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.

[rthorat]

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.

Sorry, just saw this thread. I looked up all this info extensively because it is talked about so much and everyone always says nonsense things.

1) The FAA requires notification of ANY structure built in the US over a certain height. I think it's 200 or 300 feet. Within a certain distance from a runway, that height notification requirement gets lower. In the NE corner of Great American, that height is slightly lower due to being right on the edge of the specified distance from the Waukegan runway.

2) There is NO specific limitation imposed by the FAA. You simply have to notify them so they can do an analysis of whether the building will interfere with air traffic. For Great America, anything less than 330 feet is not going to interfere since they already have something that tall. In reality, anything less than 500 feet is likely not an issue from the FAA's perspective, so the FAA is simply not a limitation on ride height at Great America.

3) The village has height restrictions as stated by others here. To go above that, the park needs a variance from the village. In practice, this variance is never going to be denied. Some parks have difficult relationships with their village/city. Great America does not. They are a key component of our village's financial health. The village is not necessarily their lapdog, but it's pretty close to that and for good reason. If they want to build 300 feet, no one will stop them.

4) As someone else stated, the stuff about American Eagle's helix is nonsense. I forget what the restrictions are. I think it was 100 feet from Washington and 250 feet from 294. Something like that. It might be lower than that. My recollection is that Eagle's helix at the end of the ride is about 50 feet from the no build area near Washington. So they could build something outside that helix if they need to. And the giant helix is 100-200 feet within the build area on both the Washington and 294 sides. They have a decent amount of room outside of Eagle they could work with. I may be recalling the exact distances wrong - it's been a while since I looked at it. But the bottom line is Eagle is well within the building restrictions. Also, the village is not the Gestapo. Even if Eagle were outside new restrictions, it's not like the village is going to lock the park into doing nothing just because of some technical rule. The village gives variances to residents when justified and gives variances to Great America every time they ask.

[JackGlass]

If Cedar fair wants to build a 300+ foot coaster at Great America within the next few years, I think that strip of land next to eagle is the most realistic spot. I always liked the way Orion looked behind racer. It would be awesome to have a T-Rex behind Eagle

[Goku1910]

And you think Eagle's queue walk is bad now.....imagine another behind it, assuming it even fit.

In all honesty, I think that area needs a redesign in general and it would probably cause the loss Johnny Rockets and a major overhaul of Kidz along with a new and less ridiculous Eagle Queue.

[JackGlass]

And you think Eagle's queue walk is bad now.....imagine another behind it, assuming it even fit.

In all honesty, I think that area needs a redesign in general and it would probably cause the loss Johnny Rockets and a major overhaul of Kidz along with a new and less ridiculous Eagle Queue.

Agreed, that whole area is in desperate need of a redesign. They did a great job with the Demon/Wrath area. I would like to see something done with the rest of county fair

After seeing what B&M was able to do with wrath. and RMC was able to do with Goliath. I have no doubt they could fit something on that land. If it's within all the height requirements and regulations.

But seriously, I would be happy to see Kidzopolis go, and the Eagles entrance and exit moved right here