Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, January 23, 2024
- When: Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 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/905313575
- Transcript: full text (16,333 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 a list of items, and passed two mayoral ordinances: technical corrections to the Chicago Construction Codes and a substitute ordinance on licensing of apprentice plumbers, plumbers and plumbing contractors. Building Department officials answered questions about life safety evaluations and sprinkler requirements during major rehabs, permit exemptions for bollards and planters, fee changes, and a revised occupant load factor for casino gaming floors. The committee approved a group of large sign permits and a series of map amendments, including sunsetting planned developments at 210 South Dearborn and on West Diversey Parkway, temporarily removing a pedestrian street designation on Milwaukee Avenue for a bank drive-through, a 587-unit development at 420 North May, a hotel at 1016-1020 West Lake, short-term lodging at 354 North Union, and several smaller residential and commercial rezonings. All items considered were passed by voice vote.
Topics: building code corrections, plumber licensing, sprinkler requirements, casino occupancy, large signs, zoning map amendments, planned developments, neighborhood opportunity fund, pedestrian streets, transit-oriented development
Agenda items discussed
- 25:03 Rule 45 report with minutes of the December hearing: passed
- 25:27 Deferral of listed map amendments and other items: deferred
- 31:18 Technical corrections and adjustments to the Chicago Construction Codes (O2023-0006384): passed
- 52:36 Substitute ordinance on licensing of apprentice plumbers, plumbers and plumbing contractors: passed
- 53:57 Large signs over 100 square feet in area or 24 feet above grade: passed
- 55:33 Rezoning of 210 South Dearborn Street from planned development to DC-16: passed
- 58:03 Rezoning of 601-609 West Diversey Parkway from planned development to B3-5: passed
- 1:00:33 Removal of pedestrian street designation on a segment of North Milwaukee Avenue: passed
- 1:02:51 Rezoning of 420 North May Street to a planned development: passed
- 1:08:30 Rezoning of 717-739 South Clark Street from DX-12 to DX-16: passed
- 1:10:45 Rezoning of 1016-1020 West Lake Street to a business planned development for a hotel: passed
- 1:15:45 Amendment to Planned Development 1320 at 354 North Union Avenue to add lodging: passed
- 1:19:51 Rezoning of 4161-4193 South Halsted Street from B3-2 to B2-2 for 14 single-family homes: passed
- 1:21:39 Rezoning of 2149-2159 South Paulina Street and 1658 West Cermak Road to C1-2: passed
- 1:23:42 Rezoning of 2015-2025 South Leavitt Street and 2158 West 21st Street to B2-5: passed
- 1:25:57 Rezoning of 135 North Kildare Avenue to POS-3 open space: passed
- 1:27:00 Rezoning of 2009 South Loomis Avenue from RM-4.5 to RM-5: passed
- 1:29:27 Rezoning of 2542 South Albany Avenue from RM-4.5 to RM-6: passed
- 1:31:42 Rezoning of 4910 West Harrison Street from RS-3 to RT-4: passed
- 1:32:54 Rezoning of 4735 West North Avenue from M1-1 to C1-1: passed
- 1:34:12 Rezoning of 2917-2935 West Lawrence Avenue from C1-2 to B2-3: passed
- 1:36:03 Rezonings of 6534 and 6536 South Dorchester Avenue from RS-2 to RT-4: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Said, as the alderperson immediately north of Diversey, that he also supports the 43rd Ward zoning change. (1:00:10); Asked what the previous use of the South Halsted property was. (1:21:15); Said the committee welcomes additional dwelling units included in the Dorchester Avenue project. (1:38:54)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Thanked the department for detail in the ordinance and asked whether any provisions were controversial. (34:51); Asked what the provision on life safety evaluation reports in connection with permitted work means. (35:39); Asked about a clarification that national certification is not required for certain crane operator licenses. (36:48)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked whether a contractor building several homes on private property would still need a general contractor license. (38:24); Asked for examples of work that would no longer require a building permit. (39:49)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Asked whether the fee schedule changes are revenue neutral and requested a side-by-side markup of old and new fees. (41:15); Asked how the permit exemption for bollards and planters affects efforts to install street furniture in the central business district. (43:15); Asked whether the change on structures in the public way applies to vaulted sidewalks. (45:27)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked whether the provision could mandate sprinkler retrofits in residential high-rises built before 1975 and when owners would be told sprinklers are required. (49:45)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said sunsetting the 210 South Dearborn planned development will address security concerns and that he supports it. (57:27); Said the Union Avenue amendment adds a small number of hotel rooms and green space and that he supports it. (1:19:24)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Said the pedestrian street designation would be temporarily lifted so a bank can permit a drive-through ATM and then restored, with support from Logan Square Preservation. (1:01:06)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said the 420 North May developer met community groups, reduced the building height and is working toward 30% affordable housing. (1:04:51); Said the West Lake hotel had community support and noted jobs and neighborhood opportunity fund payments from recent projects. (1:13:21)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked about publicly accessible open space at 420 North May and praised how the design incorporates community feedback. (1:05:48); Praised the West Lake hotel for exceeding the sustainable development policy points and adopting bird protection measures. (1:14:18)
Exchanges between members
- 1:05:48 La Spata said he agreed with what Burnett said about the 420 North May project before asking about open space.