By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 The Village’s Zoning Code currently has requirements for the number of parking spaces that are needed at various locations. But, the Administrative staff has pointed out that what’s now on the books is “more extensive and detailed than necessary, and out of date.” So the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Planning and Economic Development Committee are recommending a text amendment to the code that would “make the actual requirements easier to enforce …”

First reading of the proposed revisions are expected to be considered by the Village Board at Monday night’s meeting. Carrie Houston, the Village’s Planning and Zoning Coordinator, explained, Section 20-59 of the Zoning Code takes up five pages and includes 31 separate use categories. It has never been amended since the Village’s incorporation in 1981. It is cumbersome and antiquated.

As proposed, the requirements have been organized into tables rather than pages of paragraphs. Here are some examples:

* Single-family homes and duplexes, two parking spaces for every residential unit.

* Multi-family residences, one space for every bedroom, when there are eight or more dwelling units. When there are more than nine such units, each one would be required to have one-fourth parking space.

* Retail sales and personal services, one space for every 200 square feet of building area.

* Restaurants and taverns, one space for every 150 square feet of building area.

* Hotels and motels, one space for every room, plus one space for every 150 square feet of meeting space or ballroom.

* Convenience stores and gas stations, one space for every 200 square feet of building space. In addition, spaces at the fuel pumps may be counted.

* Movie theaters and auditoriums, one space for every three theater seats.

* Schools, three spaces for every classroom, plus one space for every 10 children.

* Funeral homes, 20 spaces for every parlor or chapel.

Houston said some of the existing requirements “are not practical or sensible.” For example, the code now states that fewer parking spaces are required for a restaurant than for an equally sized store. Which in fact more people are crowded per square foot in restaurants than in stores.

The Village Code states daycare centers only need one parking space for each employee, which leaves nowhere for parents or other visitors to park. Another example is that the code requires hotels to have one parking space for every two rooms, which assumes that hotels in Machesney Park will never reach more than half capacity.

While preparing the text amendment, Village staff reviewed parking requirements in eight other municipalities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Loves Park, Rockford and Belvidere were among those studied. They found four “common use” categories that Machesney Park didn’t have. They were convenience stores and gas stations, health clubs and gym, motor vehicle repair and outdoor recreation. The proposed regulations now have those categories.

Now, the Village Code amendment has 21 different use categories, 10 fewer than currently in effect. All sites developed prior to adoption of the new requirements would be grandfathered in, regardless of whether they meet the revisions.

 
 
 
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