Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, September 12, 2023
- When: Tue, Sep 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/manage/videos/863294875
- Transcript: full text (17,944 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 met on September 12, 2023, heard four public commenters, and took up an ordinance from the Mayor and Alderperson Matthew J. Martin amending the municipal code to align the city's electric vehicle readiness requirements with new state law. After a presentation from the Department of Buildings and questions about public charging and affordable housing provisions, the substitute EV ordinance passed. The committee also passed two historical landmark fee waivers, a group of large signs, and a long list of zoning map amendments and planned development changes, including affordable housing at 21st and Ashland and at the former Earle school, the Fifth Third Arena expansion, and large residential developments in the 2nd and 27th wards. A planned development amendment for a school sign on West Leland passed on a roll call read as 9 yeas and 1 nay, several items were deferred, and the chair answered a question about a policy of calling the chair before aldermanic map amendments are scheduled.
Topics: electric vehicle readiness, zoning map amendments, planned developments, affordable housing, landmark fee waivers, signage, Fifth Third Arena expansion, aldermanic zoning amendments, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 10:49 Approval of minutes of the July committee hearing: passed
- 11:14 Deferral of items including 3327-3335 N. Lincoln, 601-611 S. California, 1842-1866 N. Marcy, 2120 W. Webster, 700 W. Chicago, Larrabee/Blackhawk/Clybourn, and 4355 W. 31st St.: deferred
- 21:21 Mayoral ordinance amending Municipal Code chapters 13-72, 17-10, 17-13 and 17-17 regarding electric vehicle supply equipment (substitute): passed
- 41:34 Historical landmark fee waivers for 4543 S. Ellis and 1680 N. Cleveland Ave.: passed
- 42:18 Large signs over 100 square feet in multiple wards, with 2738 W. Fulton added: passed
- 44:34 No. 21192, 3817 N. Hamlin Ave. (30th Ward), RS3 to RT3.5: passed
- 46:37 Nos. 88826, 88827, 88828, aldermanic map amendments along W. Columbus Ave. and S. Pulaski Rd. (18th Ward): passed
- 52:47 No. 22228, technical amendment to Residential Business Planned Development 1164 at Addison and Clark (44th Ward): passed
- 56:50 Amendment to Planned Development 139 at 2828 N. Clark St., Century shopping center (44th Ward): passed
- 58:49 No. 22216, 1551-1553 N. Kostner Ave. (36th Ward), RS3 to C2-1: passed
- 1:00:10 No. 22230, 2246 N. Clark St. (43rd Ward), B1-3 to B2-3: passed
- 1:03:18 No. 22233, 3218-3222 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. (39th Ward), B1-2 to B3-2 for karaoke rooms: passed
- 1:06:01 No. 22238-T1, 1153 W. Grand Ave. (27th Ward): deferred
- 1:06:28 No. 22237-T1, 500-510 W. Pershing Rd. (11th Ward), M1 to RT4 townhouses: passed
- 1:08:47 No. 22168-T1, 1754 N. Paulina St. (32nd Ward), M1-1 to B1-1 daycare: passed
- 1:11:12 No. 22232, 6300-6308 S. Cottage Grove and 747-759 E. 63rd St. (20th Ward), B3-3 to B3-5: passed
- 1:14:56 No. 22090, 2134-2146 S. Ashland Ave. (25th Ward), planned development for 98 affordable units: passed
- 1:23:08 No. 20374, Earle school redevelopment at W. 61st St. and S. Hermitage Ave. (15th Ward), planned development: passed
- 1:31:41 No. 22234, 2739 S. Shields Ave. (11th Ward), RS3 to RT4: passed
- 1:33:25 No. 22236-T1, 1342 W. Ohio St. (1st Ward), RS3 to B2-3 six-unit building: passed
- 1:35:53 No. 22170-T1, 2614 W. 48th St. and 4743 S. Talman Ave. (15th Ward), M1-2 to C3-2: discussed
- 1:37:29 Amendment to Planned Development 878 for a dynamic image sign at a CPS school, 3729 W. Leland Ave. (33rd Ward): passed
- 1:46:09 No. 22173, 4711 W. Chicago Ave. (28th Ward), M1-1 to M2-1, amended to Type 1: passed
- 1:48:25 No. 22206, Fifth Third Arena expansion, 1800-1853 W. Jackson Blvd. (27th Ward), planned development: passed
- 1:53:37 No. 22205, 1633-1649 N. Halsted St. (2nd Ward), residential business planned development: passed
- 1:57:14 No. 22155, 375 N. Morgan St. and 901 W. Kinzie St. (27th Ward), planned development: passed
- 1:59:32 No. 22065, 370, 400 and 401 N. Morgan St. (27th Ward), planned development: passed
- 2:02:53 No. 22129, 1938-1942 W. 63rd St. (16th Ward), RS3 to C2-1: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (chair): Noted that the 21st and Ashland site had been zoned manufacturing across from a high school and would now hold family-size affordable units. (1:22:38); Explained that aldermanic map amendments require a title search and mailing paid from the committee budget, so the chair asks members to call to discuss goals and timing before scheduling. (1:39:18); Said the intention of the call request is only a conversation about scheduling and offered to discuss the matter later. (1:40:45)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Said the ordinance follows the council's 2020 climate crisis declaration and earlier EV ordinance, citing transportation emissions and automakers' shift to electric vehicles, and asked for the committee's support. (26:22)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Expressed support for the EV ordinance and asked whether the 2020 ordinance's success in producing EV-ready units had been evaluated. (28:43); Encouraged the city to consider how EV readiness is equitably distributed across neighborhoods. (29:51); Asked whether neighbors near the 18th Ward map amendments had been notified and whether they responded. (51:39)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked what the ordinance would require of new developments of five or more units beyond the new state law. (35:43); Said he was proud to support the ordinance and thanked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin. (37:44)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Asked why affordable housing developments would have fewer EV-ready spaces than other developments. (38:12); Raised environmental justice concerns and asked whether the council could exceed state law to require the same number of stations regardless of affordability status. (39:29); Described the Earle school project's long community process and said he fully supports it as a repurposing of a historic building with housing and services. (1:29:20)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Said he was proud to support the 21st and Ashland affordable housing project, noting units as low as 15 percent AMI and family-size units for Pilsen. (1:18:34)
- Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Asked whether the 21st and Ashland site was vacant or whether existing buildings would be demolished. (1:22:04)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked how much the Earle school property would generate once back on the tax rolls. (1:26:59)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Supported the technical amendment to PD 1164 in his ward to give flexibility to commercial tenants. (55:56); Commended the Blackhawks project and said sports teams should be judged by their impact on their neighborhoods. (1:52:36); Asked whether the 375 N. Morgan development would include affordable units on site. (1:58:45)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Supported the 2246 N. Clark rezoning, saying the office typically opposes ground-floor residential but this building's layout made commercial use difficult. (1:02:12)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Supported the Halsted Street development, describing a multi-year community process, design changes, and housing for Steppenwolf, while acknowledging some immediate neighbors remain opposed. (1:55:00)
Exchanges between members
- 28:43 Alderperson Daniel La Spata referenced Alderperson Matthew J. Martin remarks on climate change in expressing support for the ordinance.
- 37:44 Alderperson William Conway thanked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for bringing the EV ordinance to committee.