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Oak Park currently has two vacant church buildings which sit in residential neighborhoods. But with church attendance declining across America, the prospect that the village will face additional empty churches in the years ahead led village officials to attempt to get in front of the issue with a zoning change which would allow additional uses of such spaces. But at a July 31 village board meeting, being proactive on one topic crashed directly into Oak Park’s most enduring challenge. Parking.Churches, which typically draw crowds during only limited hours of the week, are not bound by existing off-street parking requirements. But a church building potentially converted into a fitness studio, music venue or school, possible uses being considered by the village, would need to provide some amount of parking or be granted a waiver.

United statesVicki scamanRavi parakkatSusan buchananLucia robinsonIris simsCory wesleyCraig failorParkview churchPlan commissionHistoric preservation commissionSpirit community churchOak parkTrustee cory wesleyVillage planner craigNew spirit community church