NORMAL - Drive-through lanes at pharmacies, banks and restaurants could become a memory along much of the Main Street Corridor. So could tall signs and gasoline stations. | Car dealer wants proposed boundary changed

Those are among the proposed guidelines Farr Associates of Chicago is recommending for development along the corridor, which stretches from Raab Road in north Normal to Veterans Parkway in south Bloomington and includes Main Street and parts of Kingsley and Center streets.

"It certainly represents a dramatic departure from the traditional zoning we're used to," said Normal City Manager Mark Peterson.

But the recommendations are only that, he said.

The Normal Planning Commission will host a public meeting to get input on the proposed code at 5 p.m. Jan. 8. The commission likely will have a public hearing Feb. 5. The City Council would have the final say on any guidelines.

"We're hopeful we'll get substantial public input," Peterson said. "Property owners and potential land developers will have the opportunity to see the proposed code and raise concerns so we can consider adjustments.

"We want to be sure there is full understanding and full airing of concerns before (the code) is adopted," he said.

As proposed, business drive-through lanes would be allowed only at the far north end of Normal and the far south end of Bloomington, said Normal town planner Mercy Davison.

"The primary goal is to minimize the conflict with drive-through traffic and pedestrians in pedestrian-oriented areas," Davison said.

The proposed code, including a map, is available at www.normal.org.

If approved, the change typically only would affect new construction. Existing businesses would not be affected unless they planned significant building changes or, for instance, had to rebuild after a fire or other disaster.

Another dramatic change proposed by Farr would limit outdoor advertising pole signs to a maximum height of 8 feet and monument signs up to 10 feet, Davison said.

Currently, part of Main Street in Normal is considered a "high-rise sign corridor" and allows signs up to 75 feet tall. Elsewhere along the corridor, signs are 20 feet or 30 feet. Height was determined by the speed limit along the stretch of the road.

"It's a dramatic change," Davison said.

The proposed code also encourages a lot of down zoning. "There's still commercial, but there would be different building styles and fewer uses," Davison said.

Farr Associates was hired by Normal and Bloomington to develop coding to guide development along the corridor. The process took about a year and is part of an effort by the two municipalities, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University to create a welcoming corridor through the Twin Cities.

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Main Street meetings

Bloomington and Normal planning commissions plan public meetings on the Main Street Corridor plan. The meetings are:

- Bloomington Planning Commission hearing, 4 p.m. Jan. 14, Bloomington City Hall, 109 E. Olive St.

- Normal Planning Commission public meeting, 5 p.m. Jan. 8, Normal City Hall, 100 E. Phoenix Ave. The commission likely will have a public hearing Feb. 5.