square feet and less than one acre and treats smaller existing lots as legally nonconforming; it would allow building on those legal lots provided they meet other standards or obtain variance relief. The draft also sets a 500-square-foot minimum dwelling size for legacy lots after a committee vote.

Why it matters: the revisions aim to clarify what can be built on older small lots that exist inside Palos Park and to add standards for new technologies and uses (solar, small wind turbines, beehives) that were not previously addressed in the zoning code. The proposals prompted debate at the meeting and comments from residents who said the low minimum could change neighborhood character.

Key decisions and direction - Minimum dwelling-unit size on legacy lots: The committee voted to add a 500-square-foot minimum unit size for legacy lots. Some commissioners said the limit was a compromise after debate; several residents urged a…