My wife and I are both longtime residents of Forest Park and we support passage of the recommended approval of Residential Zoning Code Amendments (Batch 1).
Based on our combined professional integrity, our assessment and decision to support its passage comes directly from the Dec. 1 Memorandum to The Village Council of Forest Park.
Starting from page 1: Taken Verbatim, “This update is guided by three primary objectives:
1. Align Zoning Regulations with current planning and development best practices.
2. Reduce the number of nonconforming properties by better reflecting existing conditions
3. Streamline unnecessary or redundant review processes.”
These changes are game-changers for the community of Forest Park.
The current zoning codes have not worked in a very long time. Forest Park’s tabled zoning amendment’s documentation clearly supports financial benefits to the community. Resident building costs and relief to the disparities that the current process delivers are just a few dollar savings. How do we know? Data could be collected to see the annual applications of housing permits, building permits and general remodeling permits. As a trained observer in urban planning I can tell just by looking at Forest Park’s landscape that those numbers are anemic, while community growth is flat.
Trying to get a read on the pulse of the community on this issue has been a struggle. This radio silence has hampered any real progress in engaging a public conversation. However, it’s in the village council’s purview to take action without further delay. The few holdouts on the council have again kicked the can down the road. That is not a luxury the Forest Park community can afford. The direct consequences, lacking a robust conversation and with the council’s inaction, will most certainly yield no financial benefits being generated for either the consumer or the revenue stream needed to refresh the already depleted government coffers.
We know other neighbors who feel the same way we do and support the passage. Have a voice. If you are a Forest Park resident and a voter, please let your elected village council members know by phone or online.
Bob & Sharon Cox
Forest Park
