Oak Park Housing Vision

This was presented back in March to the village board by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and I think it's worth revisiting.

It's got a wealth of general information about Oak Park, demographics and the current state of zoning and development, well worth a read. It also includes a comprehensive review of the housing challenges we face, highlighting affordability and diversity as a primary concerns, and appropriately noting that they are linked. The least diverse areas of Oak Park are the most expensive.

Their first recommendation is "Allow for Additional Multifamily Housing within Oak Park’s Business Districts and Other Suitable Development Sites" They go on to detail zoning modifications that would allow much denser mid-sized apartment buildings in business districts, by-right.

Their second recommendation is "Modify Oak Park’s Zoning Ordinance to Allow “Missing Middle Housing.” I'll quote the specific recommendation because I couldn't say it better "The Village should strategically update its zoning ordinance and regulations to allow “Missing Middle Housing” – duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes – in neighborhoods currently zoned exclusively for single-family homes. This housing, compatible in scale and form to single-family homes, can offer downsizing options for older adults, access into the community for young families, and more opportunities for households of color and renters to live in neighborhoods where they are currently underrepresented."

The go on to recommend reducing parking minimums and modifying the overnight parking ban.

This is all pretty standard pro-development progressive thinking on how to spur housing abundance, but I have to be honest, I was surprised to see this coming from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus when the presentation was delivered in March.