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Planning commission approves package of downtown rezonings and comp-plan amendments after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment, the commission unanimously recommended approval of a package of rezonings to create three downtown districts (B1A core, B1 edge and R7 residential) and related comprehensive-plan amendments; several residents raised concerns about flooding, traffic, scale, and character.
The Westmont Planning & Zoning Commission on June 10 recommended approval of an extensive package of downtown rezonings and associated comprehensive-plan map amendments (PCC 014/015/016). Staff described a proposal to split the downtown into three districts — B1A downtown core (higher-intensity storefront/mixed-use up to five stories), B1 downtown edge (more transitional, up to three stories) and R7 downtown residential (row/townhouse and other residential forms) — and to align the comprehensive-plan land-use map with those zoning changes.
Staff and the Community Development director framed the rezonings as execution of the 2013 comprehensive plan and the 2025 zoning-ordinance update; they stressed that rezonings change what is permitted on the land but do not approve specific developments. More than two dozen residents, developers and professionals spoke during the public comment period. Supporters, including several builders and one attorney, said density and mixed use are needed to revitalize downtown and attract business. Opponents warned rezoning could increase traffic and flooding risks, change neighborhood character, add parking stress, and accelerate redevelopment that may displace long-term residents.
Commissioners and staff addressed procedural and substantive points: staff reiterated that existing single-family homes remain permitted and that nonconforming protections and permit rules apply to existing structures; the code was updated with design standards (top-story setbacks, façade transparency, material standards) intended to reduce the “tunnel effect” and protect streetscape quality. After discussion, the commission voted on each sub-item (zoning map amendments and comp-plan amendments) and carried the motions recommending the package to the Village Board. Staff noted the Village Board will review the recommendations at a future meeting and repeated that site-specific projects would return for separate public review and permit-level engineering scrutiny.
