Shape Oak Park

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Oak Park has always been a leader—shaped by generations of residents who understood that great neighborhoods don't just happen, they're created through thoughtful, intentional choices. Today, Oak Park residents choose to live here because they want to thrive in a vibrant community that reflects their values of equity, inclusion, sustainability, and affordability. Our zoning code should support those same commitments.

Through Shape Oak Park, we are:

  • Inviting you to lead. Your input will actively guide our community's evolution through surveys, conversations, pop-up events, and workshops throughout the year.

  • Exploring more housing choices. Missing middle housing—duplexes, townhomes, and small-scale buildings that match our neighborhood character—can create opportunities for teachers, families, nurses, seniors, and everyone who wants to call Oak Park home.

  • Honoring our character. We're proposing gentle, incremental changes—thoughtful additions that preserve what makes Oak Park special while opening doors for young families, older adults, and everyone in between.

Shape Oak Park is about ensuring the next generation can write their own Oak Park story.

What is Zoning & Why Does it Matter?

Think of zoning as the rules that determine what can be built where in our community. These regulations decide whether a lot can have a business, public space or residence. If it is a residence, then the rules will determine whether it is a single-family home, a duplex or a small apartment building. They set requirements for parking, building height and lot coverage. While zoning might sound technical, it directly shapes who can afford to live in Oak Park, what housing choices are available and how our neighborhoods evolve.

Zoning codes don’t always align with their community's current needs, wants or values. That's where this strategic update to key zoning standards comes in—we're refining these rules to create more housing opportunities while preserving Oak Park's cherished character, walkability and scale.

What is Missing Middle Housing?

Missing Middle Housing is a range of buildings with multiple units compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes and located in existing neighborhoods. These buildings support walkability, locally-serving retail and public transportation options. They provide solutions along a spectrum of affordability to address the mismatch between the available housing stock and shifting demographics combined with the growing demand for walkability.

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Oak Park has always been a leader—shaped by generations of residents who understood that great neighborhoods don't just happen, they're created through thoughtful, intentional choices. Today, Oak Park residents choose to live here because they want to thrive in a vibrant community that reflects their values of equity, inclusion, sustainability, and affordability. Our zoning code should support those same commitments.

Through Shape Oak Park, we are:

  • Inviting you to lead. Your input will actively guide our community's evolution through surveys, conversations, pop-up events, and workshops throughout the year.

  • Exploring more housing choices. Missing middle housing—duplexes, townhomes, and small-scale buildings that match our neighborhood character—can create opportunities for teachers, families, nurses, seniors, and everyone who wants to call Oak Park home.

  • Honoring our character. We're proposing gentle, incremental changes—thoughtful additions that preserve what makes Oak Park special while opening doors for young families, older adults, and everyone in between.

Shape Oak Park is about ensuring the next generation can write their own Oak Park story.

What is Zoning & Why Does it Matter?

Think of zoning as the rules that determine what can be built where in our community. These regulations decide whether a lot can have a business, public space or residence. If it is a residence, then the rules will determine whether it is a single-family home, a duplex or a small apartment building. They set requirements for parking, building height and lot coverage. While zoning might sound technical, it directly shapes who can afford to live in Oak Park, what housing choices are available and how our neighborhoods evolve.

Zoning codes don’t always align with their community's current needs, wants or values. That's where this strategic update to key zoning standards comes in—we're refining these rules to create more housing opportunities while preserving Oak Park's cherished character, walkability and scale.

What is Missing Middle Housing?

Missing Middle Housing is a range of buildings with multiple units compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes and located in existing neighborhoods. These buildings support walkability, locally-serving retail and public transportation options. They provide solutions along a spectrum of affordability to address the mismatch between the available housing stock and shifting demographics combined with the growing demand for walkability.

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Questions

Have a question? Submit it here, and a member of the Shape Oak Park project team will get back to you promptly. Please sign in to add your question. 

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  • Share What does “honoring our character” mean in the context of zoning? Nearly 1/3rd of Oak Park’s land is already preserved through historic districts and landmark designations, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission with clear authority to safeguard character. Because that framework already governs preservation, why is “preserving Oak Park’s cherished character” part of a zoning discussion? Shouldn’t zoning focus on land use rather than duplicating preservation? on Facebook Share What does “honoring our character” mean in the context of zoning? Nearly 1/3rd of Oak Park’s land is already preserved through historic districts and landmark designations, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission with clear authority to safeguard character. Because that framework already governs preservation, why is “preserving Oak Park’s cherished character” part of a zoning discussion? Shouldn’t zoning focus on land use rather than duplicating preservation? on Twitter Share What does “honoring our character” mean in the context of zoning? Nearly 1/3rd of Oak Park’s land is already preserved through historic districts and landmark designations, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission with clear authority to safeguard character. Because that framework already governs preservation, why is “preserving Oak Park’s cherished character” part of a zoning discussion? Shouldn’t zoning focus on land use rather than duplicating preservation? on Linkedin Email What does “honoring our character” mean in the context of zoning? Nearly 1/3rd of Oak Park’s land is already preserved through historic districts and landmark designations, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission with clear authority to safeguard character. Because that framework already governs preservation, why is “preserving Oak Park’s cherished character” part of a zoning discussion? Shouldn’t zoning focus on land use rather than duplicating preservation? link

    What does “honoring our character” mean in the context of zoning? Nearly 1/3rd of Oak Park’s land is already preserved through historic districts and landmark designations, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission with clear authority to safeguard character. Because that framework already governs preservation, why is “preserving Oak Park’s cherished character” part of a zoning discussion? Shouldn’t zoning focus on land use rather than duplicating preservation?

    whothei0 asked 20 days ago

    Hello,

    Thanks for reaching out. The Village of Oak Park's Zoning Ordinance establishes design standards and guidelines for building construction throughout the Village. Our Zoning Ordinance mentions historic preservation districts asserting that we consider any adverse impacts related to the removal or disruption of historic, traditional or significant uses and structures. In addition, it says that any new structures, additions, and alterations should be sympathetic to and complement the scale and design of surrounding historic structures and locally significant buildings or those with architectural merit. Per our historic preservation regulations, any new construction proposed within an established Historic Preservation district only requires "advisory" review from the Historic Preservation Commission. Therefore, the Missing Middle Housing Zoning Update project, while land use focused, will promote construction or conversion in way that will honor our village's architectural character whether within or outside of our historic preservation districts.


  • Share Will this look at updating our parking minimum requirements to comply with the new transit act amendment 4? on Facebook Share Will this look at updating our parking minimum requirements to comply with the new transit act amendment 4? on Twitter Share Will this look at updating our parking minimum requirements to comply with the new transit act amendment 4? on Linkedin Email Will this look at updating our parking minimum requirements to comply with the new transit act amendment 4? link

    Will this look at updating our parking minimum requirements to comply with the new transit act amendment 4?

    whothei0 asked 3 days ago

    Hello,

    Our understanding is that there is no specific "Transit Act Amendment 4." The most recent significant legislation is the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, passed in Illinois in late October 2025, which is a comprehensive transit reform package. It replaces the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), changes governance structure, and includes new funding mechanisms and operational reforms to address funding shortfalls. If you have more information on this subject, please let us know. However, our consultants and staff will be reviewing current parking regulations and demands, in particular those abutting or near public transit nodes, in anticipation of supporting any recommended Missing Middle Housing initiatives. 

Page last updated: 04 Nov 2025, 06:14 PM