Antioch eyes new zoning system for downtown

Antioch is considering enacting new form-based zoning codes for its downtown to give the village more control over future development.

A redevelopment study funded through a grant from the Regional Transportation Authority recommended the move to the form-based codes, which would add specific zoning designations such as Village Core, Transitional Core and Main Street Transitional.

The new codes would set limits on building height, amount of parking required, design standards, building frontage and building placement for new development.

"Here you are trying to have the historical, traditional type of look," Mayor Larry Hanson said. "You can kind of keep the heritage and historical nature of the buildings in your downtown area."

Some of the regulatory parameters in the proposed code for the Village Core include a height restriction of 35 to 45 feet on any new development and aesthetic specifications requiring a minimum 75 percent of street-facing storefronts to be windows.

A public hearing is set for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the village hall where the proposal will be presented to the planning and zoning board.

The planning board will make its recommendation to the village board on the new code in September.

Officials said the goal of these requirements is to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown environment.

"This gives us the tools to sell the community on our plan versus what someone is bringing to us," Hanson said. "Someone can argue 'this fits the code,' but this way we can at least bring in development that fits into the downtown area."

Hanson said the traditional zoning regulations in place in Antioch rely on basic classifications that allow for almost any type of structure to be built.

"Traditionally, you have a basic classification where you can put (a building) anywhere," Hanson said. "This will be more geared towards a centralized business district, like a town square."

The plans are not final and must still go through the planning and zoning board and be approved by the village board, but Hanson said he likes the progress being made to preserve the look of Antioch's downtown.