Ewing village officials approve zoning regulations, maps

A roadmap of sorts, providing a snapshot of Ewing in the present and future, was presented to village trustees during a July 10 public hearing.

Jennie Kozal, of Miller & Associates, presented the final copy of the village's comprehensive plan, zoning regulations and maps, noting it "looks 10 years into the future for development in Ewing."

The map primarily highlights four areas in the village, including large-lot and mixed-density residential districts and central and general commercial districts.

Following state statutes, the plan includes sections on land use, transportation and facilities and amenities.

A small area, near the entrance to the arena at Schmidt Park, along the 45B spur, is designated as a transitional agricultural district.

Each district defines regulations, including setbacks and maximum building footprint.

An energy element is also included, although it is not required by state statute.

Kozal said the plan also includes a section on annexation.

"Just because there is an annexation plan in here does not mean it has be something the village moves forward with in the next 10 years. It merely looked through public input, through public sessions, at how the village could potentially grow and mapped out suggestions where annexation could occur."

For the plan to reach the approval stage, three community input meetings were held. The first introduced the concept of a comprehensive plan and establishment of zoning regulations and the importance of both.

Housing and community growth were the focus of the second meeting. Attendees brainstormed how to grow Ewing and prioritized ideas.

During the third public session, land use and annexation were the focus.

"That's where we really talked aobut how Ewing functions and now and how it can expand in the future," Kozal said.

Zoning regulations are the "legal backing" that support the comprehensive plan.

Two zoning workshops, attended by planning commission members and village trustees, included how to utilize zoning and its importance to the village.

Five volunteers - Chantelle Dempster, Mark Hoffman, Eddie Rotherham, Elaine Stallbaum and Jeremy Tuttle - comprise the planning commission. A commission is a requirement for zoning regulations. The group serves in a recommendary capacity, reviewing land-use questions and making recommendations to village trustees.

"It's really another vetting system to look at land use and keep things objective when it comes to community development," Kozal said.

The comprehensive plan was approved by Resolution 414, while zoning regulations and maps were approved by Ordinance 439.

An official zoning map will be on file at the city office.