Planning and Zoning Commission

Effective November 1, 2024, this commission replaces both the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. (Ordinance No.6058)

If you are looking for past agendas/minutes of the former bodies, choose below:

• Plan Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals

The Planning and Zoning Commission is required by state law. It consists of nine voting members and three non-voting, ex-officio members; one from the Park District, Sanitary District and the local school districts. In addition, the mayor is an ex-officio member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. All ex-officio members are not entitled to vote and are not counted in determining whether a quorum of the Planning and Zoning Commission is present at any meeting.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has the following powers and duties:

• To prepare and recommend to the corporate authorities a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the Village. 
• To recommend to the Village Council, from time to time, such changes or specific in the comprehensive plan as the Planning and Zoning Commission may deem necessary.
• To initiate, study and make recommendations regarding matters dealing with the planning of the community and in contiguous territory outside of the corporate limits of the Village and distant not more than 1 ½ miles from such limits not included in the Village.
• To exercise such other powers germane to the above powers as may be conferred by the Village Council.
• To recommend, subject to consideration and approval by the Village Council, reasonable standards of design for subdivisions and for resubdivisions of unimproved land and of areas subject to redevelopment in respect to public improvements.
• To review preliminary and final plans for planned unit developments pursuant to the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance of the Village and to consider and recommend approval or disapproval of such plans to the Village Council, including any specific conditions of any recommended approval.
• To consider and approve certain lot reconfigurations that do not require a subdivision plat, pursuant to DGMC Section 20.601 of the Village Code.
• To consider and make recommendations to the Village Council concerning any request for a waiver or variation of any requirement of DGMC Section 19.14(b) for construction of public improvements as a condition of obtaining a permit for access across a parkway to Village right-of-way.
• To hear, consider and recommend to the Village Council matters dealing with amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
• To hear, consider and recommend to the Village Council matters dealing with the granting of special uses.
• Notwithstanding the provisions of DGMC Section 2.59(a) of this Code, to hear and decide on an application for any variations or exceptions from the terms of the Downers Grove Zoning Ordinance and/or the Downers Grove Subdivision Ordinance, subject to their terms.
• To designate, subject to consideration and approval of the Village Council, land suitable for annexation to the Village and the recommended zoning classification for such land upon annexation.
• To hear and decide appeals from, and to make modifications to, any order, requirement, decision or determination made the Community Development Director responsible for the enforcement of the Downers Grove Zoning Ordinance.
• To hear and decide on all matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under the Downers Grove Zoning Ordinance.
• Any additional powers granted by the Illinois Municipal Code.