Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, December 12, 2023
- When: Tue, Dec 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/showcase/8928576/video/893421397
- Transcript: full text (11,163 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, presided over by Vice Chair Bennett R. Lawson, approved its Rule 45 report, deferred three listed items, and heard four public commenters, including craft brewing representatives supporting outdoor seating for taprooms and a speaker objecting to new meeting conduct rules. Before public comment, a member raised concerns that new meeting rules had not been voted on, and a Law Department representative said the chair has discretion to set conduct rules for the meeting. The committee passed an ordinance allowing grade-level and rooftop outdoor patios for eating and drinking establishments in manufacturing districts, an ordinance letting type 1 zoning map amendments include council-approved variations and administrative adjustments, and a landmark designation for 2678 West Washington Boulevard. It also passed a series of map amendments in the 9th, 10th, 13th, 24th, 26th, 35th, 36th and 37th Wards, with Alderperson Daniel La Spata recorded as voting no on the 9th Ward rezoning.
Topics: outdoor dining, craft breweries, manufacturing districts, zoning process reform, landmark designation, zoning map amendments, meeting conduct rules
Agenda items discussed
- 25:05 Approval of the Rule 45 report for the November hearing: passed
- 25:37 Deferral of zoning items at 4730 West 79th Street, 1701-1709 West Grand Avenue, and 208-222 North Halsted Street / 818 West Lake Street: deferred
- 40:39 Amendment of Municipal Code sections 17-5-0200 and 17-5-0207 regarding standards for rooftop and grade-level outdoor dining in manufacturing districts (O2023-0005763): passed
- 48:16 Amendment adding section 17-13-0303-D for optional administrative adjustments and variations in type 1 applications (O2023-0005759): passed
- 54:42 Chicago Landmark designation of 2678 West Washington Boulevard (O2023-0005896): passed
- 1:04:12 Reversion rezoning of 3863-3909 North Drake Avenue (35th Ward): passed
- 1:05:51 Rezoning of 5710-5718 South Central Avenue to B3-1 (13th Ward): passed
- 1:07:37 Rezoning of 5034-5048 West Chicago Avenue to B3-3 for a medical clinic and community building (37th Ward): passed
- 1:09:20 Rezoning of 319 East 103rd Street to RS-2 (9th Ward): passed
- 1:11:05 Three related rezonings amending Residential Planned Development 793 on West Roosevelt Road and West Grenshaw Street (24th Ward): passed
- 1:14:31 Rezoning of 1429 North Fairfield Avenue to add a basement unit (26th Ward): passed
- 1:16:51 Rezoning of 10301-10347 South Torrence Avenue to C2-2 (10th Ward): passed
- 1:18:50 Rezoning of 812-814 West Grand Avenue to B1-3 for a mixed-use building (36th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Echoed support for the administrative adjustment ordinance as a way to cut red tape for development and small businesses and thanked co-sponsors and planning staff. (51:52)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Said he was happy to co-sponsor the outdoor dining ordinance, thanked the Restaurant Association, and said breweries in the 35th Ward could add outdoor seating. (46:22); Said lengthy approvals delay investment in neighborhoods and supported the administrative adjustment ordinance as a co-sponsor. (51:17); Explained that a 35th Ward parcel is reverting to its prior zoning because the developer did not pull permits within two years of a type 1 rezoning. (1:04:37)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked whether businesses must have participated in the prior outdoor dining program or could apply new under the ordinance. (42:36)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Said making expanded outdoor dining permanent was one of the term's best ordinances and that this change addresses an issue left out earlier, providing relief to local businesses. (43:38)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Said the retirement of pandemic programs unintentionally excluded breweries in manufacturing districts from outdoor patios and that the ordinance corrects this. (44:50); Thanked a 39th Ward brewery owner and the Peterson Pulaski industrial council for advocating for the ordinance and asked for favorable consideration. (45:44)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Noted that the craft brewing industry began in industrial areas of what is now the 2nd Ward and supported the amendment to help the industry after COVID. (47:11)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Praised the administrative adjustment ordinance for letting more development approvals happen in the zoning committee instead of a parallel Zoning Board of Appeals process. (50:02); Asked why 319 East 103rd Street, which appeared to be a beauty supply shop, was being rezoned to residential. (1:10:12)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked whether the administrative adjustment ordinance would reduce council oversight of design issues such as setbacks, height and parking. (52:34); Said she had worked in the 2678 West Washington building with Volunteers of America and commended the landmark designation. (1:02:32)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Described the 103rd Street rezoning as a routine change for future land use planning and asked for support. (1:09:39); Said the 103rd Street property is empty. (1:10:28)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Said the planned development changes would allow construction to begin, including a sit-down restaurant, on parcels originally planned for high-rise buildings. (1:12:46)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said she respects projects that went through a community process in the prior ward and supported the rezoning as consistent with 26th Ward efforts to allow additional dwelling units. (1:15:59)
Exchanges between members
- 43:52 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin thanked Alderperson Samantha Nugent and other co-sponsors for championing the outdoor dining ordinance.
- 44:50 Alderperson Samantha Nugent thanked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for his work on the zoning amendment.
- 51:44 Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa gave kudos to Alderperson Daniel La Spata on the administrative adjustment ordinance.
- 1:03:29 Vice Chair Bennett R. Lawson responded to Alderperson Pat Dowell remarks by suggesting she share a photo from her time at the building.
- 1:10:12 Alderperson Daniel La Spata asked Alderperson Anthony Beale why the 103rd Street property, which appeared to be a store, was being rezoned.
- 1:10:28 Alderperson Anthony Beale answered Alderperson Daniel La Spata that the property is empty.