Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, November 30, 2023
- When: Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928576/video/889629786
- Transcript: full text (12,715 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards approved its Rule 45 report, deferred several items at the start and end of the meeting, and heard five public commenters, four of whom spoke on a proposed seven-story affordable housing development at 2907 West Irving Park Road. After presentations from the 33rd Ward office and the Department of Planning and Development, the committee passed the rezoning of 2907-2923 West Irving Park Road from RS-1 to B3-3. The committee also passed a group of large signs and numerous map amendments, including the unwinding of a planned development at 1601 North Halsted, rezonings for a community birth center at 8301 South Shore Drive, the legalization of basement units in several wards, a restaurant reuse at 1235 West Grand, and the Thrive Exchange affordable housing planned development at 79th Street and Exchange Avenue in the 7th Ward.
Topics: 2907 West Irving Park rezoning, Affordable housing, Large signs, Map amendments, Accessory dwelling units, Planned developments, Transit-oriented development, Public comment, Deferrals
Agenda items discussed
- 29:32 Rule 45 report containing minutes of the October hearing: passed
- 29:56 Deferral of items including 6714 South Stony Island, 1701-1709 West Grand, 354 North Union and 1812-1814 West Grand: deferred
- 45:29 Large signs over 100 square feet in multiple wards: passed
- 47:14 Rezoning of 2907-2923 West Irving Park Road from RS-1 to B3-3 (33rd Ward): passed
- 56:28 Rezoning of 1601-1611 North Halsted Street from planned development to B3-5 (2nd Ward): passed
- 58:47 Rezoning of 808-820 West 87th Street to B3-1 (21st Ward): passed
- 1:00:39 Rezoning of 934-940 North Western Avenue to B1-1 (36th Ward): passed
- 1:01:58 Rezoning of 812 North Western Avenue to B1-1 (36th Ward): passed
- 1:02:51 Rezoning of 8301-8303 South Shore Drive to B3-1 for a community birth center (10th Ward): passed
- 1:06:40 Rezoning of 2739 West Evergreen Avenue to RT-4 to legalize a basement unit (26th Ward): passed
- 1:09:18 Rezoning of 1051 West Cornelia Avenue to RM-5, amended to Type 1 (44th Ward): passed
- 1:11:22 Rezoning of 4619-4623 West 63rd Street to B1-1 (13th Ward): passed
- 1:13:02 Rezoning of 2156 West 21st Street to B2-5 (25th Ward): passed
- 1:15:45 Rezoning of 1805-1811 South Allport Street to C1-3 for Thalia Hall addition (25th Ward): passed
- 1:18:26 Rezoning on North Racine Avenue to DX-5 for rooftop residential addition (27th Ward): passed
- 1:22:12 Rezoning of 1235 West Grand Avenue to B3-3 for a restaurant (27th Ward): passed
- 1:25:58 Rezoning of 1141 North Austin Boulevard to RT-3.5 (29th Ward): passed
- 1:28:09 Rezoning of 2339 North Lister Avenue to RT-4 (32nd Ward): passed
- 1:30:04 Rezoning of 1418 North Luna Avenue to RT-3.5 (37th Ward): passed
- 1:31:55 Rezoning of 6845 West Addison Street to B3-1 for a banquet hall (38th Ward): passed
- 1:33:25 Rezoning of 5201 West Cullom Avenue to RT-4 (38th Ward): passed
- 1:35:08 Rezoning of 1935-1943 North Sedgwick to B3-2 for a restaurant (43rd Ward): passed
- 1:37:03 Rezoning of 3327-3335 North Lincoln Avenue to B3-3 for a mixed-use building (32nd Ward): passed
- 1:39:10 Rezoning of 2515 North Clybourn Avenue to RM-4.5 (32nd Ward): passed
- 1:40:26 Rezoning on North Western Avenue to B2-3 (47th Ward): passed
- 1:41:38 Rezoning of 4531 North Western Avenue to B2-3 (47th Ward): passed
- 1:43:52 Rezoning of 5173 South Archer Avenue to B3-1 (23rd Ward): passed
- 1:45:17 Rezoning of 2250-2256 West Irving Park Road and 4009 North Oakley Avenue, B3-3 Type 1 (47th Ward): passed
- 1:47:20 Residential business planned development for Thrive Exchange at 79th Street and Exchange Avenue (7th Ward): passed
- 1:55:39 Deferral of items in the 9th, 24th and 12th Wards: deferred
Alderpersons who spoke
- Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Noted that the 1051 West Cornelia item in the 44th Ward went through a process with neighbors. (1:10:52); Said he had spoken with the ward alderperson, who indicated support, and asked what business would occupy 1935 North Sedgwick. (1:36:19)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Described the 2907 West Irving Park proposal as a 100 percent affordable housing development reviewed through a community-driven zoning process. (47:39)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said the 2018 RS-1 downzoning of the Irving Park site prevented productive use, noted nearby B3-3 parcels, and said he would vote yes on the project. (54:26); Noted the 2739 West Evergreen rezoning legalizes an existing basement unit and said he looked forward to a citywide ADU policy in 2024. (1:08:12); Praised the Thrive Exchange project and asked about its sustainable development approach combining environmental and social equity. (1:53:12)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked whether the 2907 West Irving Park site is in a transit-oriented district. (56:02)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked why the developer at 1601 North Halsted decided not to proceed and whether it was the same project recently heard at the Plan Commission. (57:35); Said the 934-940 North Western rezoning is intended to ensure community input is obtained before development. (1:01:32); Said the 812 North Western rezoning similarly allows for community input on future development. (1:02:17)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Explained the 87th Street rezoning unifies a split-zoned parcel so a daycare can open and serve 21st Ward residents. (59:27)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said her ward's zoning committee requires a community process for zoning changes and that she supports the 2739 West Evergreen request. (1:07:53)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said the North Racine applicant met with several community organizations that supported the small rooftop addition, and asked for committee support. (1:20:51); Said the community meeting on 1235 West Grand showed full support for reusing an existing restaurant space and asked for committee support. (1:24:25)
Exchanges between members
- 1:08:40 Alderperson Daniel La Spata acknowledged Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes work on zoning changes to legalize ADUs in her ward.
- 1:09:03 The chair thanked Alderperson Daniel La Spata for his comments on ADU policy.