Application Submission & Processing

• Online entry of applications and attachments is required.
• Please allow up to 5 business days for processing and response to your submission. 
• Once the submission has been reviewed, we will be in contact with you for payment of any filing fees.
• You may pay by credit card over the phone, or submit a check via US mail.   
• Once payment has been received, your application may be considered complete, and your case will be added to the Agenda for the next Commission meeting.  
• You may also be responsible for additional fees associated with the publication of Legal Notices required for your case.

Click below to view or download the application requirements in advance. 

These are for reference only.

• Site Plan Review
• Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning)
• Special Use Permit Application
• Variance Application

​Please add the following to the "Safe Senders" list in your email program:

• planning@cityblm.org
• comdev@cityblm.org

If you have problems with this form, or if you have not heard from us after 5 business days, please email planning@cityblm.org or call 309-434-2226 ext. 5.  

​Updated October 27, 2025

Please Note: Annexation may be pursued without an agreement if the subject property is contiguous, will be annexed in compliance with § 44-201 (Translation Zoning), and meets certain additional criteria outlined in § 8.5-201.

Before proceeding, we recommend discussing your case with a Planner or the Project Review Group.  

The Project Review Group (PRG) is a committee of specialized city staff that meets weekly to review and discuss complex projects as they are happening.  Developers are encouraged to meet with the Project Review Group early and often.  The PRG consists of representatives from the following divisions:

• Building Safety
• Economic Development 
• Engineering
• Fire
• Parks and Recreation
• Planning
• Public Works 
• Water

To set up a meeting time, please submit a PRG Meeting Request Form.

If you have questions about this process please call the Planning Division at 309-434-2226 ext. 5, or send an email to planning@cityblm.org.

City approval of a zoning request, including a Variance or Special Use, Permit does not override applicable deed restrictions in most cases. 

We strongly recommend you speak with the Planning Division and/or your Homeowner's Association before continuing your application.

Any changes to a licensee’s zoning, building, or ownership may affect certain types of license(s). 

Please contact the City Clerk to check for any additional process that may be required to retain or amend your license.

(309) 434-2509 ext. 6 or cityclerk@cityblm.org

Please provide documentation of consent for this application by the Property Owner. 

Examples include: a signed and dated letter of intent, a Contingent Purchase Agreement, or Authorization for Representation. A separate attachment is not required if approval is shown on one of the project attachents.

Please list additional contacts and parties to this application. 

Examples include: Additional property owners, lawyers, architects, engineers, and trustees.

If you do not know the current Zoning of the subject property, please see the McGIS Interactive Map Viewer at https://www.mcgis.org

You will need to make sure that the "Zoning" layer is turned on, then you may search by Street Address or PIN.

A Certificate of Appropriateness is required before many actions affecting the exterior architectural appearance of any landmark or property within a historic district may be undertaken. 

If your case has not already been heard by the Historic Preservation Commission, contact planning@cityblm.org or 309-434-2226 ext. 5 before proceeding with this application.

As indicated in Ch. 44, 17-9 Site plan review, an application for a site plan review may be made by any person, firm, or corporation, or by any office, department, board, bureau, or Commission requesting or intending to request application for a building permit or by the City Council or the City staff at the direction of the City Council.

Please review the requirements below. 

If any of the items listed below are not included in your application, it will not be considered complete. 

The site plan shall be prepared to scale and provide the following information on one or more sheets to permit the review of compliance with the relevant standards and provisions:

• Legal description, or common address and PIN;
• North-points;
• The boundary lines of the property in question;
• Size, location, height, number of stories, building design, and arrangement of proposed buildings and structures and existing buildings and structures;
• Locations and dimensions of proposed buildings and structures, the design and character of the building, elevations, exterior building materials and types of construction of all proposed buildings and structures;
• Existing buildings and land uses, contiguous land uses, natural topographic features, zoning districts, public thoroughfares, transportation, and utilities.
• Lot area, the required yards and setbacks, contour lines, common space, and the location, floor area ratio, lot area coverage and heights of buildings and structures, size, and location of proposed parking areas with dimensions of parking spaces and arrangement of bays and aisles and curb cuts, and with indication of the total number of spaces;
• Floor plans of all proposed buildings and structures. The drawings shall also include a schedule showing the number, type, and floor area of all uses or combinations of uses, and the floor area of the entire development.

These items may be uploaded as separate documents, or as a a single package.

Before proceeding, we recommend discussing your application with a Planner to answer any questions you have, and clarify the expectations of the application package.  

Please call the Planning Division at 309-434-2226 ext. 5, or send an email to comdev@cityblm.org

As indicated in Ch. 44, 17-6 Zoning Map (rezoning) and Text Amendments, the Planning Commission shall be guided by those purposes, standards, and objectives of the Zoning Code, and amendments shall not be recommended unless they are found to be in the public interest, and not solely for the benefit of the applicant.

Please provide a response for each of the Standards for Review below. 

Alternatively, you may provide an attachment that address each of the standards by uploading below, or emailing to planning@cityblm.org

As indicated in Ch. 44, 17-7 Special Uses, the Board of Zoning Appeals shall report to the Council its findings of fact and recommendations, including the stipulations of additional conditions and guarantees, when they are deemed necessary for the protection of the public interest or to meet the standards as specified herein.

Please provide a response for each of the factors the Board shall evaluate in making their Findings of Fact. 

Alternatively, you may provide an attachment that address each of the standards by uploading below, or emailing to planning@cityblm.org

In addition, Special Use Permits require that a full-size, legible site plan be submitted (§ 44-1707D(4).)

The site plan shall be prepared to scale and provide the following information on one or more sheets, to permit the review of compliance with the relevant standards and provisions:

• PIN(s) and either legal description or common address(s);
• North-points;
• The boundary lines of the property in question; 
• Location, width, and type of surface material of all existing and proposed sidewalks, pedestrian ways, driveways, parking areas, service areas, and recreation areas;
• Size, location, height, number of stories, building design, and arrangement of proposed buildings and structures and existing buildings and structures;
• Size and location of existing or proposed parking areas, with arrangement and dimensions of parking spaces and bays and aisles and curb cuts, and with indication of the total number of spaces;
• Size, location, and composition of all proposed fencing, refuse enclosures and landscaped screening material, if the project would result in new refuse enclosures or refuse enclosure changes;
• Landscaping plan indicating size, location, and general characteristics of plant materials as specified in Article XIII of this Zoning Ordinance, if the project would result in new landscaping or landscape changes;
• A site drainage plan for the proposed project if required by law, regulation, or established City policy;
• A photometric/lighting plan for the proposed project if the project would result in new exterior lighting or changes to exterior lighting.

Please review the requirements above.  If any of the items listed are applicable and are not included in your application, it will not be able to be considered complete.

Variances may be approved only in specific instances where all of the factors are met, and where there would be practical difficulties or particular hardships in carrying out the strict letter of the Code (§ 44-1708).

• Inconvenience and preference are not typically sufficient reasons for granting a Variance.
• Use Variations are not permitted.

Required Documents and Submittals:

• Short project description, including any waivers requested for the subject Use Provisions
• Property characteristics, including Parcel ID Number (PIN) and current zoning
• Legal description of the property, in text format
• Written consent from property owner, if not the same as the applicant
• Legible Site Plan, including property lines, proposed locations of new/changed structures, and other items relevant to this petition (see § 44-1707 for additional Site Plan requirements)
• Written statement addressing all of the “Findings of Fact” listed below.

Alternatively, you may provide an attachment that address each of the standards by uploading below and typing "attached" in the explanation boxes.

Please provide a response for each of the factors the Board shall evaluate in making their Findings of Fact. 

A pre-annexation meeting should be scheduled with City Staff as soon as it is determined that annexation will be proposed.

Any Conditions or inclusions of the Agreement that require a public hearing to execute must be heard prior to, or concurrently, with the hearings on the Agreement, and completed prior to execution of the Agreement.

Required Documents and Submittals:

• Legal descriptions, including Property/Real Estate Index Numbers (PINS), for ALL property(s) planned for annexation, immediately, or in the future.
• Legal descriptions, including PINS, of property(s) to be annexed immediately.
• Written consent from the property owner, if not the same as the applicant.
• Legible Site Plan, including property lines, proposed locations of new/changed structures, and other items relevant to the annexation.
• Area (in acres) of property(s) planned for annexation.
• Most recent equalized assessed valuation of the property to be annexed and the last year’s real property tax levied by the rural township (for corporate purposes and road and bridge tax).
• Written statement including:
  • Any conditions for, or in consideration of, annexation requested by the Petitioner.
  • The proposed zoning to be assigned upon annexation, and appropriateness of such.
• Evidence of consultation, as required by the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act and the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act.

An active Annexation Agreement must be in place before a Petition for annexation may be considered.

Before the Annexation Petition may be heard by the City Council a Petition, Owner's Certificate, and Affidavit and Proof of Service of Mailing must be submitted.

The Notice must be mailed at least 10 days prior to action being taken, but is not required at the time the application is submitted.

You may download Templates here:

• Draft Annexation Petition Template
• Draft Owners Certificate Template
• Draft Notice Template (to be completed, mailed, and certified by Applicant)

For ALL applications a Legal Description and Site Plan are required.

Site plans must be approximately to scale and key distances must be labeled.

For Chl. 44 Site Plan Review, make sure to include:

• Property boundaries, setbacks, height, and easements
• Schematic drawings/elevations
• Fencing and screening plans, including the location of refuse disposal areas
• The location and number of parking (car and bike) spaces, required and provided
• Drive aisle and circulation dimensions and directions
• Lanscaping plan, if required
• Site drainage plan, if required
• Photometric plan, if required

For Special Use Permits, make sure to include:

• The location and square footage allocated to each Use on the site
• The location and number of parking (car and bike) spaces, required and provided
• Additional plans (site, landscaping, photometric, fencing and screening, etc.), if  building or site conditios are changing

For Variances and Zoning Map Amendments, make sure to include:

• Property boundaries, setbacks, height - existing and proposed

To provide additional documentation, or files that are too large to attach here, please email planning@cityblm.org or call 309-434-2226 ex 5