11 Things You Should Know About Village Code Changes

Dozens of changes to the village code were approved at the May 12 village board of trustees meeting. These are the 11 that might interest you most. 

1. New fee for zoning appeals 

If you appeal the decision of a zoning officer, it will now cost you $1,000. Previously, there was no fee. 

2. Advertising is now allowed for PACE bus shelters. 

The village is considering entering into an agreement with PACE that would allow for signage for various non-PACE companies on PACE bus shelters. 

3.   

Before, only grocery stores were technically allowed to do this. 

4. New code addresses lighting in the village 

The village accepted several amendments addressing maximum lighting levels, lighting pollution and negative impacts to the nighttime environment. 

5.

Want to add solar panels to your roof or yard? You'll now need to follow these guidelines. 

6. Businesses get 12 weeks of allowed temporary promotional signs instead of 8. 

Signs identifying "a special or limited activity, service, product or sale of limited duration, including sidewalk sales" will be permitted for a longer period of time than normally allowed, based on requests from businesses for more flexibility with signs. 

7. No lawn parking 

Parking is not permitted on residential lawns in front, side or rear yards. This was previously not stated in the village code. 

8. Campaign signs can be left up for longer 

You can leave up a political campaign sign for as long as you want. Before, code required you to remove the sign 14 days after an election or referendum. 

9. Screens for rooftop heating, A/C, ventilating units, etc. not required for single-family homes  

Rooftop screens for heating, air conditioning, ventilating, satellite earth stations, microwave transmission devices or other mechanical equipment are not required for single-family homes as they are for commercial or multi-family residential buildings. This was the intent before, but now it has been made explicit. 

10. Regulations added for donation drop boxes 

The village formerly did not have regulations for donation drop boxes. Now up to three donation drop boxes are permitted for a lot equal to or greater than three acres in size.

11. Wireless communication facilities regulations put in place for the first time 

This is to encourage the placement of antennas and telecommunication towers in areas where their impact is minimized and encourage users to co-locate with existing uses and structures, according to village documents.