City of Rockford Code & Regulation Committee met Oct. 6

City of Rockford Code & Regulation Committee met Oct. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

II. COMMITTEE REPORTS 

1. 2025-208-CR – Text Amendment

Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a Text Amendment of the City of Rockford Zoning Ordinance: Table 21-1 Uses Classification Table (eliminate the option of a Special Use Permit to establish residential storage units within the C-3 district) and Table 22-1 Uses Classification Table (eliminate the option of a Special Use Permit to establish residential storage units above the ground floor within the C-4 district )(City of Rockford/Applicant)

Ald. Bonne made a MOTION to SUSTAIN ZBA. The motion was SECONDED by Ald. Bell. Ald. Bonne noted that previously this item was before Council, and was sent back to ZBA for further consideration. As stated, ZBA returned the item

back with a recommendation of approval. However, when the item came before the Code and Regulation Committee, Ald. Bell asked for a thirty (30) day lay over, which was granted. Ald. Bonne informed the Committee, that this item is also on the Council agenda tonight.

Ald. Meeks asked if there will be any impact on individuals who may be thinking about putting a storage facility in an area that has not seen a lot of development in the last few years.

Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager stated that there would be no impact on some of the larger centers because applicants could still pursue a special use permit via the plan unit development process for anything that is an acre, and over. The item before the Committee would only apply to the smaller buildings that would sit on less than an acre of land.

Ald. Meeks wanted to know if a former shopping center had less 50,000 square feet would it require going through the PUD process. Mr. Capovilla stated most likely they would because of the square footage. Ald. Meeks asked if there was a cost difference with the PUD process versus going through the current process. Mr. Capovilla stated that the cost is the same.

Ald. Bonne asked Mr. Capovilla if there was a second option for rezoning a property to industrial. He further indicated that this option would not require Council approval for self-storage, but would need council approval for rezoning. Mr. Capovilla responded, yes, Ald. Bonne was correct, but the size of the site would be a factor. Ald. Bonne further noted that if a property is already zoned industrial, an applicant could ask for permission to construct, or convert a property to self-storage without Council approval. Mr. Capovilla confirmed that he was correct.

The motion resulted in NO RECOMMENDATION by a vote of 2-2. Ald. Torina, and Ald. Meeks voted “No.”

III. ADJOURN 

With no further business before the Committee the meeting was adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

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