Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, October 12, 2023
- When: Thu, Oct 12, 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/manage/videos/873456725
- Transcript: full text (16,340 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 amended September Rule 45 report, deferred a list of zoning matters, and heard four public commenters on a community garden, meeting start times, a proposed downzoning on West 5th Avenue, and zoning for the Ramova Theater. Members recommended landmark designation of the Eugenie Lane Apartments in the 2nd Ward, a landmark fee waiver in the 4th Ward, and a batch of large sign permits. The committee recommended passage of more than 30 zoning map amendments across many wards, including downzoning parts of West 5th Avenue in East Garfield Park, a Lawndale Christian Health Center expansion, a Habitat for Humanity home in West Pullman, and an LVEJO office and community kitchen in Little Village, often after the local alderperson spoke in support. Several items, including one West 5th Avenue rezoning, were deferred.
Topics: zoning map amendments, landmark designation, sign permits, downzoning, affordable housing, community engagement, commercial corridors
Agenda items discussed
- 1:24:04 September Rule 45 report, amended to reflect Alderman Brian Hopkins attendance: passed
- 1:25:06 Deferral of listed zoning matters on agenda pages 13-17: deferred
- 1:36:04 Chicago Landmark designation of the Eugenie Lane Apartments, 235 W. Eugenie Street (2nd Ward): passed
- 1:39:26 Historical landmark fee waiver (4th Ward): passed
- 1:40:09 Large signs over 100 square feet in multiple wards: passed
- 1:42:01 Zoning files 22271 and 22272, 4724-44 S. Cicero Avenue and 4841-57 W. 47th Street, B3-1 to C2-1 (22nd Ward): passed
- 1:47:16 Zoning amendment for 1554 and 1559 S. Kedzie Avenue, B3-2 to B2-1, as substituted (24th Ward): passed
- 1:50:19 Zoning amendment for 6702-6760 W. 65th Street, RT-4 to RS-2 (13th Ward): passed
- 1:53:21 Zoning amendments A-8848 and A-8849, 3509-3519 S. Halsted Street, to B3-2 (11th Ward): passed
- 1:55:30 Zoning file 22244, 6724-28 N. Rockwell Street, RS-3 to RT-3.5 (50th Ward): passed
- 1:57:39 Zoning file 22265, 5726 N. Northwest Highway, M1-1 to M2-1 (45th Ward): passed
- 1:59:54 Zoning amendment for 6558 N. Milwaukee Avenue, B3-1 to B2-2 (41st Ward): passed
- 2:03:54 Zoning file 22257, 1001 N. Milwaukee Avenue, B1-2 to B2-3 (27th Ward): passed
- 2:07:53 Zoning file 22270, 345 W. Armitage Avenue, B1-2 to C1-2 (43rd Ward): passed
- 2:10:05 Zoning file 22267, 4903 W. Diversey Avenue, B1-2 to C2-1 (31st Ward): passed
- 2:12:35 Zoning file 22262-T1, 5338-40 N. Lincoln Avenue, B3-2 to B3-3 (40th Ward): passed
- 2:15:18 Zoning file 22275, 4306 N. Central Avenue, C1-1 to C2-1 (38th Ward): passed
- 2:17:31 Zoning file 22269, 3015 N. Normandy Avenue, RS-2 to RS-3 (36th Ward): passed
- 2:19:05 Zoning file 20686-T1, 1812-1814 W. Grand Avenue (36th Ward): deferred
- 2:19:52 Zoning amendment A-8839, 3049-3127 and 3064-3134 W. 5th Avenue (28th Ward): deferred
- 2:20:28 Zoning amendments A-8838 and A-8840, West 5th Avenue, C1-2 to RT-4 (28th Ward): passed
- 2:23:16 Zoning file 22274-T1, 2014-16 N. Bissell Street, RT-4 to RM-5.5 (43rd Ward): passed
- 2:25:43 Zoning file 22261, 2736 W. Chicago Avenue, C1-2 to B2-2 (36th Ward): passed
- 2:28:21 Zoning file 22242-T1, 2469-2471 N. Clybourn Avenue, M1-2 to RM-4.5 (32nd Ward): passed
- 2:32:51 Zoning file 22259, 6700 S. Wabash Avenue, RS-3 to C2-1 (6th Ward): passed
- 2:35:26 Zoning file 22240, 1717-23 N. Ashland Avenue, M1-2 to M2-2 (32nd Ward): passed
- 2:37:03 Zoning file 22243, 911 N. Mozart Street, RT-4 to RM-4.5 (26th Ward): passed
- 2:39:04 Zoning file 22263, 1626-1632 N. California Avenue, B3-1 to B2-2 (26th Ward): passed
- 2:43:27 Zoning file 22276-T1, 713-715 W. 19th Place, RT-4 to B2-3 (25th Ward): passed
- 2:47:46 Zoning file 22260-T1, West Ogden Avenue, C1-2 to C1-3, Lawndale Christian Health Center (24th Ward): passed
- 2:51:02 Zoning file 22273, 3948 W. 66th Street, RS-2 to B1-1 (23rd Ward): passed
- 2:54:00 Zoning file 22268, 656 W. 123rd Street, B3-1 to RT-4, Habitat for Humanity (21st Ward): passed
- 2:59:18 Zoning files 22030 (12th Ward) and 22264 (23rd Ward): deferred
- 3:00:04 Zoning file 22266, 6058 W. 63rd Street, RS-2 to B3-1 (13th Ward): passed
- 3:03:49 Zoning file 22252, 3657 W. 31st Street, RS-3 to B3-2, amended to Type 1, LVEJO (22nd Ward): passed
- 3:07:23 Zoning file 22253, 447 E. 111th Place, M1-2 to M2-2 (9th Ward): passed
- 3:09:02 Zoning file 22256-T1, 6453 S. Bell Avenue, M1-2 to B3-2 (16th Ward): passed
- 3:11:31 Zoning file 22258-T1, 3354 S. Wallace Street, RS-3 to RT-4 (11th Ward): passed
- 3:13:47 Zoning amendment for 319 E. 103rd Street: deferred
Alderpersons who spoke
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (chair): Said items would be grouped and heard by witness rather than in ward order to keep the meeting moving. (1:41:49)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Supported the Olympus Properties rezoning, describing the owners as a multigenerational local business that maintains its property. (1:45:56); Supported LVEJO's rezoning for offices and a community kitchen, citing new nonprofit investment in Little Village. (3:05:52)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Said she supports the Kedzie Avenue rezoning for new homes. (1:48:00); Supported the Lawndale Christian Health Center expansion for a residency clinic and senior and eye services, noting a lack of parking. (2:49:45)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Said neighbors requested downzoning a neglected, rodent-infested property to single-family zoning matching their own. (1:50:46)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked whether the existing zoning on 65th Street prohibits the single-family development residents want. (1:51:35); Asked whether a 41st Ward rezoning from B3 to B2 was meant to allow ground-floor residential use. (2:01:51); Asked how artist live-work space differs from adding ground-floor residential space on a commercial corridor. (2:27:10)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said the community group supports the 1001 N. Milwaukee conversion and the developer agreed to a voluntary affordable unit at his office's request. (2:07:16)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Supported rezoning for a three-generation truck repair business in Belmont Cragin, saying it employs neighborhood residents and neighbors were consulted. (2:11:17)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said the West 5th Avenue area in East Garfield Park is now mainly residential and that downzoning from commercial to RT-4 fits the community and new affordable housing. (2:21:12)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Spoke in support of the auto storage rezoning for a local tire and auto business, saying neighbors like the owner. (2:34:56)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said the 911 N. Mozart applicants received overwhelming support from her advisory zoning committee and she supports the change. (2:38:27); Said the 1626 N. California developers adjusted unit mix and sizes after feedback from her advisory zoning committee and she supports the project. (2:42:01)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Thanked Habitat for Humanity for restoring housing in West Pullman, praised its homeowner support services, and moved passage. (2:57:11)
Exchanges between members
- 1:51:35 La Spata asked Quinn whether existing zoning prohibits single-family homes, and Quinn said residents want only single-family zoning.
- 1:52:09 Quinn answered La Spata that the request reflects residents wanting only single-family homes.
- 2:58:05 La Spata responded to Mosley's remarks about Habitat's income levels, calling the work laudable.