Barrington changing plans for land use
As Barrington closes in on an update of its 10-year-old comprehensive land-use plan, village board and plan commission members met Monday night to sign off on some specifically recommended land-use changes.
These included changing the zoning on Lageschulte Street, South Hager Avenue and James Street from industrial use to a new, less intensive artisan classification to better reflect the types of handicraft businesses that have already moved onto these streets.
Based on neighbors’ suggestions, officials are also recommending rezoning the north side of Main Street — from 420 to 510 W. Main St. near Barrington High School — from its current single-family homes to a mix of low-impact commercial and other residential uses to reflect the way increased traffic has changed that area.
Furthermore, the revised comprehensive plan will redesignate the unincorporated area of West Northwest Highway between Barrington and Lake Barrington from office/research to commercial due to its aptitude for retail uses.
The village board and plan commission also agreed to eliminate 13 of Barrington’s special planning areas to streamline communication with developers, but will keep or modify nine others due to the greater control over development that special planning areas allow.
Among the larger special planning areas being kept are ones including the downtown’s entire tax-increment finance district, the Makray Golf Course on Northwest Highway and the currently unincorporated areas west of The Foundry shopping center on West Northwest Highway.
Though much has changed in the economy since Barrington last revised its comprehensive plan a decade ago, even more has stayed the same in the village’s philosophy on land use, Village President Karen Darch said.
A prime example is the vision of Barrington’s downtown held by residents and merchants as a place where a three-story height restriction is appropriate, she said.
“We’ve had a reaffirmation of the small-town charm,” Darch said. “I think there was a reaffirmation at the town hall meetings that the look and feel of the downtown was right.”
Officials aim to approve a finalized revision of the comprehensive plan in April.