Meeting Summary

🏛️ City of Chicago Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards

🗓️ Meeting Summary

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 10:12 AM CST
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
Chair: Alderman Walter Burnett Jr.
Vice Chair: Alderman Bennett Lawson

📋 Agenda Summary

I. Roll Call

• Meeting called to order at 10:12 AM.
• Quorum established with 22+ alderpersons present.
• Remote participation approved for Aldermen Knudson and Ramirez under Rule 59.
• Multiple alderpersons and staff members acknowledged throughout the session.

II. Deferred Items

Motion Passed to Defer the Following Files:

• Pages 16–17:
  • File #22692 (55 E Washington St / 31–41 N Wabash)
  • File #22704 (6402–20 S Stony Ave)
  • File #22694 (3415–49 W Jackson Blvd / 3446 W 5th Ave)
  • File #22693 (4726–56 N Ravenswood / 1801–31 W Lawrence)

III. Public Commentary

• 🗣 31 speakers signed up (2-minute limit per speaker).
• Key topics:
  • Ordinance Oppositions: Strong opposition to ordinance regulating beauty supply retailers near salons (deemed harmful to small and minority-owned businesses).
  • Support for Projects: Mixed feedback on the Fern Hill Old Town development (1600 N LaSalle) – some in favor due to affordable housing and design, others opposing due to neighborhood scale, lakefront impact, and historical preservation.
  • Affordable Housing Projects: Support for Bickerdike’s proposal (5853 N Broadway, Edgewater); some opposition to another housing project on Kedzie (3819–27 N Kedzie).
  • Sustainable Housing Ideas: Multiple speakers (incl. university students) proposed innovative changes to the Chicago Building Code:
    • Rammed earth and shipping container construction
    • SRO housing in low-density zones
    • Abolishing single-family zoning
    • Allowing single-stair typology
    • Eliminating parking minimums
    • Zoning overlays to activate vacant lots
    • Accessibility hotline creation

IV. New Business

A. Major Approvals

1. Fern Hill Development – Old Town (1600 N LaSalle)
   • Outcome: Approved
   • Details: 36-story, 349-unit mixed-use development with 70 affordable units and 285 parking spaces.
   • Modifications: Reduced from original plan; bird-friendly and sustainable design enhancements.
   • Support: Backed by Ald. Hopkins, Old Town Merchants & Residents Association, and multiple contractors' associations.
   • Opposition: Cited historic character, density, lakefront disruption, and process concerns​.
2. Beauty Supply Zoning Ordinance
   • Proposal: Require special-use permits for retailers selling personal grooming products near salons (B1, B2, B3, C1 zones).
   • Result: FAILED (10–2 vote against)
   • Opposition: Concerns about harm to minority-owned businesses and regulatory barriers.
3. 95th Street PMD Revitalization – 21st Ward
   • Result: Approved
   • Amendment: Allows expanded service use (artist studios, food retail, daycares, community centers) in PMD 10.
4. Rector Building – 79 W Monroe (34th Ward)
   • Result: Approved permit fee waiver
   • Use: Landmark redevelopment into residential units​.
5. Large Signs Approved Across Wards:
   • Wards: 3, 21, 27, 32, 34, 35, 36, 41

B. Zoning Map Amendments

Grouped and Individual Approvals:

• Englewood Agro-Eco District (15th & 16th Wards): 6 rezoning approvals in line with future Englewood Nature Trail goals.
• 47th Ward (Western Ave): Multiple corridor rezonings to promote mixed-use redevelopment.
• 49th Ward (Howard St): 5 coordinated amendments to implement 2023 Howard Street Recovery Plan.
• 21st Ward: 4 zoning updates aligning with recent plans (incl. Morgan Park Commons, Habitat homes).
• Armitage Pedestrian Street Designation (26th & 35th Wards): Approved to restrict future auto-centric developments.
• Cicero De-designation (45th Ward): Approved to remove outdated pedestrian designation for adaptive reuse.
• Access Contemporary Music Rezoning (46th Ward): Approved to allow liquor license in former 7-Eleven.
• Padel Courts (27th Ward): Approved for indoor sports use in existing building.
• Fern Hill High-Rise (continued): Final ordinance passed after extended discussion.
• New Housing Units & Church Conversion (1st & 27th Wards): Approved for mixed-use and residential reuse (e.g., 16-unit church conversion on Tallman Ave).

V. Adjournment

• Minutes of March 2025: Approved by same roll call as quorum.
• Meeting concluded following the extensive legislative review and votes.