Forest Park commission recommends conditional use to allow billboard on Concordia Cemetery land

The Forest Park Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3–2 to recommend that the village council approve a preliminary plat of subdivision, a map amendment from B-1 neighborhood shopping to I-2 industrial and a conditional-use permit to allow a highway-facing billboard on a small parcel of Concordia Cemetery land.

The petitioner, identified in the record as "Tamor," told the commission the sign would provide a steady revenue stream to support long-term cemetery maintenance and infrastructure. "It will only have a positive impact," Tamor said, arguing the parcel sits next to the expressway, the CTA maintenance property and the Des Plaines River and therefore has limited potential for other development.

Kurt Carpenter, introduced by the petitioner as executive director of Concordia Cemetery, described the cemetery’s financial structure and said state law requires contributions to an endowed care fund. "It's kinda like having your 401(k)," Carpenter said, explaining endowed-care principal is preserved and interest can support maintenance; he said Concordia contributes 20% to its endowed care fund, citing the statutory minimum as 15%.

Commission discussion focused on three main concerns: potential light impacts for nearby residents, whether approving an I-2 rezoning for a narrow purpose would set an undesirable precedent, and whether a large illuminated sign is compatible with the cemetery’s solemn character. A commission member described the proposal as "a 75-foot billboard" roughly "60 feet" across and said, "that does not seem to be enhancing . . . the function of the cemetery itself."

Petitioners and staff responded that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) regulates sign spacing and photometric performance for highway-facing signs and that the proposed location is remote from most residences. The applicant said IDOT requires at least 500 feet between permitted signs at that site and that previous signs along the CTA spur had been removed about four years ago, reducing overall sign density along the frontage.

Staff also flagged engineering and environmental oversight because the proposed foundation would use helical piles driven about 17–20 feet near the Des Plaines River. The staff presentation said the village would require final plans and review by the village engineer and director of public health and safety and noted that state (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) or federal (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) review could be required given proximity to waterways.

The commission's recommendation included explicit conditions: construction must substantially comply with project documents filed with the Department of Public Health and Safety; all construction must meet village building code with final plans subject to review and approval by the village engineer and the director of public health and safety; and no building permits or certificates of occupancy shall be issued until all debts owed to the Village of Forest Park by the owner are paid in full. The motion also stated violations of conditions could result in municipal code fines for each day a violation exists.

Roll-call voting recorded on the public record shows Kevin Hibbits, Carrie McBride and Paul Price voting yes; Scott Whitebourn and Steve Romo voted no. The chair announced the motion carried, and staff said the recommendation will be forwarded to the village manager and then to the village council for final action.

The commission also noted the petitioners offered to coordinate with village staff on whether the billboard could carry public notices or event postings as a civic benefit; staff said any such arrangement would be discussed further at the council level.

Next step: the village council will consider the subdivision, rezoning and conditional-use recommendation at a future meeting. The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final authority for zoning and conditional-use approval rests with the village council.