Highland Park benefits
from a combination of natural beauty, man-made features, and quality
services. An expansive lakefront, a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly
downtown, a top-ranked school system, abundant religious and cultural
institutions, and high quality public services are all important
features which support the ambiance and appeal of Highland Park.
But of all the elements which define Highland Park, our neighborhoods
are the most important, for it is here that we establish our homes
and spend time with our families and friends. Highland Park's neighborhoods
are characterized by quiet, tree-lined streets and well maintained
homes of quality design and construction. Preservation of these
high quality neighborhoods through continued investment in the
existing housing stock and limited new development is key to maintaining
the character of our community. However, selected areas of the
City, primarily neighborhoods near Downtown, can benefit from carefully
managed and directed new growth. The Goals and Objectives detailed
below, therefore, are designed to encourage reinvestment in older
homes, while directing new growth to appropriate areas.
This category addresses Goals and Objectives related to the following
values: preserving neighborhood character including historic and
natural resources while allowing new development; requiring quality
site planning and design; balancing the desire for affordable housing
with community concerns; working to maintain affordable housing
for people of all ages; providing a balanced transportation system;
and maintaining Highland Park's identity as one of the most livable
communities in the nation.
Although they are grouped into six categories, there is some overlap
between the groups:
| Community
Character and Physical Growth |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To effectively manage new development and redevelopment
through thoughtful planning and appropriate regulations to
maintain low density residential and commercial areas.
|
a. Prepare and implement
neighborhood and district strategic plans that enhance the
community and create an inspiring environment. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to control the height and bulk
of new construction
in the commercial zoning districts.
|
|
2. To assure continuity and maintenance of neighborhood
character as redevelopment occurs throughout the community
to enhance the quality of life and preserve the aesthetic
appeal of all neighborhoods.
|
b. Explore the creation of a "livability index" combining
various types of data (similar to the Consumer Price Index)
to measure and evaluate changes in
the "quality of life" in Highland Park.
|
|
| 3. To protect and
manage natural and cultural features to ensure the prevalence
of nature over the built environment, especially those areas
throughout the community that are heavily wooded and in a more
natural state. |
c. Periodically review
the "dimensional controls" in the Zoning Ordinance and revise
the regulations concerning lot area, bulk, setbacks, and density
of new construction as needed
to protect neighborhood character. |
|
| Land
Use and Zoning |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To maintain predominantly low-density residential neighborhoods,
healthy and viable business districts, and higher residential
densities around commercial cores that provide a range of
services convenient to the community.
|
a. Evaluate the suitability
of existing zoning in each neighborhood and business district
during the formation of the forthcoming neighborhood and district
strategic
plans. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance to
address problems created by lots-in-depth.
|
|
2. To require new land uses and structures to harmonize
with their immediate surroundings.
|
b. Address problems created when existing zoning classifications
do not reflect current lot sizes and development patterns
in various areas of the community.
|
Amend the Zoning and
Subdivision regulations to address problems created by "teardowns" of
the existing housing stock. |
| 3. To create and use
a simple and flexible system for regulating the use and development
of land which balances the protection of individual private
property rights with
the common good of the entire community. |
c. Evaluate the need
to create new zoning districts for public institutions and/or
public and private golf courses, parks, and open-spaces. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance
to encourage removal or redevelopment of non-conforming structures
and land uses or to bring such properties into conformance
with the Ordinance. |
| 4. To use strategic
planning in both neighborhoods and business districts to support
decision-making that will ensure stability throughout the community
and encourage balanced growth and development. |
d. Continue using
the "Site Plan Review Team" to allow prospective developers
and City staff to meet early in the development process to
identify problems and avoid
unnecessary, costly delays. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance
to allow creative re-use of large residential estates or parcels
as an incentive to protect such buildings and properties. |
| Housing |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To preserve, maintain and promote housing of high quality
that reflects the community's commitment to cultural and
economic diversity.
|
a. Create a system
of financial incentives and/or regulations for the private
housing market to build a percentage of affordable housing
units in projects, for buyers and renters, especially at Fort
Sheridan. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to promote housing for the special
needs population in the community, such as group homes and
other options.
|
|
2. To maintain and increase diversity in housing styles,
sizes, types, densities, and prices or rents in order to
welcome a wider array of families and individuals into the
community.
|
b. Seek financing from public and private sources to construct
new affordable housing
units and rehabilitate existing units.
|
Create an assistance
program to avoid or resolve maintenance problems in the community's
rental housing and to allow tenants to withhold rental payments
if severe maintenance
problems occur. |
| 3. To support development
of a wide range of single-family and multiple-family housing
near shopping, mass transit, recreational and civic amenities
to enable all residents to remain in the community as they
age. |
c. Allow the Housing
Commission to share in using various municipal and non-municipal
revenues to create housing assistance programs and acquire
land for new affordable
housing developments. |
Amend the Zoning Ordinance
to facilitate development of congregate care housing and other
types of assisted housing to meet the needs of senior citizens,
developmentally
disabled people and others. |
|
4. To provide affordable housing that is an integral part
of neighborhoods throughout the community, especially for
the following groups of residents:
- Senior citizens;
- Single-parent households;
- Residents with special needs such as the developmentally
disabled;
- Low and moderate income
families;
- Families with young children;
- Employees who work in Highland Park but cannot afford
to live here.
|
d. Encourage amendments
to the Zoning Ordinance to increase housing choices and population
diversity by allowing enclaves of higher densities within single-family
residential neighborhoods, by supporting home sharing and co-housing,
and by permitting other
alternative housing choices. |
Create an assistance
program to avoid or resolve maintenance problems in the community's
rental housing and to allow tenants to withhold rental payments
if severe maintenance problems occur. Create an assistance
program to avoid or resolve maintenance problems in the community's
rental housing and to allow tenants to withhold rental payments
if severe maintenance problems occur. |
| 5. To maintain areas
around commercial districts that are zoned for medium to high
density multiple-family residential development to provide
housing for residents who cannot afford or do not desire detached
single-family residential houses. |
e. Encourage the community's
financial institutions to provide funds for housing assistance
programs, particularly those institutions where the City's
accounts
are deposited. |
The Housing Commission
and Lake County Affordable Housing Commission should conduct
a Home Buyer's Fair and create programs for first-time home
buyers in the city. |
| |
|
Amend the Zoning Ordinance
to allow accessory dwelling units within single-family residential
zoning districts. |
| Environment |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To protect, preserve, restore and rehabilitate the natural
habitats, open spaces, parks, beaches, ravines, forests,
wetlands, prairies, and flood plains to enhance the quality
of life and unique physical and aesthetic character of Highland
Park including
Fort Sheridan.
|
a. Continue protecting
mature trees from insensitive removal or relocation through
enforcement
of the Tree Preservation Ordinance. |
Amend the Tree Preservation Ordinance to allow developers
to remove invasive species from off-site locations in addition
to replanting trees on new development
sites.
|
|
2. To support planning for Lake Michigan, the ravines and
lake bluffs, flood plains, wetlands and all watersheds by
supporting regional efforts to protect these areas from over-development
and mitigate the effects of stormwater drainage through the
use of development regulations, infrastructure projects and
ravine remediation.
|
b. Establish and support a regional mechanism with neighboring
communities
to work for shoreline protection along Lake Michigan.
|
Create an Ordinance
that defines acceptable types of landscaping, allows the use
of non-native species on private property, and encourages preservation
of natural areas and
native species. |
| 3. To encourage the
use of native plant materials in both public and private landscaping
while actively eliminating nonnative, invasive species such
as buckthorn, honeysuckle,
etc. on publicly owned lands. |
c. Work with the Solid
Waste Agency of Lake County and private haulers to continue
the residential recycling system and expand the commercial
recycling program. |
Eliminate invasive
species from public lands. |
|
4. To support the efforts of the community's public and
private golf courses to reduce the environmental impacts
of their operations while preserving open spaces and natural
habitats.
|
d. Work with individual
property owners to mitigate the effects of stormwater drainage
through the ravine remediation projects and development regulations
identified
by the Lakefront Task Force. |
Continue working with
the Park District to support and expand the "Care of the Commons" |
| 5. To work with the
Park District to create and maintain parks and open space areas
in a manner that emphasizes both personal safety and natural
beauty while protecting the parks from encroachment crime and
vandalism. |
e. Work with the Lake
County Stormwater Management Commission and other municipalities
to develop a watershed-based approach to stormwater management
and floodplain
protection. |
|
| |
f. Work with the Park
District to define, design, and maintain parks and open spaces
for both active and passive recreational uses. |
|
| |
g. Require property
owners and developers to use "planned unit developments" to
reduce
environmental impacts of new construction. |
|
| Urban
Design and Preservation |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To maintain the natural ambiance, human scale, and pedestrian
accessibility found in neighborhoods and business districts
and to preserve and improve the community's character, public
image, property values and the public health, safety, and
welfare.
|
a. Work with a committee
of property owners, business owners, and design professionals
to establish appropriate urban design standards and guidelines
for all business
districts. |
Establish programs with the Park Districts and School Districts
to educate residents about Highland Park's significant natural
resources, landmarks and the characteristics of pedestrian-friendly
neighborhoods.
|
|
2. Maintain Highland Park's character and identity by using
established guidelines and procedures to protect properties
that are of historic, architectural, and/or cultural value
to the community, including structures and natural or man-made
landscapes.
|
b. Explore methods to require or encourage contributions
from developers and businesses for
public art.
|
Pursue landmark nominations
of individual properties and districts which have historic,
architectural and/or cultural significance to protect them
from inappropriate changes. |
| 3. To increase community
awareness and support for preservation of historically, architecturally,
and/or culturally
significant structures, properties, and landscapes. |
c. Create more pedestrian-friendly
streets with identified landmarks that reinforce the character
of neighborhoods. |
Create distinctive
and attractive gateways into the community and public spaces
that
incorporate art, signs and landscaping. |
|
4. To provide technical advice and support to property owners
and City decision-makers regarding development proposals
affecting historically, architecturally, and/or culturally
significant properties.
|
d. Work with the telecommunications
industry, property owners, and neighboring communities to create
a plan and regulations to avoid harming the visual character
of Highland Park with multiple towers, antennas, and similar
facilities. |
Design new public
and private off-street parking facilities to include adequate
green
areas with trees and landscaping. |
| 5. To assure continuity
and maintenance of neighborhood character as renovation and
redevelopment of existing properties occurs throughout the
City. |
e. Continue to work
with developers, design professionals, contractors, residents,
business owners, and the Design Review Commission to require
sensitive designs
in new development and remodeling projects. |
Require owners of
non-compliant properties to upgrade their sites over time in
order to improve their appearance and bring them into compliance
with current regulations. |
|
6. Preserve the cultural and historic places in Fort Sheridan
by:
- Maintaining an overall density appropriate to the integrity
of the historic structures and landscaping;
- Relating new construction to the architectural character
of existing buildings and locating new construction to
preserve significant views and vistas;
- Maintaining
the parade grounds as open space.
|
f. Repeat and retain
historic architectural details of existing structures in building
new public structures to create consistency in styles. |
Provide financial
incentives to assist owners of historically or architecturally
significant structures in repairing and restoring them including
methods such as waiving permit fees, freezing municipal property
taxes, and providing low interest loans. |
| Transportation
and Circulation |
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To provide a safe, efficient, and comprehensive transportation
system including mass transit, motor vehicles, bicycles and
pedestrians, with connections to the region's highways, mass
transit facilities, and bicycle/pedestrian trails.
|
a. Identify ways to
encourage better and more efficient use of the roadway hierarchy
by preventing short-cuts through residential neighborhoods
and barriers to traffic
flow on arterial streets. |
Actively enforce the rules of the road so that pedestrians,
bicyclists, and motorists adhere to traffic laws minimize
conflicts between different types of users.
|
|
2. To provide a hierarchy of roads to serve the needs of
residents and businesses in all parts of the community for
maximum accessibility, efficiency, and safety while minimizing
traffic volume, speed, noise, air pollution and negative
impacts in neighborhoods.
|
b. Continue working with Metra to maintain and enhance the
high level of rail
commuting services by improving "rush-hour" service and extending the "Skokie
Swift" north to Highland Park.
|
Build and maintain
the facilities recommended in the Greenways Plan consistent
with the community's high aesthetic standards and with sensitivity
to the natural environment. |
| 3. To reduce dependence
on cars and make walking and bicycling safer, more accessible,
and more enjoyable by building greenways, on-street routes,
off-street trails, and sidewalks to connect all neighborhoods,
parks, schools and business areas in Highland Park and adjacent
communities. |
c. Assure adequate
access to adjacent commercial sites if U.S. Route 41 is widened
by using non-continuous deceleration lanes and consolidated
curb cuts in accord with the Skokie Highway Corridor Strategic
Plan. |
Build more east-west
sidewalks, trails, and bicycle/pedestrian bridges to better
connect and unify the parts of the community divided by Skokie
Highway. |
|
4. To improve traffic circulation, accessibility, parking
and safety in all business districts and minimize impacts
on adjacent residential communities.
|
d. Improve pedestrian
and bicycle access to the Metra stations and build sheltered
bicycle racks. |
Update the Major Street
Plan as part of this Master Plan amendment. |
| 5. To create and maintain
more walkable shopping areas including the Central Business
District and Ravinia Business District. |
e. Continue working
with the School Districts, Parent/Teacher Organizations, and
drivers to improve safety and traffic circulation around schools. |
Adopt and enforce
appropriate regulations to design, construct and operate a
safe, comprehensive, and environmentally sensitive system of
streets and greenways. |
|
6. To balance the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and
drivers for safety, access, and ease of movement.
|
f. Ensure the design,
construction and operation of a safe and comprehensive system
of roadways and greenways. |
Continue to oppose
the widening of Lake-Cook Road. |
| |
g. Monitor the proposed
widening of Route 22 west of U.S. 41 and oppose any widening
of Half Day Road east of Summit Avenue. |
Develop educational
materials with the Park District and School Districts, to educate
pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists about the opportunities
and benefits of walking, running and bicycling and about ways
to safely and courteously share the streets, sidewalks, and
trails. |
| |
h. Ensure that access
for pedestrians and bicyclists is considered in constructing
new developments and public infrastructure. |
Improve access to
the public beaches for pedestrians and bicyclists and increase
automobile
parking as well. |
| |
i. Aggressively pursue
funds from developers, other private sources, state and federal
programs to build traffic improvements and greenways. |
|
|
