Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, May 19, 2026
- When: Tue, May 19, 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/showcase/8928576?video=1193355557
- Transcript: full text (23,260 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 Alderperson Gilbert Villegas, deferred a group of map amendments at the start of the meeting and then heard public comment from 18 speakers, including supporters of the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, opponents of 7th Ward rezonings affecting auto repair businesses on East 75th and East 79th Streets, a youth services provider opposing application 23057 near its campus, and a property owner opposing the downzoning of 5626 West 63rd Place. The committee passed text amendments on waste-related uses, gas station siting, a Cicero Avenue auto sales overlay district, excavation damage protections, and public place of amusement licenses for alcohol manufacturers, while a citywide change allowing religious assemblies to rent parking was deferred at Alderperson Pat Dowell request. Three 43rd Ward landmark designations (Roger Brown Home and Studio, Byrne Hall and Cortelyou Commons), three landmark permit fee waivers, and a group of large sign orders were approved. Aldermanic map amendments in the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 13th, 21st, 22nd and 32nd Wards passed, including the two 7th Ward changes from commercial to mixed-use zoning after Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell cited corridor planning and community feedback. The committee also passed numerous applicant map amendments and planned development changes, including an ASI office building in Humboldt Park, a University of Chicago planned development amendment and an affordable housing planned development at Howard and Paulina, and deferred file 23063-T1.
Topics: map amendments, landmark designations, auto repair zoning in South Shore, Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, gas station siting, Cicero Avenue overlay district, excavation damage, religious assembly parking, craft brewery licensing, affordable housing
Agenda items discussed
- 26:29 Deferral of listed map amendments (files 23021, 23046, 23045, 23048-T1, 23056-T1, 23041-T1, 23055-T1): deferred
- 1:06:19 Ordinance amending Chapter 17-9 regarding waste-related uses, recycling facilities, container storage, freight terminals, outdoor storage and manganese-bearing material (Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez) (O2026-0024064): passed
- 1:07:35 Ordinance amending Title 17 regarding gas station permits and spacing from existing stations and residential districts (Alderperson Jason C. Ervin), as substituted: passed
- 1:09:49 Ordinance establishing the Cicero Avenue Light Equipment Sales/Rental Overlay District (Alderperson Felix Cardona Jr.) (O2025-0018447): passed
- 1:18:09 Ordinance amending Title 14A regarding excavation work on private property (Alderperson Gilbert Villegas), as substituted: passed
- 1:20:46 Ordinance amending Section 17-9-0111.5 to allow non-accessory parking at religious assemblies in RT-4 and higher districts (Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen): deferred
- 1:25:19 Landmark designation for Roger Brown Home and Studio, 1926 North Halsted Street (O2026-0024658): passed
- 1:28:36 Ordinance amending Section 17-3-0301 regarding public place of amusement licenses for alcohol manufacturers (Alderperson Matthew J. Martin): passed
- 1:32:43 Landmark designation for Byrne Hall, 2219 North Kenmore Avenue: passed
- 1:35:06 Landmark designation for Cortelyou Commons, 2324 North Chalmers Street (O2026-0024660): passed
- 1:38:01 Landmark permit fee waivers for 3309, 3311 and 3313 South Prairie Avenue: passed
- 1:41:05 Large signs over 100 square feet and 24 feet above grade in multiple wards: passed
- 1:42:46 Map amendment A-9092, 1616 North Burling Street (2nd Ward): passed
- 1:45:34 Map amendment A-9094, 224 East 103rd Street (9th Ward): passed
- 1:46:18 Map amendment A-9095, 11155 South Michigan Avenue (9th Ward): passed
- 1:47:42 Map amendment A-9098, 4640 South Lamont Avenue (22nd Ward): passed
- 1:48:39 Map amendment A-9084, West 105th Street and South Vincennes Avenue (21st Ward): passed
- 1:50:39 Map amendment A-9085, South Ashland Avenue (21st Ward): passed
- 1:52:00 Map amendment A-9091, 1938 North Kingsbury (32nd Ward), correcting the Lincoln Yards planned development boundary: passed
- 1:59:22 Map amendment A-9089, 2949-2951 East 79th Street (7th Ward), C1-2 to B2-2: passed
- 2:02:17 Map amendment A-9090, 2206 East 75th Street (7th Ward), C1-2 to B2-2: passed
- 2:04:56 Map amendment A-9093, 5626 West 63rd Place (13th Ward), B1-1 to RS-2, as substituted: passed
- 2:06:29 Map amendment A-9088, 7050 South Dorchester (5th Ward): passed
- 2:09:23 File 23057, 4315-4317 Cottage Grove Avenue (4th Ward), B3-3 to C1-3: passed
- 2:12:24 File 23058, 1001-1021 North Homan Avenue (36th Ward): passed
- 2:14:16 File 23044-T1, 4524 South Michigan Avenue (3rd Ward), with substitute plans: passed
- 2:16:15 File 23054, 657 East 75th Street (6th Ward): passed
- 2:17:27 File 23053, 6940 South Campbell Avenue (16th Ward): passed
- 2:18:39 File 23052-T1, 3000-3010 North Oakley Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 2:20:28 File 23065-T1, 448 North Aberdeen Street (27th Ward): passed
- 2:22:07 File 23064-T1, 446 North Aberdeen Street (27th Ward): passed
- 2:23:41 File 23051-T1, 2124 West Madison Street (27th Ward): passed
- 2:25:09 File 22971-T1, 1313-1315 West Ancona Street (27th Ward), with substitute narrative and plans: passed
- 2:27:43 File 23060-T1, 3440-3444 North Janssen Avenue (44th Ward), with substitute narrative and plans: passed
- 2:31:11 File 23063-T1, 6716 South Bishop Street (16th Ward): deferred
- 2:31:33 File 23059-T1, 3444-3446 West North Avenue (26th Ward), ASI office building: passed
- 2:42:19 File 23062-T1, 2653 West Monroe Street (27th Ward): passed
- 2:44:33 File 23050-T1, 3100-3108 West Lake Street (27th Ward): passed
- 2:49:11 File 23049-T1, 4447 North Ashland Avenue (47th Ward): passed
- 2:51:24 File 23047-T1, 3040-3042 North Lincoln Avenue (32nd Ward): passed
- 2:56:24 File 23061, 4133-4135 West Lawrence Avenue (39th Ward): passed
- 2:58:18 File 23003, amendment to Institutional Planned Development 43, University of Chicago (5th Ward): passed
- 3:02:38 File 22975-T1, 1801-1809 North Winnebago Avenue (32nd Ward), with substitute narrative and plans: passed
- 3:05:49 File 22068, 1646-1654 West Howard Street and 7601-7623 North Paulina Street (49th Ward), planned development: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gilbert Villegas (chair): Presented his excavation ordinance, which authorizes attorney fee recovery in successful excavation damage lawsuits, bars Class E general contractors from excavation, raises required insurance from $1 million to $2 million, and expands the covered distance from five to ten feet. (1:19:06)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said the waste-related uses amendment supports a multi-generational business in his ward seeking on-site storage and was worked out with the zoning administrator. (1:06:49); Explained that the 4640 South Lamont rezoning allows a school to rent a parking lot across the street. (1:48:01)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Explained that the substitute gas station ordinance, developed with Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell and the zoning administrator, would allow a station within 1,000 feet of another or on a residential block face only through a Type 1 map amendment. (1:08:28)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Said the Cicero Avenue overlay, which would affect 18 auto sales and rental businesses operating as non-conforming uses, is intended to create a more vibrant, walkable corridor and followed more than 10 community meetings. (1:12:57); Answered that affected businesses could still be sold but would then fall under the new zoning. (1:15:53)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked whether a change in ownership, tenancy or management would make the overlay-district businesses non-conforming and prohibited, saying he wanted to understand what he was voting for. (1:15:22); Asked whether returning the Kingsbury parcel to M3-3 zoning reflects the by-right development the ward and DPD want, given planning in the area. (1:53:08); Raised a concern that the M3-3 zoning could allow a heavy industrial use next to new residential development and asked how that could be addressed. (1:56:19)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Explained that his ordinance would let religious assemblies in RT-4 and higher districts rent out parking spaces by right, as CPS schools may, instead of going through the Zoning Board of Appeals. (1:21:19); Agreed to hold the religious assembly parking ordinance so Alderperson Pat Dowell could review its impact in her ward. (1:24:00); Supported landmarking the Roger Brown Home and Studio, citing community concern after the building's sale by the Art Institute. (1:27:42)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Said she had not discussed the citywide religious assembly parking change with the sponsor, wanted to review its impact on the many churches in her ward, and asked that it be held. (1:23:08); Asked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for a list of the 28 alcohol manufacturers affected by his ordinance. (1:31:43); Said she supports the 4524 South Michigan rezoning now that the building design is more contextual with Michigan Avenue. (2:15:36)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Explained that his ordinance would let state-licensed alcohol manufacturers in B and C districts obtain a public place of amusement license without a ZBA distance reduction, to help breweries facing tariffs and lower consumption. (1:29:06)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Explained that the city-owned Burling Street parcel is irregular and has CTA infrastructure, so he is zoning it to the lowest residential district on the block to require closer review of future development. (1:43:08); Said that with the planned manufacturing district eliminated, it is highly unlikely anyone would pursue heavy manufacturing on the Kingsbury parcel. (1:58:05)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Described his two 9th Ward rezonings as changes for future land use planning on vacant property. (1:45:55); Asked why the ASI project was allowed to reduce parking from 21 spaces to two and requested specifics on its $12 million funding. (2:34:51)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Said the 105th Street area has shifted from heavy manufacturing toward residential and the rezoning would help uses coexist. (1:49:04); Said residents want fewer auto-centric uses on Ashland Avenue and the B3-2 rezoning encourages retail. (1:51:08)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley why he chose B1-1 rather than B3-2 zoning, saying B3 offers more options for business. (1:49:37); Confirmed that returning the Kingsbury parcel to M3-3 would allow heavy manufacturing uses by right. (1:55:21); Suggested to Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell that B3 zoning may be more business-friendly than B2. (2:03:55)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Said rezoning 2949-2951 East 79th Street to mixed-use limits automotive uses such as mechanic and tire shops that are inconsistent with community feedback and corridor planning. (1:59:40); Said a tire and auto shop at 2206 East 75th Street had been a source of community tension with building violations and complaints dating to 2009, and that the corridor study did not favor that use. (2:02:34)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked whether the business owner who spoke during public comment already held a valid license and would be affected by the 79th Street rezoning. (2:00:52)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Said the old garage at 5626 West 63rd Place sits in a residential area of Clearing and its use does not fit the community's residential direction. (2:05:29)
- Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Said the Dorchester rezoning lets a tree recycling business of about 40 years consolidate its property. (2:06:46)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said street parking on North Avenue is readily available and the ASI project has over $3 million in committed state funding, with zoning needed to secure private funding. (2:38:38); Described ASI's home care, workforce and senior services in Humboldt Park and asked colleagues to support the rezoning. (2:40:16)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said the West Monroe rezoning addresses industrial spot zoning on a block of multifamily housing. (2:43:48); Supported the West Lake Street storage yard rezoning and said current building code requirements are too restrictive for mixed retail ideas in the area. (2:48:17)
Exchanges between members
- 1:16:07 Alderperson Daniel La Spata asked Alderperson Felix Cardona Jr. whether a change in ownership would make overlay-district businesses prohibited.
- 1:15:53 Alderperson Felix Cardona Jr. answered that businesses could be sold but would fall under the new zoning.
- 1:23:08 Alderperson Pat Dowell asked Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen to hold his religious assembly parking ordinance so she could review its impact in her ward.
- 1:24:00 Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen agreed to hold the ordinance to allow Alderperson Pat Dowell to review it.
- 1:31:43 Alderperson Pat Dowell asked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for the list of 28 affected alcohol manufacturers.
- 1:31:49 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin said he would share the list through the chair and directly.
- 1:49:37 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson asked Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley why he chose B1-1 instead of B3-2 zoning.
- 1:49:53 Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley said he was open to a different B classification if recommended.
- 1:55:21 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson followed up on Alderperson Daniel La Spata question about by-right manufacturing on the Kingsbury parcel.
- 1:56:28 Alderperson Daniel La Spata built on Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson point to raise a hypothetical industrial use concern.
- 1:58:05 Alderperson Brian Hopkins addressed Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson to explain the difference between a planned development and a planned manufacturing district.
- 2:01:46 Alderperson David H. Moore thanked the chair and Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell for clarifying the business license question.
- 2:03:55 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson suggested to Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell that B3 zoning may be more business-friendly.
- 2:38:38 Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes responded to Alderperson Anthony Beale questions about parking and financing for the ASI project.