A. Title: This Title shall be known as THE OAK LAWN ZONING ORDINANCE OF 1975.
B. Introduction: Formal planning in Oak Lawn began with the appointment of a Planning and Zoning Committee in 1937. A State planning grant was initiated in 1960 and placed with the firm of Stanton and Rockwell. The mission was to develop a guide for the future land use of Oak Lawn.
A Planning and Development Commission was named in 1963 and it became evident that Oak Lawn was to be in the path of substantial growth and would need direction and protection to achieve orderly development. A new Appeals and Review Board was created at the same time to assist in this era of rapid development.
After discussion of the Stanton and Rockwell recommendation, it was agreed that further input from community organizations and residents was needed. A community group met over a period of about two (2) years, reviewing the community, block by block, taking field trips to examine the solutions in other areas and consulting those affected by anticipated growth.
The study developed into a master plan consisting of the annotated zoning ordinance and a zoning map reflecting current practice and further plans. The ordinance created a Planning and Development Commission with the responsibility of carrying out the ordinance, holding hearings, doing periodic reviews and making recommendations for change. An Appeals and Review Board was also instituted to carry out specific functions outlined in the ordinance (Ordinance 191).
Oak Lawn has always been in the vanguard of communities planning carefully for the future. There are innovative features of Ordinance 191, now known as Title 4 of the 1985 Village Code, which have been widely copied. Oak Lawn is known for its deliberate speed in considering change and for the opportunity of the public to participate.
The Planning and Development Commission is hereby amended and renamed the Zoning & Planning Commission, effective retroactively to June 1, 2019.
These zoning regulations are adopted for the following purposes:
A. Divide the Village into zones or districts, restricting and regulating therein the location, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of the buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence and other specified uses;
B. Regulate the intensity of the use of lot areas, and to regulate and determine the area of open spaces surrounding such buildings;
C. Establish building lines and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential and other uses within such areas;
D. Fix standards to which buildings or structures shall conform therein;
E. Prohibit uses, buildings or structures incompatible with the character of such districts, respectively;
F. Prevent additions to and alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations lawfully imposed hereunder;
G. Limit congestion in the public streets by providing for the off-street parking and loading and unloading of vehicles;
H. Provide for the gradual elimination of nonconforming uses of land, buildings and structures;
I. Prescribe penalties for the violation of this Title;
J. Secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers;
K. Provide adequate light and air;
L. Prevent the overcrowding of land;
M. Conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the Village; and
N. Promote the public health, safety and general welfare.
The rules and regulations contained herein are upon the needs as established by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village and may, from time to time, appear to be in conflict with State statutes. However, the Village is a home rule community under the new State Constitution which specifically gives the Village all powers not specifically retained by the general assembly of the State.
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