New Forest Park zoning map approved
Every year, the state of Illinois requires municipalities to publish an updated version of a zoning map with any changes in use or regulations.
This year was no different, as the Forest Park village council unanimously approved the 2025 zoning map at its Feb. 24 meeting – though it only included one change from the previous year in how the former Ed’s Way property was zoned.
The neighborhood grocery store Ed’s Way, which shuttered last year, was approved to be rezoned for development of a 10-unit townhome. So, the 2025 zoning map shows that 946 Beloit Ave, which was previously zoned for businesses, now has a residential designation.
It’s not much of an updated map, considering Forest Park is attempting to rewrite large chunks of the village’s zoning code.
Last year, village staff started suggesting amendments to portions of the code that reflect Forest Park’s current land use practices. The initial proposed changes would bring hundreds of nonconforming properties into compliance and would increase the maximum impervious lot coverage in the R-1 low density residential district from 40% to 50%.
While the Planning and Zoning Commission approved these changes to the code, Commissioner of Public Property Jessica Voogd and Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements Michelle Melin-Rogovin asked at a village council meeting last October to table the zoning code updates until it was clear how they would impact stormwater management and building density.
But updates to the village’s zoning code haven’t been brought back to village council since.
In an effort to expedite the process, Commissioner of Public Health and Safety Ryan Nero suggested putting the zoning code amendments back on the next village council agenda, which is typically compiled by Mayor Rory Hoskins.
“There’s a lot of stuff happening in town. Getting those zoning code updates that were before us months ago and shelved – I would love to get that back on the agenda so we can push both residential projects and commercial projects forward,” Nero said during his commissioner comments at the end of the Feb. 24 village council meeting. “Without that zoning update first, we’re kind of stuck in limbo.”
“It’s disrupted development,” Department of Public Health and Safety Director Steve Glinke told the Review about the stalled work on the zoning code updates.
Glinke said he’s speaking with five residents who want to update their nonconforming properties, but can’t until the zoning code updates are approved – or else they need to individually seek conditional use permits. He said one recently called to tell him he’s moving to another village, rather than waiting for the code updates.
While it remains to be seen whether the proposed zoning code updates from October will be approved in the coming weeks, village staff still aim to majorly amend the Forest Park’s zoning map this year.
One part of that may be creating a separate designation for cemeteries, which take up about half of Forest Park’s land mass and are zoned for either residential or business districts.
