Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meeting, June 16, 2026
- When: Tue, Jun 16, 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=1201520564
- Transcript: full text (23,926 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 at this meeting by Vice Chair Bennett R. Lawson, convened after a recess for quorum, approved its Rule 45 report and deferred a list of map amendments. Ten public speakers commented, several urging passage of the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, one objecting to the rezoning of Planned Development 723 on East 63rd Street, and others addressing housing, building codes and other concerns. The committee passed the mayor's phase three building code modernization ordinance as substituted, an ordinance allowing additional static roof signs facing Wrigley Field, a group of large sign orders, and Department of Planning and Development rezonings along 79th and 75th streets in the 7th Ward and 63rd Street in Woodlawn. It also approved numerous map amendments and planned developments, including housing at 3301 S. Justine in the 12th Ward, California and Melrose in the 35th Ward, 2553-2565 W. Madison in the 27th Ward and 201 E. Walton Place in the 2nd Ward, while one 28th Ward item was deferred.
Topics: building code modernization, Wrigley Field signage, corridor rezoning, Woodlawn Planned Development 723, housing development, Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, map amendments, planned developments
Agenda items discussed
- 1:22:55 Rule 45 report containing minutes of the May hearings: passed
- 1:23:13 Deferral of listed map amendment applications: deferred
- 1:24:54 Public comment
- 1:52:42 Ordinance amending municipal code titles regarding building code provisions (phase three code modernization): passed
- 2:00:24 Ordinance authorizing static roof signs on W. Waveland and N. Sheffield facing Wrigley Field (O2026-0025414): passed
- 2:01:45 Large sign orders over 100 square feet: passed
- 2:03:17 Map amendment at 5001 S. Michigan Ave. (3rd Ward), RM-5 to R2-4: passed
- 2:04:23 Residential business planned development at 3301-3315 S. Justine St. (12th Ward): passed
- 2:08:35 Rezoning of East 79th Street corridor (7th Ward), A9121 and A9122: passed
- 2:14:25 Rezoning of East 75th Street corridor (7th Ward), A9123 and A9124: passed
- 2:17:34 Rezoning of East 63rd Street from Planned Development 723 (20th Ward), A9104 and A9105: passed
- 2:24:54 Map amendment at 2131-2225 W. Devon Ave. (50th Ward): passed
- 2:27:06 Map amendment at 201 E. Walton Place (2nd Ward), DX-7 to DR-10: passed
- 2:41:01 Map amendments at 2315 and 2323 W. Grand Ave. (27th Ward): passed
- 2:45:20 Map amendment at 2954 W. Roosevelt Rd. (28th Ward): deferred
- 2:50:44 Residential planned development at California Ave. and Melrose St. (35th Ward): passed
- 2:54:03 Map amendment at 433-437 W. 119th St. (21st Ward): passed
- 2:56:20 Map amendment at 2553-2565 W. Madison St. (27th Ward): passed
- 3:20:04 Amendment to Planned Development 1067 at Blue Island Ave. and Racine Ave. (25th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Bennett R. Lawson (chair): Explained his ordinance allowing an additional static roof sign on Sheffield and advertising on two existing rooftop signs facing Wrigley Field under existing size rules. (2:00:45); Asked whether the Justine Street project uses any city money and was told it is privately financed. (2:08:06); Questioned why a zoning change was needed for an art gallery in an M-1 district and suggested being more permissive generally. (2:55:51)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked whether the building code ordinance language had been emailed to the committee. (1:59:32)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked for support of the 5001 S. Michigan rezoning, saying it would allow community input on the future use of a long-standing building. (2:03:36)
- Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Supported the Justine Street project, citing about 200 housing units, green space, space for small businesses and proximity to the Orange Line. (2:07:00); Confirmed that no city money is involved in the Justine Street project. (2:08:13)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked why the 63rd Street rezoning used B2 rather than B3 or C1 zoning, and whether ground-floor residential would be prohibited under B3. (2:22:28)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Said a longtime church in the community wants to develop land it purchased with community support, and that she supports the 63rd Street zoning change. (2:26:23)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Thanked the 2315 W. Grand applicant for working with the community group and asked colleagues to support. (2:42:45); Said the 2323 W. Grand project would add density to a changing area and had community support. (2:44:45); Said the Madison Street project is one of the first to reflect planning efforts to restore housing and density in East Garfield Park, and noted the developer is a minority developer. (2:59:47)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said the 1522 N. Keystone project went through her ward's community-driven zoning process and received a do-pass recommendation. (2:48:36)
- Anthony J. Quezada (alderperson): Said the California and Melrose project was revised after two community meetings, includes two additional workforce units beyond ARO requirements and a project labor agreement, and asked for support. (2:53:12)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked for support of rezoning a former gas station site on West 119th Street so the zoning matches its planned use. (2:54:22)
Exchanges between members
- 2:03:36 Alderperson Pat Dowell thanked the chair before presenting her rezoning.
- 2:08:06 The chair asked Alderperson Julia M. Ramirez whether the Justine Street project involved city money.
- 2:08:13 Alderperson Julia M. Ramirez answered that no city money was involved.
- 2:22:25 Alderperson Daniel La Spata thanked the vice chair before his question.
- 2:23:46 The chair thanked Alderperson Daniel La Spata.
- 2:26:05 The chair offered Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor a chance to speak on the Woodlawn items that had just passed.
- 2:26:50 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor thanked the chair after stating her support.
- 2:42:41 The chair asked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett whether he had anything to add on the Grand Avenue item.
- 2:48:31 The chair invited Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes to add comments on the Keystone item.
- 2:48:39 Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes thanked the chair.
- 2:53:10 The chair invited Alderperson Anthony J. Quezada to comment on the California and Melrose project.
- 2:53:12 Alderperson Anthony J. Quezada thanked the chair before his remarks.
- 2:54:20 Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley thanked the chair before presenting his item.
- 2:59:45 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett thanked the vice chair before speaking on the Madison Street project.
- 3:01:13 The chair asked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett whether any city funds were involved in the Madison Street project.
- 3:01:19 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett answered that no city funding was involved and compared land prices with the vice chair's neighborhood.