Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Monday, January 22:
- Citizen Police Oversight Committee, 7 p.m. in Room 124
- Tuesday, January 23:
- Aging in Communities Commission, 6 p.m. in Room 101
- Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Wednesday, January 24:
- Community Design Commission, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Citizen Involvement Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 101
- Thursday, January 25:
- Oak Park Housing Vision Public Meeting, 6 p.m. at Oak Park Library Veterans Room, 834 Lake St.
- Historic Preservation Commission Architecture Review Committee, 7:30 p.m. in Room 101
Oak Park residents are invited to join the conversation about Oak Park’s housing vision for the next decade during a public meeting taking place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 25 at the Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room. Participants will be asked to weigh in on what housing or housing-related challenges they see in the community, and their ideas on how to address them. The Village is partnering with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to update the Homes for a Changing Region Plan it prepared in 2012. Since Oak Park in 2024 is in many ways different from Oak Park in 2012, fresh eyes, perspectives and ideas are needed. In addition, a housing vision community survey is still available online at www.engageoakpark.com/housingsurvey.
The Facility Review Committee, charged with evaluating the viability of the Village Hall facility to address outlined needs, identify options and costs for meeting those needs while maintaining the historic integrity of the existing building and the spirit of Open Government, held its second meeting on Wednesday evening. The group reviewed Village Hall and Police Department goals, as well as a presentation by Johnson Lasky Kindelin Architects (JLK). To view a recording of the meeting, please click here. The next meeting is scheduled for February 21.
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The Village issued seven new business licenses in December, bringing the total number of new business licenses issued in 2023 to 103. This represents the third consecutive year that that the Village has issued more than 100 new business licenses. See below for a chart comparing the number of new business licenses processed the past five years. A list of businesses that received a license from the Village is posted at www.pickoakpark.com/newbusiness. The 2023 totals indicate that Oak Park’s economic vitality remains strong. One of the new businesses that received a license last month is the entertainment business Comedy Plex, located in a welcoming basement space at 1128 Lake St. More information is at www.comedyplex.com.
The Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-1 on Thursday to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness request made by the property owner to demolish the home at 125 S. Lombard Ave. Commission members acknowledged that the home is a contributing building within the Village’s Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District, which is listed on the National Register. The State Historic Preservation Office confirmed that it is contributing on the National Register. Commissioners said that there was no evidence provided by the property owner that repair of the home is not possible. Commission members recommended that the homeowner could pursue a Certificate of Economic Hardship and provide additional evidence such as cost estimates related to the repair of the home. Four members of the public provided comments at the public hearing. Two residents said they live nearby and support the Historic Preservation Commission’s process. These residents raised concerns about cost estimates not being provided to show that repair of the home is not economically feasible. They also expressed concern about how the applicant will use the property if the existing home is torn down. Two residents spoke in favor of demolition.
The Village is extending the free collection of holiday trees through the week of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2 after frigid temperatures resulted in some trees being frozen to the ground. LRS crews will pick up any trees that are left out this week and the week of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, and any effort residents can make to ensure the trees are not stuck in the ice and snow would be appreciated. Remember to remove all decorations and stands and place the trees in the regular collection area by the property’s standard collection date. Trees set out after the week of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2 will require a green yard waste sticker to be attached. For more information, email publicworks@oak-park.us or call 708.358.5700.
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The Public Health Department is launching a new monthly email newsletter this winter. The e-newsletter will spotlight local health issues and initiatives, Public Health Department programming updates, volunteer opportunities and more. Anyone interested in subscribing can sign up at www.oak-park.us/enews or by contacting 708.358.5480 or health@oak-park.us.
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As the Village restructures and lifts up a new Development Services Department, Village Manager Kevin J. Jackson announced this week that two leadership positions within that unit have been filled. Emily Egan has been named the new Development Services Director and Brandon Crawford has been chosen as Deputy Director of Development Services. They will begin their roles on Monday, February 5. Read more about the announcement at www.oak-park.us/developmentservices24.
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The Village supported the Wednesday Journal’s Women in Business special advertising section this week by submitting a profile of Police Chief Shatonya Johnson that ran along an advertisement for Police Department recruitment. Click here to read the profile. The article and ad appeared on page 27 of this week’s Wednesday Journal – click here to view an online version of the print edition.
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The Village welcomed two new employees this week as Cristian Gonzalez joined the organization as the Court Liaison Officer in the Police Department and Lalo Alonzo came on board as a Water & Sewer Worker in the Public Works Department. Cristian has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology and a certification in Spanish interpreting. He previously ran a volunteer program for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court at the College of Lake County. Lalo has previously worked as a construction worker at job sites that required a variety of different skill sets.
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Oak Park residents may have noticed new beige pavement markings installed in recent weeks. The pavement markings are meant to act as traffic calming and safety improvements and create curb extensions or bump outs to narrow the roadway in an effort to slow traffic and reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians. Public Works crews will be installing flexible delineator posts along the edges of these areas to further define these spaces. Should these improvements be effective at calming traffic and improving safety, they will be replaced with traditional concrete curbs, sod and sidewalks as part of future street resurfacing projects.
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Focus Development update – Blue stone and street paver installation is in progress along Pleasant Street at the site of the new Focus Development. A tent remains in place from the alley to the intersection of Pleasant and Marion Street. Garage sealing and traffic coating is also in progress.
Sewer televising update – The contractor completed the initial set of locations provided by the Village for sewer inspection. Crews will return next week to complete remaining locations added to the project, weather permitting. Partial lane closures are anticipated while work is ongoing.
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