By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington aldermen are ready to present to the public a massive zoning overhaul that will guide land use decisions for years to come.
The city government decided two years ago to pay a Chicago consulting firm $125,ooo to make a more user-friendly zoning code that encourages development, including downtown.
John Houseal of the firm Houseal, Lavigne, and Associates is recommending the city create three separate zoning districts instead of one massive district that he said currently hinders development.
“There’s no core. It doesn’t transition out to something else, then transition into the residential neighborhoods, (it’s) inconsistent with your comprehensive plan recommendations, and inconsistent with the investment and development patterns of downtowns that are thriving,” said Houseal.
Other recommendations include making it easier for people to set up home-based businesses, as long as they don’t disrupt residential neighborhoods.
“The basic litmus test for home occupation is if I drive by, or I have lived next door, and I have no idea that you have a business, that’s the perfect home occupation,” said Houseal.
The zoning recommendations cover so much ground they even include rules for raising chickens and keeping bee hives. Alderman Scott Black wants a robust public discussion.
“This is really kind of like the underlying fabric, and the way we set the table for our community,” Black said.
“The decisions we make on this one probably will last far longer than any of us up here. That’s scary, so let’s do it right,” the alderman also said.
The consultant said none of the zoning changes should reduce landowners’ property values.
A public question and answer session is scheduled October 10, with a planning commission hearing October 24. Final city council action is expected November 26.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
