Decorative storefronts, varied building heights, traffic, bicycles discussed
By Dan McLeister For The Elmhurst Independent
At a packed-house public presentation in the City Council chambers at City Hall on January 7, city officials presented the new Downtown Draft Plan created by the consulting firm of Housel Levigne. According to Mike Kopp, assistant city manager, the City had received a record number of emails from residents about the issue.
Before a final vote by aldermen, other open house events will be held including a yet-to-be-scheduled public hearing before the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC).
One of many suggestions in the 146-page draft document was the requirement of decorative storefront windows for vacant buildings. Also mentioned were building heights, direction of traffic on York Street and the use of bicycles.
The plan, if approved, would require any ground floor space located within the downtown with a vacant storefront to have a decorative window display in place until the commercial space is occupied.
“Property owners are encouraged to partner with a local government or community service organization to create a display.”
The proposed regulations would permit the affixing of decals to the windows of vacant spaces that would mimic an occupied three-dimensional storefront. Covering vacant storefronts with plain paper, butcher paper, newspapers, soap tarp, plastic sheets or unpainted plywood would be prohibited.
“The previously-mentioned items may be acceptable if they are used as a background in a decorative display.”
The consultant Housel Levigne recommended establishing new building heights within each downtown district, which keep with the desired character of that district. The recommendations include:
• Within the Downtown Core District (the businesses roughly in the area of York and Addison Sts.), it is recommended that structures of up to six stories be permitted by right and 10 stories with City approval or by special use.
• Within the Downtown Outer Core District (businesses elsewhere in downtown), it is recommended to permit structures of up to four stories to be built by right and up to eight stories, when not adjacent to single-family homes.
• Within the Downtown Transition Neighborhood District (residences in downtown), it is recommended to permit structures of up to three stories allowed by right and up to four stories with City approval or by special use.
In past years, there have been periodic discussions about the possibility of making York St. have two-way traffic instead of the current one-way traffic in downtown. But Nick Davis of Housel Levigne said he did not see a need to make a change at this time.
As far as bicycle traffic, the consultant said there are missing elements in parts of downtown.
On the ever-present topic of vehicle parking, Davis noted that some people say there is “never enough parking.” People may not be able to park directly in front of a particular store, he said, but usually a spot can be found within a two- to three-minute walk of their destination.
