Village of Bartlett Modernizes Downtown Area Zoning with RTA Funding

The Bartlett Village Board recently voted unanimously to adopt new zoning regulations for guiding development surrounding the Village’s downtown Metra station. The revised zoning code implements a recommendation in the Bartlett Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan, completed in 2016 in partnership with the RTA Community Planning Program.

The RTA has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the Village of Bartlett and the agency is proud to support this new zoning change with the goal of further enhancing Bartlett’s downtown area. Implementing these strategies from the Village’s plan will provide countless benefits to both Bartlett’s residents and visitors alike, and the RTA will continue assisting the Village as it implements other recommendations from the TOD plan.

Building on strategies previously implemented by the Village to create a stronger sense of place in the downtown area, this revised zoning code focuses on regulating the design, placement and scale of buildings as well as the design of streets and public spaces to encourage foot traffic and foster a community environment.

“With the help of the RTA grant, the Village of Bartlett adopted positive zoning changes that will enable us to reshape our downtown. Incorporating these changes will simplify the development process for new and existing businesses and provide a boost for our economic development,” said Village President Kevin Wallace. “I see a future downtown Bartlett that is more commuter and pedestrian friendly, more inviting for shoppers and diners, and a more vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike.”

Benefits of the updated zoning for the Village of Bartlett include:

Increased flexibility in regulating the development and redevelopment of smaller and historic lots in the downtown area
A more streamlined and less restrictive zoning and development review process, which is attractive to developers
Opportunities for modern, mixed-use types of development that previously may have been more difficult to achieve
A development approach that other communities have used successfully to increase residential and commercial activity downtown

In addition to the partnership with Bartlett, the RTA Community Planning Program has over the past two decades supported more than 190 planning and implementation projects funded with $210 million from combined RTA, local, and federal sources.