At the August 28 City Council Regular Meeting, the City Council will consider the Plan and Design Commission (PDC) recommendation to amend the Pedestrian Oriented Shopping Overlay District Boundaries. At the August 1, 2017 PDC Meeting, the Commission continued a public hearing to consider the amendment and voted 5-1 in favor to amend the POSO boundaries in the Central Business District (CBD) by concentrating retail use within the central business district core but allowing new types of services such as medical or law offices in the areas outside of and adjacent to the new POSO boundaries. This proactive change aims to increase downtown occupancy and allows Highland Park to remain competitive into the future.
Allowing additional service use in shopping districts is a national trend in response to the increased popularity of online shopping. Along with the gradual shift in the retail market, the consideration for the change is also based on input from downtown property owners, businesses owners, realtors, and other downtown stakeholders. In 2016, Highland Park businesses generated nearly $13,000,000 in sales tax, which is funneled back into the community and helps keep the City’s tax burden lower for residents. This is a primary reason why it is so important to shop locally and keep our downtown strong.
“Increased occupancy equates to more feet on the street to dine in our restaurants and shop at our businesses,” said Business Development Manager Carolyn Hersch. “This keeps the community and our businesses strong and builds our downtown presence.”
The POSO was created in 2004 and allows only retail or retail-oriented service businesses to use the ground floor storefronts in all of the buildings along selected streets within the CBD. The POSO helps promote and preserve a balanced presence of retail and commercial uses and helps maintain the shopping character of the downtown area.
For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 847.432.0867.
The agenda packet from the PDC Meeting on July 19 can be found at http://highlandparkil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2380&Inline=True.
The agenda packet for the PDC meeting on August 1 can be found at http://highlandparkil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2385&Inline=True.