Edwardsville Zoning Update

Project Highlights

• Evaluation of Existing Zoning Ordinance + Development Processes
• Review of the City’s Comprehensive Plan to help inform policy recommendations
• Address concerns that parts of the code were difficult to apply and that development entitlement procedures were lengthy
• Process involved close coordination with City staff and local stakeholders

The result of the evaluation was a Zoning Review Memorandum that presented technical observations about full code – noting those that functioned to advance City policies and those that did not. In addition, six policy recommendations were presented for elements of the zoning ordinance that would most benefit from revision. These included the downtown and commercial transitional zoning districts, adding design review standards, and considering changes to development procedures. As follow-up to the assignment, Teska was retained to work closely with City staff to revise the six code sections identified in the assessment so that regulations would more directly support City objectives for development.

The downtown zoning and adjacent transitional zoning districts have been revised and adopted as a result of the work. Based on input from the community, specific conventional and form-based zoning standards were developed for these districts to support desired development. Teska and the City staff continue working together on the remaining four zoning revisions. We are currently developing Design Guidelines for the City and revising the zoning district that regulates development in a broad area around the City’s I-55 Interchange.