Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves lot combination and deed restriction for proposed Belfort Community Fund synagogue
Summary
The council approved a plat/lot‑combination for two parcels being combined for a proposed synagogue project by the Belfort Community Fund and accepted a deed restriction on a third parcel to reserve it for parking because the parcels lie in different school districts.
Oak Park City Council on May 18 approved a proposed lot combination submitted by the Belfort Community Fund that will allow demolition of houses and construction of a synagogue, while requiring a deed restriction on an adjacent parcel to reserve it for parking.
A representative for the Belfort Community Fund (introduced to council as Dawn) explained the group owns three parcels and intends to combine two; the third parcel lies in a different school district and therefore cannot be merged. City planning staff explained the site plan originally required all three parcels; because the assessor identified differing school‑district boundaries, the planning commission modified its approval to allow two parcels to be combined and asked for a recorded deed restriction on the third parcel to ensure it remains parking for the project.
Planning staff said the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a reduction to permit 27 parking spaces for the synagogue as appropriate for religious institutions that have low vehicle use on certain holidays. Council members asked questions about the parcel boundaries, school‑district split and parking calculations before voting; the motion to approve the lot combination and the deed restriction carried on roll call.
What’s next: staff will record the deed restriction and proceed with site‑plan conditions; demolition and construction will proceed under the approved site plan and applicable permits.
