TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the Regional Transportation Authority and the City of Joliet for Transit Oriented Development Zoning Regulations
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BACKGROUND:
The City Council adopted the Downtown Joliet Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan at their July 15, 2025 meeting. This Downtown Joliet ETOD Plan creates a long-term vision and policy framework for the City to enhance the areas around the station into a vibrant, mixed-use district with housing and economic vitality for residents of all ages, income levels, and abilities. Updating the City's Zoning Ordinance to enable this vision was a key recommendation of this Plan. The City applied for and was awarded technical assistance through the Regional Transportation Authority's (RTA's) Community Planning Program for consultant services to prepare zoning code updates that advance mixed use and multi-family housing development in the area surrounding the Joliet Gateway Transportation Center. The cost for consultant services for updates to the City's Zoning Ordinance to support transit-oriented development are covered in full through the RTA's program.
The Scope of Work for this project includes stakeholder and community engagement with an open house on proposed zoning changes as well as a workshop with the Plan Commission. All proposed changes to the City's Zoning Ordinance that emanate from this zoning ordinance update project will require review and approval by the City Council following the recommendation of the Plan Commission. Should the Council approve this Memorandum of Understanding with the RTA, the project will likely start in early 2026 and conclude with City Council review in early 2027.
This agenda item was reviewed by the Land Use and Economic Development Committee at its October 22, 2025 meeting and was recommended to the City Council with a vote 3-0.
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