Palatine to Vote on Outdoor Collection Box Regulation

Update: The Palatine village council passed the ordinance April 7.

The Palatine village council will discuss Monday amending an ordinance regulating donation boxes throughout the village.

According to village documents, the zoning ordinance does not regulate the placement of collection boxes and it is unclear as to whether the property owner's approval is always obtained prior to placing the boxes.

The proposed amendments would limit the placement of these boxes to properties used for educational, institutional, religious or not-for-profit uses. No more than two boxes would be permitted on one single property and the boxes would have to identify both the not-for-profit status of the entity and the operator's contact information, in the instance of any maintenance issues.

The collection bins would have to pass an administrative review before being placed on property and donated materials or items could not be stored or left outside the box. Any nonconforming existing boxes would have until December 31,2012 to either come into compliance with the ordinance requirements or be removed.

The village council is expected to vote on the matter May 7.