Finding solutions for difficult problems is hard work. It’s even harder when the problems go undetected. Here are a few red flags regarding zoning that you can join in on and talk with us about. 

Present Ad Hoc zoning was initiated 100 years ago. That’s a time arch from horses to Teslas. Zoning itself is a classifying system, not a planning-for-development system. At that time, demographics, technology, car dominance, racial discrimination, white flight diaspora, poverty, public safety and quality-of-life terms were not even conceived yet. 

In Forest Park you can follow the facts. Population is down; school-age families are down, both public and privates; schools have closed or downsized; and a five-decade housing shortage issue has never been addressed. How can sustainable community growth be nurtured? How can our community try to manage change and anticipate a promising future? 

No one really wants to talk about it. In this time of uncertainty, it is wise to suck it up and start the conversation. 

There are really four groups of citizens that you may fall into: 

1. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it: homeowner/landowners rule, status quo crowd; 

2. Those who have had difficulties due to zoning and would like some relief (but are not holding their breath) crowd; 

3. The “I need more information about zoning to make it better and I want to have a voice” crowd; and lastly, 

4. The grass is greener crowd that moves somewhere else. 

Our 2025 Forest Park Zoning Challenge Team prefers to seek out the opportunities and solutions through collaborative discussion and then action. Taking the Forest Park Zoning Challenge is the first step in having a robust conversation and seek common-good solutions. It connects stakeholders. It connects Forest Park Village Council’s knowledge to the public’s knowledge. Good research is needed in order to make good decisions, rather than being ignored or kicked down the road. 

We are humbly asking you in any group mentioned above, or an individual or group that we have missed, to take the online free challenge. We need a movement.

Register today. Go to the direct link to start taking the 2025 Forest Park Zoning Challenge (https://bit.ly/FPZoningChallenge).

Robert Cox
Facilitator, 2025 Forest Park Zoning Challenge