Skokie Plan Commission advances ADU text amendment to village board with negative recommendation

The Skokie Plan Commission voted July 10 to advance case 2025-21P — proposed zoning text amendments for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — to the Village Board with a negative recommendation on certain aspects of the draft text and a request that the board permit the commission to reconsider the amendment before the board's final action.

Justin Malone of the Community Development Department opened the discussion with federal context: "The Road to Housing Act was passed into law on 07/11/2026," he said, and described the federal measure as aimed at increasing housing supply and giving states and local governments new tools and incentives. Malone displayed the staff recommendation and said the document was intended as a starting point while commissioners reviewed and amended it on the floor.

Several commissioners pressed staff on process and timing. One commissioner said a memorandum had been posted and shown to a subcommittee before the full commission had a chance to approve it, calling it confusing and urging staff to mark drafts clearly. "It was never stamped as a draft," the commissioner said, adding that the unmarked memo presented the text as if it were the commission's position.

The discussion then focused on whether the commission should send a neutral recommendation (reflecting uncertainty while awaiting state and federal activity) or a negative recommendation that would underscore concerns about the current text. "If we send it up to the board with a negative recommendation, we're more inclined for them to make some modifications or vote on something," one commissioner said. Others warned that a neutral stance might be interpreted as indecision.

Commissioner Black moved language to the memo recommending the commission advance case 2025-21P to the Village Board "with a negative recommendation regarding certain aspects of the proposed zoning text amendments," and adding that the commission "encourages consideration of pending legislation in the Illinois General Assembly and the US Congress" and requests that the Village Board permit the Plan Commission to reconsider the proposed text before final action. After brief floor edits, the motion was seconded and adopted on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Black, Commissioner Scott Burman, Commissioner Franklin, Commissioner Jeff Burman, Commissioner Giviyahu, Commissioner Wittry and Chair Luke voted aye.

The commission’s action advances the text amendment to the Village Board but expressly flags that the proposed ordinance language is not final and that the Plan Commission wishes the opportunity to revisit it once the state or federal legislative picture is clearer.

What happens next: the text amendment will be transmitted to the Village Board for consideration. The Plan Commission’s memo asks the board to allow the commission to reconsider the draft before the board takes final action; if the board accepts the commission’s request it could return the item for further Plan Commission review after legislative developments.

The meeting adjourned after no members of the public offered comment.