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Record of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - June 23, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, June 23, 2026
BodyPark Ridge, Illinois
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, June 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:02

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

I remember begging my parents to let me.

0:11

Where is everybody?

0:17

I just have a need to do this.

0:23

Yeah.

0:23

Yeah.

0:24

Yeah.

0:24

The things you do when you're younger.

0:34

They put a towel over it.

0:36

And iron it.

0:39

No, I used to like when I was in college.

0:42

I wouldn't I couldn't put my hair down.

0:47

Okay, seven o'clock, Mr.

0:49

Chair Hanlin.

0:52

Mr.

0:52

Chair.

0:53

Mr.

0:54

Chair, I should say.

0:56

Well, low low.

0:58

All right.

0:59

Shall we call to order the uh planning and zoning meeting for Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026?

1:05

We shall.

1:05

Commissioner McMillan.

1:07

Here.

1:08

Okay.

1:08

Commissioner Coogan absent.

1:10

Commissioner Hutchinson absent.

1:13

Chair Hanlon.

1:14

Here.

1:15

Commissioner Papracky.

1:16

Here.

1:17

Commissioner Shepherd.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Commissioner Gilpin.

1:20

Here.

1:21

And Commissioner Karsten's also absent.

1:24

Staff, Claudia Plant Claudia Hampel, planner.

1:28

Myself, Joe Caraci, and I think that's it for staff.

1:32

Welcome.

1:33

Well, thank you, J.

1:35

Okay.

1:35

So uh first up on the agenda is approval of minutes from the June 9th, 2026 meeting.

1:41

And oh, what a meeting it was.

1:43

Thank you for those notes and uh highlights.

1:45

Has anybody had a chance to read those and look them over?

1:48

Yes.

1:48

Thoughts, comments, suggestions, changes, ideas.

1:53

I'll move to approve.

1:55

I'll second.

1:56

All in favor?

1:57

Aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:58

All right, moving on.

1:59

Next up for debate tonight or to talk about tonight, public comment on a non-agenda item.

2:05

Um if there is something on your mind that you'd like to discuss that is not related to the two cases today, or the discussion only item of our strategies, then now is your chance.

2:21

And no one is moving forward, so we will move on.

2:24

We've got two development cases tonight.

2:25

Claudia, would you be kind enough to introduce us to uh public meeting review and action on ZPR 26-08.

2:34

This is a site plan review for tw 200 South Lincoln Avenue.

2:38

I shall.

2:39

Um, so as Chair Hanlin indicated, this is a site plan review, uh ZPR 2608 at 200 South Lincoln, or more commonly known as Lincoln Middle School.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Code██████████████████████████26%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Arts And Culture█████████████████████21%
Public Works████████████████16%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Public Safety███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

June 23, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 7:36 PM

The Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission met on June 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered approval of minutes, two site plan reviews for school improvements, a discussion of potential zoning strategies, and a City Council liaison report. Commissioners present: McMillan, Chair Hanlon, Papracky, Shepherd, Gilpin. Absent: Coogan, Hutchinson, Karsten. Staff present: Claudia Hampel (planner) and Joe Caraci.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes – June 9, 2026: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non‑Agenda Items: No members of the public spoke.
  • Development Case ZPR‑26‑08: After the presentation, the commission opened public comment. Two individuals were present but declined to speak.
  • Development Case ZPR‑26‑09: Public comment was opened; no one spoke.

Discussion Items

  • ZPR‑26‑08 – Site Plan Review at 200 S Lincoln Avenue (Lincoln Middle School): The applicant (Brian Harlan, Assistant Superintendent; Mike Browning, Director of Facilities; George Gautier, architect) requested approval for parking lot and basketball court improvements on the west side of the school. The project had previously received variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals (May 28) and City Council approval (June 15). The reconfiguration will bring the school into compliance with required parking. A commissioner noted a family member’s wish for more basketball courts rather than parking. The commission approved the site plan with no additional conditions.
  • ZPR‑26‑09 – Site Plan Review at 1500 Stewart Avenue (Washington Elementary School): The same applicant requested approval for parking lot improvements and construction of a salt storage shed (accessory structure). The shed will be built with brick matching the school; its height was discussed (10–14 ft proposed, but the city maximum is 12 ft; the applicant agreed to stay under 12 ft). The shed’s location and loading method were reviewed. The commission approved the site plan with no additional conditions.
  • Review of Potential Strategies 5 and 6: The commission revisited recommendations from the May 12 discussion. Staff provided an illustrative example (for clarity when presented to City Council) and reported that simplified language is being drafted with the city attorney. Key points: the density bonus would apply only to developments with at least 12 units, but it was clarified that the bonus is voluntary, not a requirement. The recommendations will be forwarded to City Council for review; if approved, they would return to the commission as a public hearing for a text amendment.
  • City Council Liaison Report (Alderperson Steinfels):
    • Recap of June 1 City Council: Final approval of 31 South Fairview, medical/dental clinic at 31 South Northwest Highway, school resource officer contract extension, and Summit Mall parking lot resurfacing (cost to be provided later). Committee of the Whole discussion on creating passenger loading zones along Busse Highway at Hinkley Park (approved June 15).
    • June 15 City Council: Approval of the Hinkley loading zones and map amendment for 425 West Helcott (previously through P&Z). Committee of the Whole discussed two items:
      1. “Weed vs. Lawn” ordinance language – to align with state law on native plants and reduce restrictions.
      2. Murals – whether to allow murals on public property. Staff (Claudia Hampel) clarified the proposal: murals would be allowed only on public property, reviewed by the Appearance Commission with final approval by City Council. Commissioners expressed concerns about free‑speech implications, administrative burden, and the need for a broader public arts policy. The discussion is ongoing.
    • Alderperson Steinfels noted he would follow up on the status of the potential eminent domain lot.

Key Outcomes

  • ZPR‑26‑08: Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner McMillan, second by Commissioner Shepherd). No conditions.
  • ZPR‑26‑09: Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Papracky, second by Commissioner Gilpin). No conditions.
  • Strategies 5 and 6: The commission agreed to forward the recommendation to City Council, with the understanding that the language will be simplified and the program remains voluntary.
  • Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried at 7:36 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I remember begging my parents to let me. Where is everybody? I just have a need to do this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The things you do when you're younger. They put a towel over it. And iron it. No, I used to like when I was in college. I wouldn't I couldn't put my hair down. Okay, seven o'clock, Mr. Chair Hanlin. Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I should say. Well, low low. All right. Shall we call to order the uh planning and zoning meeting for Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026? We shall. Commissioner McMillan. Here. Okay. Commissioner Coogan absent. Commissioner Hutchinson absent. Chair Hanlon. Here. Commissioner Papracky. Here. Commissioner Shepherd. Here. Commissioner Gilpin. Here. And Commissioner Karsten's also absent. Staff, Claudia Plant Claudia Hampel, planner. Myself, Joe Caraci, and I think that's it for staff. Welcome. Well, thank you, J. Okay. So uh first up on the agenda is approval of minutes from the June 9th, 2026 meeting. And oh, what a meeting it was. Thank you for those notes and uh highlights. Has anybody had a chance to read those and look them over? Yes. Thoughts, comments, suggestions, changes, ideas. I'll move to approve. I'll second. All in favor? Aye.

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