Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, December 9, 2024
- When: Mon, Dec 9, 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/1036184091
- Transcript: full text (26,643 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 a project in the 10th Ward, held a subject-matter hearing without a vote on an ordinance to allow digital billboards on private property near expressways, and approved amendments to the Northwest Side tenant opportunity to purchase ordinance. It also approved aldermanic rezonings along Milwaukee Avenue in the 35th Ward, an adaptive reuse of 65 East Wacker Place into housing, and the rezoning of property for the CTA Red Line Extension to a transportation district. The committee approved two landmark-district items, a batch of large signs and numerous map amendments, including a data center expansion at 2800 South Ashland and a community arts center on West Lake Street, and deferred an item at 112 West 87th Street. A planned development for 1840-1866 North Marcy Avenue was first deferred, then reconsidered; the committee tabled the deferral and the item received a do-not-pass recommendation.
Topics: zoning map amendments, digital billboards, tenant opportunity to purchase, Red Line Extension, Milwaukee Avenue rezoning, adaptive reuse, data centers, affordable housing, landmark districts, planned developments
Agenda items discussed
- 1:38:08 Quantum computing project in the 10th Ward: passed
- 1:39:30 Ordinance amending Chapters 17-12 and 17-17 regarding city digital signs (subject matter hearing) (O2023-2187): discussed
- 2:09:02 Amendments to the tenant right of first refusal and Northwest Side pilot program ordinance (O2024-0014256): passed
- 2:12:49 Map amendments at 2814, 2816 and 2847-2861 North Milwaukee Avenue (B3-1 to B3-3): passed
- 2:22:48 Planned development for 65 East Wacker Place residential conversion: passed
- 2:27:06 Red Line Extension map amendments to a transportation district and sunset of PD 1185: passed
- 2:57:13 Map amendment at 2972 South Poplar Avenue area (M1-1 to RT4): passed
- 2:59:37 Demolition of a non-contributing building at 906 West Fulton Market in the Fulton-Randolph Market Landmark District: passed
- 3:01:38 Technical amendment to Newport Avenue Landmark District boundaries: passed
- 3:03:35 Large signs over 100 square feet in various wards: passed
- 3:06:59 Planned development amendment for a second data center at 2800 South Ashland Avenue: passed
- 3:12:21 Map amendment at 3312-3344 West Lake Street for a community arts center: passed
- 3:16:46 Map amendment at 5118-5126 West 26th Street: passed
- 3:18:26 Map amendment at 3121-3125 West 111th Street: passed
- 3:38:31 Map amendment at 4458 South California Avenue: passed
- 3:40:09 Map amendment at 811 West Evergreen Avenue office-to-residential conversion: passed
- 3:43:46 Map amendment at 1735-1747 West Grand Avenue: passed
- 3:45:42 Planned development amendment at 1220 West Jackson Boulevard: passed
- 3:52:56 Planned development 425 amendment at 112 West 87th Street: deferred
- 3:53:35 Map amendment at 2125 West Devon Avenue: passed
- 4:05:45 Map amendment at 2511 West 51st Street (substitute to B2-2): passed
- 4:10:37 Map amendment at 2741 North Greenview Avenue: passed
- 4:12:25 Map amendment at 1541-1543 North Kolin for a daycare parking lot: passed
- 4:15:22 Map amendment at 5213 West Potomac Avenue for a renewable energy training center: passed
- 4:22:00 Map amendment in the 6th Ward converting a two-unit building to three units: passed
- 3:21:06 Planned development for 1840-1866 North Marcy Avenue: failed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Walter R. Burnett (chair): Commended downtown office-to-residential conversions that proceed without city assistance. (2:25:14); Called the Red Line Extension a social justice issue for far South Side residents long underserved by transit. (2:45:43); Praised the arts organization at the West Lake Street site for helping young people. (3:13:38)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Said the digital sign ordinance grew from his effort to fund mental health programs after police and firefighter suicides. (1:43:33); Explained the ordinance would let private owners contract with sign operators, with the city receiving 15% of revenue at no cost. (1:45:34); Said the proposal could raise revenue without new taxes and asked to revisit it in early 2025. (1:53:56)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said adding billboard inventory could lower prices and harm the city's existing JCDecaux revenue partnership. (1:55:20); Raised concerns about dedicating the revenue to specific programs. (1:56:32); Questioned the 60% revenue share for an operator not yet identified. (2:00:37)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked about the 660-foot distance limit and when the JCDecaux contract expires. (2:04:51); Said the billboard proposal is a bigger lift requiring broader work. (2:05:32); Asked to see the plan behind upzoning three privately held Milwaukee Avenue parcels. (2:17:24)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Said advertising is evolving toward digital and he looks forward to exploring the proposal further. (2:06:09)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Urged caution on private digital billboards to avoid oversaturation and offered to assist the sponsor. (2:07:03); Recounted the decades-long effort under several mayors to extend the Red Line to 130th Street and moved do pass. (2:48:37); Asked to hold the Marcy Avenue project until the ward alderman's position was clear. (3:34:03)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Presented amendments to the tenant opportunity to purchase ordinance developed with the Chicagoland Association of Realtors, including a 2029 sunset and March 2025 effective date. (2:10:08); Said the Milwaukee Avenue rezonings follow a zoning overlay study and would require 20% affordable units and design guidelines. (2:14:28); Said this should be the last rezoning step along the stretch. (2:20:54)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked whether federal Red Line Extension funding will be secured before the new administration. (2:43:51); Asked about property tax revenue from the data center expansion, noting the city's data center incentives. (3:10:43)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Said the Red Line Extension will connect far South Side communities long cut off from the rest of the city. (2:47:37)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Requested rezoning an M1 district surrounded by homes to RT4 to bring properties into conformity. (2:58:06)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Requested rezoning on West Lake Street for an arts center, saying motor-vehicle concerns raised by some residents were misinformation. (3:12:45)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Asked whether the Marcy Avenue project commits to 20% on-site affordable units and about the related property tax break. (3:27:10); Said affordable units appear contingent on a tax break and asked to be recorded as a no on the Marcy Avenue project. (4:51:15)
Exchanges between members
- 2:04:08 Reilly encouraged Alderman Chris Taliaferro to form a work group with city departments on the billboard proposal.
- 2:05:32 Lawson echoed Alderman Brendan Reilly view that the billboard proposal needs more work.
- 2:07:03 Beale offered to assist Alderman Chris Taliaferro on the billboard proposal.
- 2:08:01 Beale agreed with Alderman Brendan Reilly concern about oversaturating the market.
- 2:11:48 Ramírez-Rosa thanked Alderman Felix Cardona Jr. for helping initiate the ordinance amendments.
- 2:11:48 Ramírez-Rosa thanked Alderman Gilbert Villegas for assistance on the amendments.
- 2:20:39 Lawson asked how many more Milwaukee Avenue parcels would be rezoned and Ramírez-Rosa answered.
- 2:25:58 Burnett congratulated Alderman Brendan Reilly on the 65 East Wacker conversion.
- 2:47:06 Burnett commended Alderman Anthony Beale for pushing the Red Line Extension forward.
- 2:47:06 Burnett commended Alderman Peter Chico for pushing the Red Line Extension forward.
- 2:47:06 Burnett commended Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley for pushing the Red Line Extension forward.
- 2:48:37 Beale thanked Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley for helping carry the Red Line Extension.
- 2:48:37 Beale thanked Alderman Peter Chico for helping carry the Red Line Extension.
- 3:11:36 Burnett thanked Alderman Gilbert Villegas for his work on data center policy.
- 3:13:38 Burnett commended Alderman Jason C. Ervin for finding a larger space for the arts organization.