Huntley to residents: What do you want downtown?

How should Huntley incorporate new development into its historic downtown?

Village officials are seeking resident input on what types of development they would like to see in and near downtown along the Route 47 corridor.

The village's current zoning code doesn't promote or even allow the type of development officials would like to see in a historic downtown, said Charles Nordman, director of development services.

The zoning ordinance regulates permitted uses of land and buildings, intensity of use, height, setbacks and other bulk standards for buildings.

A community workshop is set for Monday to gather ideas from residents and business owners to help draft new regulations governing future development. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the village board room at the Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St.

"It's going to focus on the Route 47 corridor just outside the downtown." Nordman said. "The purpose of the workshop is to get an understanding of what the community wants with new development or redevelopment of that area."

The Route 47 corridor is primed for redevelopment with several vacant lots, including a 17-acre parcel - a former school - at the northwest corner of Route 47 and Mill Street.

Officials want to know whether residents would prefer street parking on the side, rear or front of buildings, and whether they would prefer having buildings right up to the street or with setbacks.

"The current regulations state you have to have a 30-foot setback for buildings to allow for parking in the front of the building," Nordman said. "You don't want that in a downtown setting. You want to create a pedestrian-friendly environment."

The village has been working to create new "form-based" zoning regulations for downtown and the Route 47 commercial corridor with a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

"Form-based regulations place an emphasis on the physical character of buildings more so than conventional zoning regulations, therefore resulting in more predictable and desirable designs," Nordman said.

With form-based zoning, the village could require storefront windows and building entrances facing streets. That would apply to redevelopment or renovation of existing buildings.

"The village is not tearing anything down as part of this process," Nordman said. "It's just a matter of updating regulations to reflect what the community wants for the area."

Several years ago, the village created a Downtown Revitalization Plan as a framework for future development. As part of that revitalization effort, the village is spending nearly $4 million on downtown improvements, including upgrading infrastructure, relocating overhead and underground utilities, renovating stormwater and sewer lines, and improving landscaping and sidewalks near the downtown square.

The downtown revitalization plan calls for widening sidewalks along Main Street, reconstructing streets, and adding signage, carriage walks with raised planters, benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and trees along the parkway. Main Street also would be raised to reduce curb heights and make the street closer to level with sidewalks. Parking would be reconfigured along Main Street and within the municipal parking lot, creating additional spaces throughout downtown and in a new parking lot south of Main Street businesses.

"We're still on target to complete the streetscaping this year," Nordman said. "They are landscaping areas right now. Lighting has yet to go in. It's getting very close."

The final phase of the revitalization, which began last year, will culminate by late-November. For construction updates, visit huntley.il.us.