Loosen La Grange Building Height Rule: Officials

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange officials on Monday pushed for loosening the village's building height rule in certain commercial areas.

Under the current code, a developer in those areas can build up to three stories without getting zoning approval.

Meanwhile, a proposed long-term plan for growth recommends increasing that to five.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, trustees generally agreed on four stories as a compromise.

Trustee Beth Augustine and others noted that developers over the years have received exceptions to the three-story rule. Such exceptions are granted after hearings where residents can weigh in.

"I think we are losing attention and interest of a lot of development projects that would be great for La Grange by having very limited heights," Augustine said.

In June, the board approved a four-story apartment building on Hillgrove Avenue, despite neighbors' opposition.

Village President Mark Kuchler, who lives near Hillgrove, expressed sympathy for those residents. He preferred keeping the three-story standard.

"I know a lot of the neighbors who live (near the proposed building)," Kuchler said. "I understand their concerns. I don't think eliminating their ability to have feedback is progress at all. I do think that we have shown as a village since the last comprehensive plan that we're very open to diverse buildings."

Michael Blue, a Teska Associates consultant who helped draft the long-term plan, said the five-story recommendation was included because that is already part of downtown's character.

"There are a number of buildings like that," he said.

The trustees did not vote on the proposed long-term plan.

Even if the height standard is changed, the Village Board would need to enact an ordinance to make it a reality.