Plan commission recommends text amendments for EV parking rules and code housekeeping on director titles

The Village of Lombard Plan Commission on Jan. 27 recommended that the Village Board approve text amendments to the zoning code that (1) create a new electric vehicle parking section with definitions and operating guidance and (2) begin a code-wide update replacing references to the "Director of Community Development" with the new title(s) to reflect an internal reorganization.

Director Heniff presented the amendments, saying the changes respond to recent proposals (including an anticipated charging bank at a retail site and a DMV facility) and to broader interest in clarifying how electric-vehicle (EV) chargers are treated under land-use rules. "Level 1 and level 2 charging stations are permitted," Heniff said. He explained that level 1 and level 2 chargers would be allowed as accessory uses in all districts; level 3 (fast DC charging) would be limited to business/office/industrial districts as an accessory use meeting code and charging-act provisions or, if proposed as the primary use of a property, treated as a commercial fuel center requiring conditional-use review.

Heniff said the draft provisions address accessibility, lighting, equipment protections, signage and pavement markings to provide predictable review standards. He credited model language used by nearby communities and noted the village will revisit rules as technology evolves.

Heniff also told the commission that the village plans a comprehensive scrub of code references to the Director of Community Development because of an internal reorganization: "The community development director job title and responsibilities is being changed" and "there's 125 different references" that staff intends to review. He identified Keith Stayskull by name as the existing Director of Building who will take on additional responsibilities and described the new Director of Economic Development and Planning role as carrying many prior community development responsibilities.

Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Springberg seconded the motion to accept the interdepartmental report and recommend approval of PC 25-02. Roll call recorded aye votes by Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Springberg, Commissioner Flanagan, Commissioner Versen and Chair Giuliano. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for consideration on March 6, 2025.

The Plan Commission and staff emphasized that smaller, accessory chargers for businesses or private uses can proceed through permit review and that the conditional-use process is intended to govern sites where charging is the principal use of the property. The staff report includes implementation details and conditions intended to address public-safety, accessibility and operational questions that arise with EV infrastructure.