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Downers Grove City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 28

III Business And Employment Districts

Sec 28.3.010 The Districts

  1. List. The Village’s business and employment zoning districts are listed in Table 3-1. When this zoning ordinance refers to “business and employment” zoning districts or to “B,” “O” or “M” districts, respectively, it is referring to the districts in Table 3-1.
    Table 3-1: Business and Employment Zoning Districts
    Map SymbolDistrict Name
    B-1Limited Retail Business
    B-2General Retail Business
    B-3General Services and Highway Business
    O-ROffice-Research
    O-R-MOffice-Research-Manufacturing
    M-1Light Manufacturing
    M-2Restricted Manufacturing
  2. Description. The Village's business and employment zoning districts are generally intended to accommodate and promote retail, service, business and employment uses.
    1. B-1, Limited Retail Business District. The B-1 district is primarily intended to accommodate small-scale retail and service businesses that serve residents of abutting neighborhoods. It is generally intended to be applied to sites with frontage on a collector or higher-level street and in locations that can be safely accessed via motorized and nonmotorized transportation.
    2. B-2, General Retail Business District. The B-2 district is primarily intended to accommodate retail and service businesses that serve a Village-wide or larger trade area. It is generally intended to be applied to sites with frontage on at least one (1) arterial street.
    3. B-3, General Services and Highway Business District. The B-3 district is primarily intended to accommodate very large retail and service establishments, business establishments that generate large volumes of automobile traffic, high-impact commercial and limited manufacturing activities.
    4. O-R, Office-Research District. The O-R district is primarily intended to accommodate office, research & development activities in office-like settings.
    5. O-R-M, Office Research and Manufacturing District. The O-R-M district is primarily intended to accommodate office, research and development and limited manufacturing, processing and assembly activities.
    6. M-1, Light Manufacturing District. The M-1 district is primarily intended to accommodate office, research and employment uses, including very low-impact industrial activities.
    7. M-2, Restricted Manufacturing District. The M-2 district is primarily intended to accommodate office, research and employment uses, including low-impact industrial activities.

Sec 28.3.020 Allowed Uses

Principal uses are allowed in business and employment districts in accordance with Table 5-1. Only one principal building may be located on a single lot in the B, O and M districts.

(Ord. No. 5706, 7/10/18)

Sec 28.3.030 Lot And Building Regulations

The lot and building regulations of Table 3-2 apply to all principal uses and structures in B, O and M districts, except as otherwise expressly stated in this zoning ordinance. General exceptions to lot and building regulations and rules for measuring compliance can be found in Article XIV of this Chapter. Additional regulations governing accessory uses and structures can be found in DGMC Section 28.6.010. See also Figure 2-1.

Table 3-2: B, O and M District Lot and Building Regulations


RegulationsB-1B-2B-3O-RO-R-MM-1M-2

Minimum District Area (acres)
244105[1]66
L1Minimum Lot Area (square feet)
----20,00020,00020,000

Minimum Lot Area Per Dwelling Unit (square feet)
Same as R6-----

Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
0.400.750.750.75[2]0.80/1.00[3]1.001.00

Maximum Building Coverage (% of lot)
-----6060

Building Setbacks (feet)
S1 Street (see also Sec. 3.040)
25252575[6]35[7]35[7]35[7]
S2 Side (interior)-[4]-[4]-[4]30[6]10[8]10[8]20[7][9]
S3 Rear (residential floors)303030----
S3 Rear (nonresidential floors)-[5]-[5]-[5]50[6]10[8]10[8]20[7][9]

Min. Landscaped Open Space (% of lot)[10]
101010201510[11]10

Maximum Building Height (feet)
353560112126/140[3]37.537.5

Notes to Table 3-2:

[1] No minimum district area required north of Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway or to property zoned M-1 or M-2 on 10-25-1982.

[2] Buildings with a floor area ratio (FAR) in excess of one-half (0.50) are subject to the following:

(1) required parking for floor area in excess of one-half (0.50) FAR must be located underground or in parking garage and

(2) landscaped open space must be provided on at least twenty percent (20%) of the lot.

[3] South of Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway/North of Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

[4] On lots abutting R districts, minimum side setback of abutting R district must be provided, plus one foot (1') of additional setback for each foot of building height above twenty feet (20'). See Figure 3-1.

[5] On lots abutting rear lot line of property in R district, a minimum twenty foot (20') rear setback is required, plus one foot (1') of set-back per foot of building height above tweenty feet (20'). On lots abutting side lot line of property in R district, minimum side setback of abutting R district must be provided, plus one foot (1') of additional setback per foot of building height above twenty feet (20').

[6] Plus one foot (1') of additional setback for foot of building height above fifty feet (50').

[7] Plus one foot (1') of additional setback for each two feet (2') of building height above thirty-five feet (35').

[8] On lots abutting property in R district, a minimum thirty foot (30') setback is required, plus one foot (1') of additional setback for each two feet (2') of building height above twenty feet (20'). Parking must be set back at least fifteen feet (15') from abutting R district.

[9] Minimum seventy-five foot (75') setback required abutting R district.

[10] At least fifty percent (50%) of required landscaped open space must be located in the street yard.

[11] No minimum street yard landscaping required for properties abutting I-355 and frontage along west side of Thatcher Road.

Figure 3-1: Side Setbacks Abutting R Districts

Sec 28.3.040 Special Street Setback Requirements

Special street setback requirements are established to reflect existing neighborhood conditions, historical building patterns and other unique context issues. The special street setback requirements of Table 3-3 govern in the case of conflict with the lot and building regulations in Table 3-2.

Table 3-3: Special Street Setback Requirements in B, O and M District

Street Frontage or Area[1]B-1B-2B-3O-RO-R-MM-1M-2
Douglas Road (between Rogers Street and Maple Ave.)
-----10-
Inverness Road, North Side (between Belmont Road and Janes Ave.)
-----25-
Maple Avenue, South Side
----1010-
Ogden Avenue (from ROW centerline)
Principal and accessory buildings757575-7575[4]-
Canopy50[2]50[2]50[2]----
Other (e.g., parking, fences, light poles)505050[3]-5050[4]-
Second Street (between Wilcox Ave. and Cumnor Road)
-----60-
Warren Avenue, South Side (between Lee Street and Saratoga Ave.)
-----10[5]-

Notes to Table 3-3

[1] All setbacks measured in feet from lot line unless otherwise expressly indicated.

[2] Or eight feet (8') from lot line, whichever provides the greater setback. Vertical canopy supports subject to fifty-eight foot (58') minimum setback from ROW centerline. See Figure 3-2.

[3] Setback for parking and vehicle display reduced to eight feet (8') along non-Ogden (corner) street frontage.

[4] Setback reduced to eight feet (8') along non-Ogden (corner) street frontage.

[5] Applies only to lots that were classified for manufacturing uses as of January 1, 1950.

Figure 3-2: Canopy Setbacks

HISTORY
Amended by Ord. 5828 ZO revisions 2020 on 10/20/2020
Amended by Ord. 6116 Fairview Focus Area on 4/16/2025

Sec 28.3.050 Outdoor Display And Storage

  1. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this zoning ordinance, and except for temporary uses authorized in Chapter 4 of this Code, all allowed uses must be conducted with-in completely enclosed buildings.
  2. Outdoor storage is allowed only in the O-R-M, M-1 and M-2 districts.
    1. In O-R-M and M-1 districts, outdoor storage areas must be set back at least one hundred fifty feet (150') from all R districts and enclosed by a solid fence or wall eight feet 8') in height, including solid doors or gates.
    2. In M-2 districts, outdoor storage areas must be set back at least five hundred feet (500') from all R districts and enclosed by a solid fence or wall eight feet (8') in height, including solid doors or gates.

Sec 28.3.060 Generally Applicable Regulations

Uses and development in business and employment zoning districts may be subject to other regulations and standards, including the following.

  1. Nonconformities. See Article XI of this Chapter.
  2. Accessory Uses and Structures. See DGMC Section 28.6.010.
  3. Parking. See Article VII of this Chapter.
  4. Fences. See DGMC Section 28.10.010.
  5. Signs. See Article IX of this Chapter.
  6. Landscaping and Screening. See Article VIII of this Chapter.
  7. Outdoor Lighting. See DGMC Section 28.10.030.

5828

6116