===== PDF PAGE 119 ===== CITY OF WEST CHICAGO DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM TITLE: Zoning Text Amendment Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned City of West Chicago Ordinance No. 26-O-0018 AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: _13.B._ COMMITTEE DATE: August 10, 2026 COUNCIL DATE: August 17, 2026 PREPARED BY: John Sterrett, Director of Community Development APPROVED BY: Viviana Ramirez, City Administrator SIGNATURE _______________________ SIGNATURE _______________________ ITEM SUMMARY: At its May 4, 2026 meeting, the City Council discussed a proposal to install futsal fields on a portion of the City-owned West Washington Street property, in collaboration with Street Soccer USA and Missionary Athletes International, to commemorate the 2026 World Cup. Staff subsequently evaluated the zoning implications of the proposal to identify the appropriate regulatory pathway. Staff drafted a Zoning Text Amendment to establish "Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned" as a new land use classification, with a corresponding definition in Article IV of the Zoning Code, as a special use in the B-1 District. The amendment is intended to provide a regulatory framework for the installation and operation of publicly-owned outdoor athletic courts and fields in the downtown, including the futsal court proposed at the West Washington Street property. If the text amendment is approved, a separate special use permit, including a site plan and engineering drawings, for the specific installation at the West Washington Street property will be reviewed. Staff presented the concept to the Downtown Revitalization Commission (DRC) at its May 27, 2026 meeting. The DRC recommended approval of the concept, subject to the condition that the fields be located as far to the western edge of the property as possible to preserve the balance of the site for future redevelopment. The Plan Commission conducted a public hearing on the Zoning Text Amendment at its July 7, 2026 meeting and continued the case to the August 4, 2026 meeting for further consideration. By a vote of 0- 4, with 3 members absent, the Plan Commission did not approve a motion for a favorable recommendation, finding that the proposed use was not appropriate for the downtown district. Because this is a Zoning Text Amendment, a simple majority vote of the City Council is sufficient to approve the amendment despite the Plan Commission's unfavorable recommendation. ACTION PROPOSED: Consideration of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment establishing "Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned" as a new land use classification and special use in the B-1 Central Business District. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Development Committee recommended approval by a vote of 4-3, including the Mayor’s affirmative vote as an ex-officio member of the Committee. Attachment: Draft Ordinance No. 26-O-0018 - C7f)bt . ===== PDF PAGE 120 ===== Ordinance 26-O-0018 Page 1 of 3 ORDINANCE NO. 26-O-0018 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEST CHICAGO – APPENDIX A, THE ZONING CODE ARTICLE IV AND ARTICLE X RELATING TO PUBLICLY OWNED OUTDOOR ATHLETIC FIELDS WHEREAS, the City’s downtown district (B-1 Central Business District) does not permit the use of publicly owned outdoor athletic fields, either by right or by special use; and WHEREAS, the City has prepared a Zoning Text Amendment that defines Publicly Owned Outdoor Athletic Fields and permits it as a Special Use within the B-1 Central Business District; and WHEREAS, Notice of Public Hearing on said zoning text amendment was published in the Daily Herald on June 22, 2026, as required by the ordinances of the City of West Chicago and the statutes of the State of Illinois; and WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was conducted by the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of West Chicago on July 7, 2026 and on August 4, 2026, pursuant to said Notice; and WHEREAS, at the Public Hearing all interested parties had an opportunity to be heard; and WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the City of West Chicago have received the recommendation of the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals, pursuant to Recommendation No. 26-RC-0009, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” which is, by this reference, made a part hereof. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of West Chi- cago, DuPage County, Illinois, in regular session assembled, as follows: Section 1. That Section 4.1 of Article IV, Appendix A, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be amended to add the following definitions: “Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned. An outdoor facility owned by a unit of local government or public agency consisting of one or more fields, courts, or similar open-air areas designed and improved for active recreational or athletic use, including but not lim- ited to soccer fields, futsal courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, baseball and soft- ball diamonds, and multi-use athletic surfaces. This classification includes associated ac- cessory improvements such as fencing, lighting, bleachers, benches, storage structures and containers, and restroom facilities that are incidental to and supportive of the primary athletic use. This classification does not include indoor recreational facilities, commercial recreational operations, or facilities primarily designed for organized professional or semi-professional athletic competition.” ===== PDF PAGE 121 ===== Ordinance 26-O-0018 Page 2 of 3 Section 2. That Section 10.2-1 of Article X, Appendix A, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be amended to add the following use restriction: “(H) Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned, shall be located at least 4,000 feet from any other approved Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned use, as measured from property line to property line.” Section 3. That Section 10.2-4 of Article X, Appendix A, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be amended to add the following land use category to the list of Spe- cial Uses in the B-1 Central Business District: “(R) Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned.” Section 4. That all ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict with the pro- visions of this Ordinance are, to the extent of such conflict, expressly repealed. Section 5. That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage, approval and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law. PASSED this _____ day of ___________________, 2026. Alderman J. Alcántar-García ______ Alderman D. Beebe ______ Alderman I. Santiago ______ Alderman J. Sheahan ______ Alderman D. Carreto-Muñoz ______ Alderman T. Hernandez ______ Alderman S. Dimas ______ Alderman M. Birch Ferguson ______ Alderman C. Swiatek ______ Alderman J. Smith, Jr. ______ Alderman C. Aviña Soto ______ Alderman R. Stout ______ Alderman M. Myers ______ Alderman J. Morano ______ APPROVED as to form: ______________________________ City Attorney APPROVED this _____ day of ___________, 2026. ____________________________________ Daniel Bovey, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ Executive Office Manager Valeria Biggerstaff PUBLISHED: ===== PDF PAGE 122 ===== Ordinance 26-O-0018 Page 3 of 3 EXHIBIT “A” RECOMMENDATION NO. 26-RC-0020 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council SUBJECT: PC 26-09 Amendment to the text of the Zoning Code – Article IV and Article X Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned DATE: August 5, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING The Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals conducted a public hearing for PC 26-09 for Outdoor Athletic Fields, Publicly Owned, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 in the Council Chambers of West Chicago City Hall – 475 Main Street, West Chicago, Illinois. RECOMMENDATION After a review of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment related to Outdoor Athletic Fields, Pub- licly Owned, as presented, the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals finds that the pro- posed Amendment is not an appropriate land use in the B-1 Central Business District. ROLL CALL VOTE Yeas (0) Nays (4) Abstain (0) Absent (3) Laimins Billingsley Kasprak Henkin Slattery Terrazas Banasiak Respectfully submitted, Barbara Laimins Chairperson