Board to Review TOD Zoning Overlay District

By Kathy Savolt -

Trustee Maria DeRose presented the issue of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) overlay district to the Board of Trustees (BOT) at their November 8, 2026 Work Session.  Originally passed in 2014, the reported purpose of this district was to capitalize on the potential of development and redevelopment around the train station.  (See HERE for background.)

The TOD area lies within the flood zone adjacent to Columbus Park and the need for development incentives has been questioned after recent severe storms and flooding.  For developers, the TOD overlay zone allows, in some circumstances, taller buildings (40 feet rather than 35 feet), maximum building lot coverage of 50% (up from 30%), and a reduced front yard setback from 20 feet to 5 feet.  The assumption was that residents living within walking distance of public transportation would have fewer cars, so developers would not need to provide as much parking as other zones in the Village.  There are also incentives for green infrastructure.

Twelve years later, the question of whether the change has benefited the Village needs to be answered.

The BOT and staff agreed.  Village Manager Kathleen Gill will work with the Village Planner and Village Attorney to determine the next steps.