1928 - Established as a single family residential development.
(Residences were built before zoning was established.)
1961 - Zoning ordinance states that single family residences were made nonconforming, but mobile homes were permitted.
1973 - County zones western 3/4th of area I-1, Light Industrial and eastern 1/4th I-2, Heavy Industry following pattern established by City of Champaign
1977 - The zoning of the Wilber Heights neighborhood was reconsidered in a Zoning Map Amendment Case (236-AM-77). It sought to rezone the entire neighborhood to R-2, Single Family Residence. The 1977 rezoning was denied due to its impact on the numerous commercial and industrial uses in the neighborhood by rendering them nonconforming.
5-9-1977 - The Eastern Prairie Fire Department petitions the Planning and Zoning Committee to change status of Wilbur Heights to R-2 (Residential). It was denied on all counts.
County briefly considers and subsequently abandones and effort to find a third alternative by creating a "Transition to Industrial" zoning district. It would have legalized all existing uses in the area.
1991 - Frank DiNovo proposes an "limited interim measure which would enhance the use value of residential property in Wilber Heights without substantially contributing to the survival of the existing nonconforming uses." That measure fails.
2010 - No changes have been made to the ordinance. All homes are still deemed "non-conforming."
Thanks for bringing this story to light. Why is it that we care about all the wrong things and don't make the time to look into stories that really matter?
ReplyDeleteThough it looks like I wrote this about my own story -- it was my father... accidently signed under my name, who wrote it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support, Dad :)