Backed by a group of five members, the Waukegan City Council will soon vote on legislation to exempt commercial property owners from parking lot landscaping requirements despite a major overhaul coming to all development laws next year. Ald. Victor Felix, 4th Ward, said he first proposed the parking lot legislation in August and believes those regulations in their current form hurt business growth. He has no objection to the inclusion of his ideas in the new ordinance.
“The opportunities we have to improve the aesthetics of our community creates opportunities for economic development. Those opportunities come up when someone wants to do something with their property.” Kischer-Lepper said since the parking regulations are part of the Comprehensive Development Ordinance, the efficient time to make these changes is when a draft is available to the council for discussion early next year. Turner, Felix, Ald. Michael Donnenwirth, 7th Ward, Ald. Jose A.