SFGAm Building Restrictions

[lettuce]

First post here! Was just curious if anyone had actual concrete information on the building restrictions around the park. (Such as height limits and other building rules surrounding the park). I've heard countless rumors of not being able to build over 300ft cause of the airport but Sky Trek Tower is taller. I've heard rumors about Eagle's helix not being able to be touched cause of the highway, or washington street, or other crazy ideas.

So i'm just looking if anyone has any information on what building restrictions the park has that could limit future expansion/refurbishments. Thanks all!!

[Goku1910]

They can't build anything taller that STT and it's flag pole which is 330 Feet.

There are some other restrictions such as requiring a variance which is basically permission from the city of Gurnee. But these variance heights change depending on the location in the park the lowest variance I think is 125 feet but it only applies if it's within a certain distance of the residential area to the east.

That's what Rakshasa didn't need a variance.

[Galvan]

The stuff about American Eagle is utter and total nonsense.
Think about all the new warehouses and such that are closer to the street than American Eagle is. Not really sure where this "rumor" came from but its garbage.

As for height variances:

If the proposed structure is less than 500 feet from a residence:

A height variance is required for anything higher than 125 Feet tall (Up to the aforementioned 330 feet)

If the proposal is more than 500 feet from a residence:

A variance is required for anything higher than 200 feet tall (up to 330 feet of course)


This is why Rakshasha did not require a variance (that and it was already in an area that previously got a height variance (Deja Vu) same with Maxx Force as well. But why Goliath did in fact need a variance due to the proximity to residences/Old zoning requirements.

[ChicagoCoasterGuy]

Is the 330ft an actual Village ordinance?

The reason I’m asking is because a few years ago I looked into the height restrictions on the FAA website and most of the park is 400ft for the FAA. So technically unless it’s an actual village ordinance about the 330ft then they would be able to build over that height with village approval.

Unless I’m reading this wrong
But you can see the outline of where the airport is to the NE and that each block has a number on it. As it gets closer to the airport the number drops.





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[Goku1910]

Maybe that ceiling you speak of only applies to certain things, like the drone?

[staticshadows]

Screenshots from the village zoning ordinance.

[UnclePennybags]

On paper, Gurnee has a height limit of around 300 ft for any structure built in the village. However, what a lot of people don't know is Sandusky, Ohio has the same limit. So then why is it that Cedar Point has all those attractions taller than 300 feet?

I called Sandusky's engineering department before COVID and talked to them about this. In the case of Cedar Point, whenever they want to build a structure taller than 300 ft, they submit an application to the zoning board to obtain a variance to deviate from the standard zoning regulations. The engineer was unaware of any instance when Cedar Point was denied a variance. If Sandusky permits exceptions to their height restrictions, I see no reason why Gurnee wouldn't allow Great America to build taller than 300 feet, also.

However, one possible issue would be the proximity of Great America to the Waukegan airport. The park is inline with one of the runways and the NE corner of the park might have some height restrictions for this reason.

[GreatAmericanfox]

On paper, Gurnee has a height limit of around 300 ft for any structure built in the village. However, what a lot of people don't know is Sandusky, Ohio has the same limit. So then why is it that Cedar Point has all those attractions taller than 300 feet?

I called Sandusky's engineering department before COVID and talked to them about this. In the case of Cedar Point, whenever they want to build a structure taller than 300 ft, they submit an application to the zoning board to obtain a variance to deviate from the standard zoning regulations. The engineer was unaware of any instance when Cedar Point was denied a variance. If Sandusky permits exceptions to their height restrictions, I see no reason why Gurnee wouldn't allow Great America to build taller than 300 feet, also.

However, one possible issue would be the proximity of Great America to the Waukegan airport. The park is inline with one of the runways and the NE corner of the park might have some height restrictions for this reason.

That's probably why, in comparison to Cedar Point which is just on it's own small peninsula.