Crest Hill council approves zoning text changes to ease developer burdens and remove court‑reporter requirement
January 20, 2026 | Crest Hill, Will County, Illinois
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The Crest Hill City Council on Jan. 19 approved ordinance 2045 to amend the city's zoning code, with the stated aim of removing procedural barriers for applicants and clarifying long‑standing ambiguities.
Dan Ritter, director of community development, told the council the package contains three principal changes: eliminating a requirement that applicants pay for a physical court reporter at special‑use or rezoning hearings, clarifying section 5.5 so property sellers are not improperly required to bring legally nonconforming uses into full compliance, and providing greater flexibility for driveway widths that previously defaulted to a 30‑foot rule.
"We removed the court‑reporter requirements, that required a physical court reporter to be here," Ritter said, adding the city now records meetings and posts verbatim recordings. He also said the code changes are intended to avoid legal conflicts and reduce costs for applicants.
Ritter said the planning commission reviewed the changes at a public hearing in December and recommended approval. The city's planner is updating the online zoning ordinance to include amendments since 2018.
Alderman Claudia Gazzall asked whether the changes would be posted immediately; Ritter said the full update would appear on the city website within a month or two and staff would advise applicants of the change.
The council voted by roll call to adopt the ordinance (Case TXT‑25‑2121); the motion carried on recorded yes votes by the aldermen listed during roll call.
The ordinance takes effect per the city's standard procedures; staff said edits will be reflected online and applied in future planning and permit reviews.
Dan Ritter, director of community development, told the council the package contains three principal changes: eliminating a requirement that applicants pay for a physical court reporter at special‑use or rezoning hearings, clarifying section 5.5 so property sellers are not improperly required to bring legally nonconforming uses into full compliance, and providing greater flexibility for driveway widths that previously defaulted to a 30‑foot rule.
"We removed the court‑reporter requirements, that required a physical court reporter to be here," Ritter said, adding the city now records meetings and posts verbatim recordings. He also said the code changes are intended to avoid legal conflicts and reduce costs for applicants.
Ritter said the planning commission reviewed the changes at a public hearing in December and recommended approval. The city's planner is updating the online zoning ordinance to include amendments since 2018.
Alderman Claudia Gazzall asked whether the changes would be posted immediately; Ritter said the full update would appear on the city website within a month or two and staff would advise applicants of the change.
The council voted by roll call to adopt the ordinance (Case TXT‑25‑2121); the motion carried on recorded yes votes by the aldermen listed during roll call.
The ordinance takes effect per the city's standard procedures; staff said edits will be reflected online and applied in future planning and permit reviews.
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