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Barrington trustees warn proposed Illinois bill would curtail local zoning, urge residents to contact legislators
Summary
At a April 6 meeting, Barrington village staff and trustees warned that proposed state legislation — discussed as the "BUILD" bill — would preempt local zoning, allow multifamily dwellings by right on single-family lots, and cap parking and plan-review timelines. Trustees approved routine consent items and a $2,142,552.40 warrants list.
BARRINGTON, Ill. — Village staff and trustees at Barrington’s April 6 board meeting urged residents to contact state lawmakers after a detailed staff briefing on proposed Illinois housing legislation they said would sharply limit local zoning authority.
Jen Tenant, a village staff member who serves on the Northwest Municipal Conference housing subcommittee, told the board the measure — described in the briefing as a home-rule preemption — would permit multifamily dwellings by right in all residential zoning districts and allow accessory dwelling units without local size, bedroom or parking limits. "Multifamily dwellings would be permitted by right in all residential zoning districts," Tenant said, summarizing the bill’s core provisions as presented to the conference.
The staff briefing listed other key provisions that local officials described as concerning: a cap of two required parking spaces for newly built multifamily units regardless of unit count; potential single-stair allowances for certain mid-rise multifamily buildings; a statewide impact-fee formula that would be established after enactment (communities would then have a set time to adopt it); and strict plan-review and inspection timelines that could allow builders to use third-party reviewers if municipal reviews are not completed within the bill’s deadlines.
Tenant said the Northwest Municipal Conference is studying the proposal and developing alternative approaches that would preserve municipal zoning authority while addressing housing goals. "The committee has been trying to work on proposed alternatives that would obviously keep local zoning authority intact," she said.
Trustees raised questions about utilities and local infrastructure during a lengthy exchange. Board members noted that many Barrington neighborhoods rely on wells and septic systems and lack storm sewers, and they asked whether the bill accounts for those constraints. Staff answered that the draft legislation, as presented to the conference, did not include exceptions for communities served by wells or on septic and that the conference expects the legislation to move quickly — possibly within about 60 days of the briefing.
Trustees discussed next steps: coordinating with the Northwest Municipal Conference, meeting directly with legislators, preparing template comment letters and slips for the state’s public comment process, and urging residents to contact their representatives. The board did not take formal action to adopt a specific position at the meeting but agreed to monitor developments and notify residents when public comment opens.
Votes at a glance
• Agenda adoption: approved by roll call (all present voting yes). • Approval of March 9, 2026 minutes: approved by roll call (all present voting yes). • Consent agenda (event right-of-way uses; ordinance on surplus property sale; amendments to business licensing; restated annual budget for fiscal 2025): approved by roll call (all present voting yes). • Warrants list (April 6, 2026): approved, $2,142,552.40, approved by roll call (all present voting yes).
What officials said
Tenant and trustees framed their concerns around the bill’s potential to change neighborhood character and remove locally tailored zoning tools. Trustees also discussed practical effects cited in the briefing — including parking pressures, stormwater impacts and limits on local plan-review discretion — and called for a village-led information effort to help residents weigh in.
Other business
The board presented proclamations honoring Ray Keane for more than 12 years of service on the village Fire and Police Commission and declaring April 24, 2026, Arbor Day; both proclamations were read and recipients thanked the board. Trustees also received routine local updates on streetscape work, downtown business openings, and community events.
Next steps
Trustees said they expect to follow the Northwest Municipal Conference’s work, meet with their state legislators and prepare templates to help residents submit public comments when the state’s open comment period begins. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for April 13, 2026.
(Names and vote lists in this report reflect how those individuals and roll-call votes appear in the meeting record.)
