ELMHURST, IL – A recommendation for lower building heights in the northern part of Elmhurst’s downtown received a frosty reception Wednesday.
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At a meeting at City Hall, consultant Nik Davis presented a draft of a long-term downtown plan. He said it was based on feedback from the public and officials.
The recommendation in question was to limit buildings to five stories in the northern part of downtown. Those next to York Street would be capped at four.
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Mayor Scott Levin said he supported keeping the standard of six stories downtown. Reducing the limit would hurt property values, giving owners a “big kick,” he said.
The city has stuck with the limit for two decades amid struggles with developers, Levin said.
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In March 2023, the City Council voted 10-1 against a request for a proposed nine-story condo complex across from City Hall on York Street. The developer later sued the city; the matter has not been resolved.
Under the draft plan, the other parts of downtown would keep the six-story limit.
In the meeting, Davis advised against the city’s practice of using the “conditional use” process to make exceptions to the height requirement.
But Alderwoman Marti Deuter said she favored allowing exceptions when developers can give something in return – public art or small parks, for example.
Davis, who works with the Houseal Lavigne firm, said such a process would be subjective. Rather, he said the city should provide developers “fair certainty.”
The discussion happened at a joint meeting of the City Council’s zoning committee and the Zoning and Planning Commission.
The city hired Davis’ firm to create a 20-year downtown plan. He hopes to finish it by year’s end.
2016 was the last time the firm drafted a downtown plan for Elmhurst.
Next Wednesday, Elmhurst is holding an open house about the draft downtown plan. The event is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall.
More information about the plan is available on the city’s website.
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