Planning and Zoning Board
Shaping the Winthrop Harbor of tomorrow.
Every community is, in the end, the sum of the decisions its residents make together. The homes we build, the businesses we welcome, the open space we protect, the character of our lakefront and our neighborhoods - none of it happens by accident. It happens because people who care about this village sit down, study the questions in front of them, listen to their neighbors, and make thoughtful recommendations about what comes next.
That is the work of the Planning and Zoning Board.
Winthrop Harbor is a village with real momentum and real opportunity ahead of it. Decisions made at the Planning and Zoning Board table today will be visible on our streets for decades. We believe those decisions are best made in the open, with residents at the table and neighbors in the audience - not behind closed doors.
What the Board Does
The Planning and Zoning Board is the Village's land use body. It conducts public hearings on requests for zoning variations, hears appeals from decisions of the Zoning Administrator, and reviews other matters arising under the Village's zoning regulations. The Board makes written findings of fact and forwards its recommendations to the Village Board of Trustees, which takes final action. A variation the Planning and Zoning Board has recommended against requires a two-thirds vote of all Trustees to be approved - a reflection of how seriously the Village takes the Board's judgment.
Membership
The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Village President, each serving a five-year term. One member is designated as Chairperson and presides over public hearings and meetings while retaining full voting rights.
Get Involved
All meetings and hearings of the Planning and Zoning Board are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend and be heard. If you would like to be considered for appointment, please contact the Village Office at 830 Sheridan Road, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096.
Municipal Code Reference
Village of Winthrop Harbor Code of Ordinances, Chapter 32, §§ 32.01 – 32.08