OPCAN Statement on Shape Oak Park
Currently, the debate over zoning changes as proposed in Shape Oak Park has focused on concerns over loss of single family homes, property values, and neighborhood cohesion. Oak Park Climate Action Network (commonly known as OPCAN) is focused on the question of how zoning changes will address environmental sustainability and climate change. With that in mind, we support a revised zoning ordinance that:
Facilitates higher density and smaller housing units, which translate into fewer emissions per capita and lower emissions intensity for Oak Park over time.
Sustains Oak Park’s electrification ordinance, which requires all new construction to be all-electric, eliminating the use of methane gas, commonly used to heat and cook. This ordinance reduces climate pollution overall, improves indoor air quality for residents, and reduces the incidence of asthma attacks.
Encourages more public transit-oriented development which allows for more opportunities to walk for errands, entertainment, and moving around the Village. This kind of housing development decreases the demand for cars, for parking, and the need for single-occupancy vehicle trips, reducing per-capita transportation emissions.
The current proposal for Shape Oak Park does all of the above. In addition, we suggest the following issues be addressed in Village building codes and zoning:
Require current tree canopy and high-quality green space to be maintained under revised zoning, as indicated in the Village’s Green Infrastructure Plan. Green infrastructure, such as trees, native gardens and parkways, and permeable pavement, reduce the impact of extreme rain events, cool urban heat islands, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance biodiversity.
Preserve existing building structures and the energy used to produce construction materials, also known as embodied energy, when it is feasible. The greenest building is the one that is already built, and existing structures can be made greener through enhanced weatherization and electrification. Thoughtful guardrails on the volume of demolitions in our village, alongside existing Village-sponsored sustainability grants and energy roadmaps created for homes by the Oak Park Energy Navigator (otherwise known as OPEN), can help encourage low-emissions renovation for existing housing stock.
Protect already existing rooftop solar so that any new construction would not shade the solar installation. Climate Ready Oak Park supports residential solar installations. We want to ensure these investments continue to accumulate their emissions reductions.
OPCAN recognizes the desirability of Oak Park, its values, culture, location, and historical housing stock. Our mission is to eliminate our community’s contribution to the global climate crisis through equitable policies and practices. We believe that this revised zoning ordinance can accomplish this goal, particularly if the issues of green infrastructure and embodied energy are explicitly addressed. Combined with other policies and programs, such efforts can increase climate resilience and justice in Oak Park.
Signed,
Susan Buchanan
Laura Derks
Derek Eder
Wendy Greenhouse
Cindy Klein-Binai
McLouis Robinet
Amy Rosenthal
Pamela Tate
Oak Park Climate Action Organizers