Antioch planning commission recommends broad zoning-code changes covering signs, windows and transitional-core industrial uses

The Antioch Planning and Zoning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to the village board to amend multiple sections of the village zoning code, including rules on development fees, commercial window coverage, electronic message boards, brewpubs and taverns, and special-use allowances for industrial activity in the transitional core.

Mark McCarty, who spoke for community development staff, outlined the package and said the fee changes are intended to bring Antioch’s charges more in line with neighboring communities. "We're charging more higher fees than normal than other communities around here," McCarty said, presenting a comparative fee chart and noting that fee adjustments will be taken to the village board.

The staff proposal would also loosen some limitations on electronic message boards — changing allowed background and letter-color rules and spelling out nighttime-dimming and timing controls — while keeping civic-only restrictions in certain downtown zones. McCarty told commissioners that "message boards that we have in town don't meet the code standards," and that the proposed approach is intended to allow useful message boards while strengthening enforceable standards.

Sign-industry representative David Bromley of Chicago Sign Group, appearing during public comment, offered operational guidance commonly used elsewhere: "Normally, no moving signs, no moving pictures," he said, and added that message changes are typically limited ("once every 10 seconds") and that signs are often automatically dimmed at night to low levels.

Residents pressed staff and commissioners on public-safety and environmental concerns tied to one property in the transitional core that recently burned. Richard Schlocki told the commission the fire was severe and raised worries about long-term trailer storage and "what went into that stream" near Sequoia Creek. McCarty said new construction would be built to current codes with fire suppression and alarm systems and noted the village now uses updated 2024 IPC and electrical standards.

On window signage, staff proposed standardizing coverage requirements across commercial districts and raising the minimum visible window area to 40% to make enforcement more uniform; commissioners said the change could reduce storefronts that are largely covered and would simplify enforcement.

McCarty also proposed permitting industrial uses in parts of the transitional core east of the railroad as special uses to match the comprehensive plan’s vision for that area; he emphasized that allowing industrial uses would still require property owners or tenants to come before the commission for separate special-use review.

After discussion and public comment, the commission voted to recommend approval of PZB2606 and will forward its recommendation to the village board, which will consider final code changes.

The village board will review the ordinance-level amendments and the separate fee proposal; staff said the fee changes are likely to proceed to the board concurrently with the code amendments.