Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, February 17, 2026

• When: Tue, Feb 17, 2026, 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/1164087404
• Transcript: full text (26,943 words, automatic 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, chaired by Vice Chair Bennett R. Lawson, deferred a list of items, heard seven public commenters, and then approved every item it took up. Approved measures included an intergovernmental agreement with the RTA for a Belmont Blue Line equitable transit-oriented development study, an ordinance letting downtown developments exceed one parking space per unit with aldermanic support and a per-space fee, a third expansion of additional dwelling unit areas, two landmark designations, three landmark permit fee waivers, large signs, and an ordinance restricting new gas stations near existing ones and next to residential blocks. Dozens of map amendments and planned developments passed, including an amended planned development for the former Lincoln Yards site, which Alderperson Brian Hopkins opposed over unbuilt bridge and infrastructure commitments. The meeting ended with approval of a social equity cannabis dispensary rezoning at 1143-1155 North Wells Street.

Topics: zoning map amendments, transit-oriented development, parking requirements, additional dwelling units, landmark designations, gas station restrictions, Lincoln Yards planned development, cannabis dispensaries, single-stair buildings, public comment

Agenda items discussed

• 35:11 Deferral of document O2025-0021852 (O2025-0021852): deferred
• 35:29 Deferral of multiple map amendments on pages 4 and 15-19: deferred
• 37:16 Public comment
• 55:57 Intergovernmental agreement with the RTA for the Belmont Blue Line Equitable Transit-Oriented Development study (O2026-0022516): passed
• 1:02:01 Amendment of Municipal Code 17-3-0308 and 17-4-0301 on minimum parking ratios near CTA or Metra stations (substitute) (O2025-0021721): passed
• 1:10:15 Amendment of Municipal Code 17-7-0574 replacing boundaries of additional dwelling unit allowed areas (substitute) (O2025-0022453): passed
• 1:11:56 Landmark designation: Humboldt and Sacramento extension to the Logan Square Boulevards District (O2025-0021479): passed
• 1:18:17 Landmark designation: Original Providence Baptist Church, 515 N. Pine Ave. (O2026-0022515): passed
• 1:20:53 Map amendment A9080: 2401-2427 W. Belmont Ave. and 3140 N. Western Ave., M1-2 to B2-3: passed
• 1:24:18 Landmark permit fee waiver for 4543 S. Ellis Ave. (OR2026-0022498): passed
• 1:26:20 Landmark permit fee waiver for 105 W. Adams St. / 210 S. Clark St. (OR2025-0021609): passed
• 1:28:56 Landmark permit fee waiver for 19 S. LaSalle St. (OR2025-0021617): passed
• 1:31:14 Large signs over 100 square feet: passed
• 1:34:26 Map amendment 22947-T1: 1805 N. Campbell Ave.: passed
• 1:36:06 Map amendment 22946-T1: 1414-1416 W. 69th St. (substitute): passed
• 1:37:27 Map amendment 22976-T1: 1247 N. Clybourn Ave.: passed
• 1:38:51 Map amendments 22968-T1 and 22967-T1: 2302 and 2300 W. Huron St. lot division: passed
• 1:41:34 Map amendment 22969-T1: 1625 N. Keeler Ave.: passed
• 1:42:56 Map amendment 22965-T1: 1635 W. 69th St. (auto repair): passed
• 1:44:51 Map amendment 22956: 2531 N. Cicero Ave.: passed
• 1:46:04 Map amendment 22972: 1401 W. 71st St. / 7104 S. Loomis Blvd.: passed
• 1:47:40 Map amendment 22935: 2343 W. Chicago Ave. (amended to B2-5): passed
• 1:50:36 Residential planned development 22883: 3746-3766 S. Michigan Ave.: passed
• 1:55:54 Map amendment A9078: 1123-1237 W. 95th St. (substitute): passed
• 1:57:29 Map amendment A9083: 9414-9434 S. Halsted St. and 9443 S. Green St.: passed
• 1:58:35 Map amendment 22979: 8649 S. Euclid Ave.: passed
• 2:00:04 Map amendment 22981-T1: 2733-2735 W. 16th St.: passed
• 2:02:00 Map amendment 22974: 1823-1825 W. 22nd Pl.: passed
• 2:04:20 Map amendment 22944-T1: 2934 W. Irving Park Rd.: passed
• 2:05:59 Map amendment 22966-T1: 5054-5060 N. Ashland Ave.: passed
• 2:07:44 Map amendment 22954: 5414-5422 S. Kedzie Ave.: passed
• 2:09:28 Map amendment 22980-T1: 1805-1809 W. Augusta Blvd.: passed
• 2:12:03 Map amendment 22958: 4254 W. 55th St.: passed
• 2:13:21 Map amendment 22949: 2648 W. 21st St.: passed
• 2:14:53 Map amendment: 3352 N. Milwaukee Ave. (C3-1 for limited manufacturing): passed
• 2:16:31 Map amendment 22951: 2312 W. 21st St.: passed
• 2:18:32 Map amendment 22952: 1617 N. Honore St.: passed
• 2:20:05 Planned Development 1439 as amended (former Lincoln Yards site along Cortland St. and the Chicago River): passed
• 2:34:44 Map amendment 22955-T1: 1606 S. Ashland Ave.: passed
• 2:38:20 Map amendment 22964-T1: 3538-3540 N. Milwaukee Ave.: passed
• 2:39:35 Map amendment 22914-T1: 3233-3247 N. Sheffield Ave. (99 units): passed
• 2:42:02 Map amendment 22963-T1: 522 N. Sawyer Ave. (recalled from deferral): passed
• 2:44:24 Map amendment 22945: 1137 S. Western Ave.: passed
• 2:46:10 Map amendment 22970: 2839 N. Milwaukee Ave.: passed
• 2:48:09 Amendment of Title 17 restricting new gas stations and expansions (substitute) (O2025-0018183): passed
• 2:56:46 Residential planned development 22636: 1054-1064 W. Van Buren St.: passed
• 2:59:45 Planned Development 1431 as amended: 1133 W. Van Buren St. (social equity cannabis dispensary): passed
• 3:04:08 Map amendment 22962: 3200-3224 W. Franklin Blvd. (animal shelter and clinic): passed
• 3:07:59 Cannabis business establishment map amendment 22930-T1: 1143-1155 N. Wells St.: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

• Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Asked for a moment to honor the passing of Reverend Jackson. (34:38); Commended the Belmont Blue Line study, noting the station sits within the community rather than the expressway median. (1:01:33); Asked what a typical building would pay per extra parking space and whether the rule applies only to condos. (1:06:37)
• Anthony J. Quezada (alderperson): Supported the Belmont Blue Line study, citing transit access and his priorities of transit-oriented development and pedestrian safety. (1:00:44); Said the community supports the zoning change at 2839 North Milwaukee Avenue. (2:47:40)
• Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Explained the parking ordinance lets downtown developers add market-demanded parking above one space per unit while paying a fee toward housing and landmarks. (1:02:58); Said the community supports the Clybourn Avenue project and so does he. (1:38:35); Supported the animal shelter as a longtime community partner backed by the local community group. (3:06:52)
• Pat Dowell (alderperson): Thanked Burnett and the attorney for adding the Adopt-a-Landmark Fund option and moved to pass the parking ordinance. (1:07:32); Supported the Michigan Avenue development as new market-rate and affordable housing on a long-vacant lot. (1:54:45); Described an increase in proposed gas stations on the South and West Sides and called the ordinance reasonable guardrails. (2:55:52)
• Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked what conditions must be met for the downtown parking relief to be granted. (1:08:02); Confirmed support for the 1805 North Campbell project after an iterative design process and thanked the applicant. (1:35:22); Asked whether the Chicago Avenue project would keep the existing commercial facade and confirmed its size. (1:50:02)
• William Conway (alderperson): Supported the parking ordinance's aldermanic flexibility and said it is meant for larger units and would be used sparingly in his ward. (1:09:22); Asked for support of the fee waiver for the former Bankers Building, noting its poor condition. (1:28:29); Asked for support of the fee waiver for the former Central YMCA building. (1:30:38)
• Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said Humboldt Boulevard faces demolitions and out-of-character construction and the landmark extension unifies protection across wards. (1:15:55); Said the Keeler Avenue item went through her community-driven zoning process and was approved. (1:42:27)
• Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Described years of community engagement, opposition to a drive-through, and support for rezoning the Belmont and Western site for mixed-use or residential development. (1:21:25)
• David H. Moore (alderperson): Said the 69th Street auto repair project followed nearly two years of community engagement and could spur redevelopment in West Englewood. (1:43:50)
• Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said the local neighborhood association reviewed and supported the Huron Street lot division, so he supports it. (1:41:00); Asked whether existing gas stations changing ownership would be grandfathered and how closures for rehab are treated. (2:50:52); Said he co-signed the gas station ordinance and supports the amended version. (2:52:37)
• Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Said the 95th Street rezonings prepare for a next phase of the corridor plan and align zoning with existing residential properties. (1:56:24)
• Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Supported the Euclid Avenue rezoning as consistent with the existing block. (1:59:30); Thanked the sponsor for compromising on the gas station ordinance and said she fully supports it. (2:52:59)
• Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said the Irving Park Road project went through community engagement without opposition and adds needed density. (2:05:11)
• Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Supported the amended Lincoln Yards plan for housing, retail, jobs and the riverwalk, while saying transportation issues will require more investment. (2:27:55)
• Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Said the new plan is superior to the original Lincoln Yards plan but he would vote no. (2:29:48); Cited congestion from the Cortland Bridge closure as evidence a new bridge and infrastructure are needed before construction. (2:30:22); Said the city promised public infrastructure when the Cortland River TIF was created and that $34 million was moved out of that TIF. (2:31:48)
• Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Said the Ashland Avenue applicant met requirements and gathered community support, and his office has no objection. (2:37:43)
• Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Said the South and West Sides have a large share of the city's gas stations and current ordinances do not address ongoing proposals. (2:49:01); Explained the ordinance bars new gas stations within 1,000 feet of an existing one or on the same block face as RS-zoned lots. (2:49:50)

Exchanges between members

• 1:07:32 Dowell thanked Burnett for the parking ordinance substitute.
• 1:09:22 Conway thanked Burnett for putting the parking ordinance forward.
• 1:24:10 The chair proposed a meeting with Martin about single-stair housing.
• 1:28:19 The chair asked Conway whether he wanted to add anything on the fee waiver.
• 2:29:48 Hopkins agreed with Waguespack that community groups view the new plan favorably, before explaining his no vote.
• 2:50:52 Villegas thanked Mitchell for bringing the gas station ordinance.
• 2:52:59 Harris thanked Mitchell for compromising on the ordinance.
• 2:55:52 Dowell thanked Mitchell for his leadership on the gas station ordinance.

Documents

• Notice
• Agenda
• Summary
• Summary