Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, May 20, 2025
- When: Tue, May 20, 2025, 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/1085776205
- Transcript: full text (26,214 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 deferred a list of items, heard about 30 minutes of public comment, and was shown a demonstration of a new committee website. Members passed the Chicago Landmark designation of the former Wax Trax! record store at 2449 North Lincoln Avenue, a large-sign package, Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley text amendment on residential storage warehouses, and four map amendments for the Department of Planning and Development's missing middle housing initiative in the 6th, 7th and 21st Wards. The planned development amendment for 700 West Chicago Avenue was held after Alderpersons Reilly and Beale asked to hear from or see a letter from the ward's alderperson, and it was not taken up again before adjournment. The committee passed numerous other map amendments and planned development amendments, including the 2235 West Oakdale townhome development, a community land trust building at 2638 West Courtland, a 23-story residential building at 1333 North Kingsbury, a dominoes social club on Division Street, and townhomes at 6659 North Kedzie, and deferred two items at applicants' or members' request.
Topics: landmark designation, missing middle housing, residential storage warehouses, planned developments, affordable housing, community land trust, map amendments, public comment, cumulative impacts ordinance, accessory dwelling units
Agenda items discussed
- 31:30 Deferral of listed items, including 1500 North Halsted, 5353 South Archer and a text amendment (O2025-0016695): deferred
- 33:34 Public comment: discussed
- 1:01:32 Presentation of new Chicago zoning committee website: discussed
- 1:08:54 Approval of Rule 45 report for April 2025 hearing: passed
- 1:09:43 Chicago Landmark designation of Wax Trax! Records, 2449 North Lincoln Avenue: passed
- 1:18:10 Large signs over 100 square feet: passed
- 1:20:17 Text amendment on residential storage warehouses in B3, C1, C2, C3 and DX districts (Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley) (O2025-0016754): passed
- 1:22:22 Missing middle map amendments in the 6th, 7th and 21st Wards: passed
- 1:29:57 Map amendment A-8972, 3312-3328 West Lake Street (28th Ward): passed
- 1:33:04 Planned development 1399 amendment, 700 West Chicago Avenue (27th Ward): held
- 1:44:26 1416 North Maplewood Avenue (1st Ward): passed
- 1:47:43 2338-58 North Seeley Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 1:49:57 Waterway residential planned development 1127 amendment, 2235-49 West Oakdale Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 1:54:35 2006 South Allport Street (25th Ward): passed
- 1:56:20 2959 North Pulaski Road (31st Ward): passed
- 1:58:29 2638 West Cortland Street community land trust building (1st Ward): passed
- 2:04:11 1333 North Kingsbury Avenue planned development (27th Ward): passed
- 2:06:23 Planned development 1263 amendment to allow daycare, 727 North Milwaukee Avenue (27th Ward): passed
- 2:12:00 1258 East 79th Street cut-and-sew facility (8th Ward): passed
- 2:17:57 4534 South Cottage Grove Avenue recording studio (4th Ward): passed
- 2:21:52 2718 North Ashland Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 2:25:05 3362 North Narragansett Avenue (36th Ward): passed
- 2:28:26 1244 West Roscoe Street (44th Ward): passed
- 2:32:31 3649 South Emerald Avenue (11th Ward): passed
- 2:33:54 4601-25 West 47th Street (14th Ward): deferred
- 2:34:21 3301-05 West 55th Street (14th Ward): passed
- 2:37:59 4329 South Wood Street (15th Ward): passed
- 2:39:58 1651 South California Avenue (24th Ward): passed
- 2:42:04 2556-58 West Division Street dominoes social club (26th Ward): passed
- 2:47:56 2017 North Kimball Avenue, Armitage Produce parking expansion (26th Ward): passed
- 2:53:28 4226 North Milwaukee Avenue (45th Ward): passed
- 2:56:38 2236 West 23rd Place (25th Ward): passed
- 2:58:32 1736 North Winchester Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 3:00:07 1923 West Cortland Street tavern addition (32nd Ward): passed
- 3:01:43 3238 North Elston Avenue (33rd Ward): passed
- 3:03:15 North Delphia Avenue (38th Ward): deferred
- 3:04:16 1118 West Fullerton Avenue (43rd Ward): passed
- 3:07:30 6200 West Higgins Avenue grocery store (45th Ward): passed
- 3:09:24 2218 North Clybourn Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 3:11:02 2212-2214 North Clybourn Avenue outdoor patio (32nd Ward): passed
- 3:14:14 6659 North Kedzie Avenue townhomes (50th Ward): passed
- 3:19:20 6640 South Halsted Street (16th Ward): passed
- 3:20:53 Planned development 1379 amendment to allow medical uses, Ravenswood (47th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Asked whether the Biograph Theater or other buildings on the block are landmarks. (1:17:40); Confirmed the off-site affordable units for the Oakdale project would be in the 32nd Ward near the development. (1:54:05); Asked whether residential use is barred in C2 or only in C3 districts. (1:58:07)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Expressed strong support for the Wax Trax landmark designation, calling the building a unique piece of music and LGBTQ history. (1:16:34); Said he had updated his ward's letter of no objection for 1118 West Fullerton within the last hour. (3:06:03)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Presented his text amendment on residential storage warehouses as a way to avoid oversaturation and keep commercial development opportunities balanced. (1:21:09); Said the 21st Ward welcomes the missing middle rezoning in Morgan Park and that it will strengthen the 111th Street business corridor. (1:28:20)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said it is standard committee practice for the alderperson of record to appear or file a letter of support on a project of this impact, and that he was not trying to complicate things for the applicant. (1:43:08)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Questioned proceeding without testimony from the ward alderperson and recommended holding the 700 West Chicago item until the committee hears from him. (1:42:11)
- Anthony J. Quezada (alderperson): Asked whether sites for the six off-site affordable units for the Oakdale townhomes had been identified and when they would be built. (1:53:03); Asked the average price of the land trust homes and voiced full support, praising the land trust as an example of equitable development. (2:02:10)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Congratulated the land trust and said its model is what gentrifying neighborhoods need. (2:03:05); Supported the Division Street dominoes club as a cultural space that fills a long-vacant corner in the Puerto Rican cultural district. (2:44:49); Supported the Armitage Produce rezoning after an eight-month community process, noting the business engaged affordable housing groups. (2:51:47)
- Walter R. Burnett (chair): Said the 1333 North Kingsbury project had a community meeting with no objections and asked for the committee's support. (2:05:43); Said the daycare amendment was presented to Neighbors of River West and asked for support. (2:11:00)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Asked about the retail tenant and parking for the gym planned at 1118 West Fullerton. (3:06:15); Described the Kibitz Nest as a valued community asset and supported its patio rezoning. (3:13:00)
- James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Said his community fully supports reestablishing a grocery store at 6200 West Higgins. (3:08:51)
- Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Supported the 6659 North Kedzie townhome development, citing community support and a need for more housing. (3:18:34)
Exchanges between members
- 1:29:12 Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley noted that he and Vice Chair Bennett R. Lawson share the city's only UFC gyms near the missing middle area.
- 1:41:33 Alderperson Brendan Reilly asked the presiding vice chair whether Alderperson Walter R. Burnett was present and his position on 700 West Chicago.
- 1:42:11 Alderperson Anthony Beale asked the presiding vice chair to confirm the ward alderperson was not testifying and recommended holding the item.
- 2:02:59 Alderperson Anthony J. Quezada thanked the vice chair after his remarks on the land trust.
- 2:06:13 The presiding vice chair thanked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett for his remarks on 1333 North Kingsbury.
- 2:11:47 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett thanked the vice chair for his help presiding.
- 2:47:34 The chair thanked Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes for her background on the dominoes club.