[remote or in person] Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards

Chicago City Council

Development

Politics

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by David Boykin

Alders approved a zoning request for Chicago South Side Birth Center to build out a space owned by Morning Star Bible Baptist Church in South Chicago into a freestanding birthing center.

View notes

Live reporting by Kaelyn Robinson

Alders approved a zoning request for Chicago South Side Birth Center to build out a space owned by Morning Star Bible Baptist Church in South Chicago into a freestanding birthing center.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski

Hello all! 👋 This morning, there is a meeting of the Chicago City Council Committee on Zoning Landmarks and Building Standards. I'll be covering things for @CHIdocumenters -- it's scheduled to begin at 10am. Let's go 🏢🏗️ #CHIdocumenters

09:49 AM Nov 30, 2023 CST

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 2/53

The meetings has yet to start, but the link to the live stream will be posted at follow along with me. The Zoning Committee is Chaired for a couple more days by Ald Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (35th) @CDRosa . The vice chair is Bennett Lawson (44th) @lawsonfor44

chicityclerk.com

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 3/53

@CDRosa @lawsonfor44 The agenda can be found here

chicago.documenters.org/documents/meet…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 4/53

Zoning is the way a city delineates what is built where. Every plot in the city has a zoning code, one letter and one number. The letter indicates the use of the building, such as industrial or residential. The number indicates the scale of that building (sometimes called bulk).

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 5/53

Zoning can be used in all kinds of ways: to aid developers, protect historic neighborhood character, supercharge gentrification or hinder it's spread. In Chicago there is also a history of discrimination, as well as more petty things like individual grievance or casual bribery.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 6/53

One important thing to note here is that Zoning itself is not all that powerful a tool. Maybe it's leveraged to help or hurt, and maybe it isn't. But the collective needs are far more than the right letter-number assigned to the right parts of the plat.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 7/53

The clock has ticked up to 10:24 but council chambers is still working on it. These meetings typically go quite quickly, and we jump around the agenda.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 8/53

Vice Chair Lawson (44th) is getting going, beginning by reading aloud by reading the Sergeant at Arms' rules for the meeting. This comes on the heels of a new policy for members of the public attending meetings at city hall. See for WBEZ

wbez.org/stories/chicag…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 9/53

Soon to be former Chair Ramírez-Rosa is not on the dias.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 10/53

The role has been called. There is a quorum. A couple folks join remotely and the Vice Chair moves us to public comment.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 11/53

The first speaker is discussing 2903 W Irving Park. He is housing owner, Mr Salman (sp?). He is saying that the developer has a history of not maintaining their buildings or providing proper management. He is speaking against the development, saying the size is not in keeping.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 12/53

The next speaker is George Blakemore. He is speaking about the rules that were read earlier, saying that the council has rules for the public, but not for itself.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 13/53

The next speaker is Sean O'Neill (sp?). He is also speaking against the Full Circle development. He says that there are a lot of neighbors opposed who have been kept out of the community meetings and that they should have their say.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 14/53

The next speaker is Ian McCullum (sp?). He is speaking for 2907 W Irving, 33rd ward, saying there was in his words a strong community led zoning process where people did speak against, and that the decision was made to increase the density in part to recover from lost homes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 15/53

Our last speaker is John Friedmann of Horner Park Neighbors. He says that the community wants affordable housing and smart development, but they disagree that this building meets that standard.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 16/53

That concludes public comment. V Chair Lawson is discussing that the agenda will be out of order and that we will begin with that same development discussed during public comment. Item 8822, 2907-23 W Irving Park Road.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 17/53

Ald Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez @RossanaFor33 is speaking about the community led zoning process, and shouts out Carlos Ramírez-Rosa for being a model for this in his own ward. Ald Rodríguez-Sánchez introduces a staff member to speak about the development.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 18/53

@RossanaFor33 See Alex V. Hernandez for Block Club

blockclubchicago.org/2023/08/16/irv…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 19/53

@RossanaFor33 Rebecca Ríos, the head of infrastructure for the 33rd ward, is discussing that there are other pieces of land with the same zoning. Ald La Spata agrees and says Full Circle is well equipped to run this development. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 20/53

@RossanaFor33 The next item, 4236, is a zoning change to "wind down" an earlier development that isn't moving forward. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 21/53

The next item is 4237, in the 21st ward on 87th street. Ald. Moseley speaks to this change. He says this will unify a shopping district, and the proposed tenant will be a daycare. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 22/53

Next is 812 N Western, a downzone of B3-2 to B1-1. Ald Villegas is speaking that these last two items are being changed to allow for community input when they are redevelopped.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 23/53

Atty Thomas Moore is speaking on the next item, 22281 in the 10th ward. This property is currently a church. The owner is a midwife who wants to open a birthing center. Mr. Moore continues that the community meeting went well. The facility wants to address maternal mortality.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 24/53

Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 25/53

Atty Moore is now speaking on the next item, 2739 W Evergreen Ave. This change will bring a building with a basement apartment into compliance. Alds Fuentes and LA Spata speak in support of ADU (Additional Dwelling Unit) here.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 26/53

Ald La Spata goes further, saying that ADU reform should occur to move the ADU pilot more broadly across the city.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 27/53

The next item is revised and passes for 1051 W Cornelia Ave.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 28/53

The next item is 22293 in the 13th ward. The zoning is single unit, RS-2 to B1-1 for a retail shopping center.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 29/53

Item passes. The next item is 22287, 3527 S Damen in the 25th Ward. Atty Ximena Castro is speaking about this development, zoning change that will add two additional dwelling units. They have the support of Ald. Sigcho-López @SigchoFor25 . Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 30/53

@SigchoFor25 The next item is for 1215-25 S Allport St. This is a rezoned for buildings adjoining Thalia Hall. The change will allow for outdoor seating and storage for the hall. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 31/53

Atty Timothy Barton is speaking on the next item, 22285-T1. This is 159-67 N Racine, changing from C1-2 to DX-5, Ald. Burnett is in support. The Ald is saying that the developers engaged with multiple community groups. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 32/53

Atty Tyler Manic is speaking to the proposed map amendment at 1235 W Grand. This is to rezone for a restaurant from the Sueños Restaurant Group. Ald Burnett is in support.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 33/53

Item passes. These is a discussion about how everyone wants tacos. 😊

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 34/53

See Ashok Selva for Eater

chicago.eater.com/2023/2/13/2359…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 35/53

The next item is Javier Enríquez for a changé at 1141 N Austin. This change is to allow a single family home to be converted into two units. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 36/53

The next item is in the 29th ward, presented by Atty Frederick Augustin. The building is at 2339 N Lister. This change is for use only, not change to the building will be made, but the owner wants to allow a shared housing unit.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 37/53

Item passes. The next item is 1418 N Luna. This is to legalize an existing basement apartment. Ald Mitts is in support and there was community engagement. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 38/53

The next item is 6845 W Addison, to restore a banquet hall, previously the Polynesian Village Banquet Hall in the 38th ward. Ald Sposato is in support. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 39/53

The next item is for a third basement unit at 5201 Cullom Ave. Ald La Spata is speaking to the policy work needed to allow ADUs more easily.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 40/53

The next item is in the 32nd ward. This is a building that used to house beloved bakery, Dinkel's. See Chicago Yimby

chicagoyimby.com/2023/11/59490.…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 41/53

This item has Ald. Waguespack's support and passes without objection.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 42/53

The next two items are to extend zoning variances in the 47th Ward. There is a discussion of residential units that will support the existing businesses. Items pass.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 43/53

The next item is 5173 S Archer. Nicholas Ftikas is presenting. This is for a new restaurant café. Item has aldermanic support and it has passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 44/53

The next item is for 2250 W Irving Park Road in the 47th Ward. This is to extend the zoning change to allow extra time to complete drawings. Ald Villegas is asking whether interest rates could impact completion. Item passes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 45/53

And we move to the Thrive Exchange. Apologies, I just realize I posted the wrong link above for Lincoln Ave. This development is for 7901 S Exchange. This is a complicated development with lots that are zoned differently in South Shore. Part of the lot is owned by the city.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 46/53

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 47/53

There is support of Ald Mitchell, as well as Metra and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 48/53

Ald. La Spata is asking about the intersection of affordable housing and environmental justice. A member of the team from Thrive is speaking to their program. Ald La Spata is commending their efforts and saying that he hopes other folks will use this as a model.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 49/53

V Chair Lawson is now moving to defer several items, including one from Ald Beale in the 9th ward. Ald Lawson is reading everything at a normal pace, and making sure that he is giving page numbers. This is a change to how things moved under Ramírez-Rosa.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 50/53

Ald. Fuentes moves that the items be deferred, and the deferral is passed. Ald Lawson now asks for a motion to adjourn. So moved, and the meeting is adjourned at 11:56.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 51/53

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ald Ramírez-Rosa @CDRosa came up to shake hands with Ald Lawson @lawsonfor44 - This follows a meeting whose tone was, I would say, very convivial.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 52/53

@CDRosa @lawsonfor44 I want to circle back briefly to the development at 3327 N Lincoln Ave for a six story mixed use building. I shared the wrong article earlier. Chicago Yimby is staying on top of these so well, that I'm sharing two of their pieces today. Here's the one

chicagoyimby.com/2023/07/plans-…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 53/53

@CDRosa @lawsonfor44 This concludes my coverage of the meeting of the Chicago City Council Committee on Zoning Landmarks and Building Standards. For more hyper local coverage of public meetings visit .

Documenters.org

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Attachments

Meeting details

By India Daniels 11/30/2023

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

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At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

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