By Jim Sterne
News Editor
Mayor Richard M. Daley offered the City Council a package of zoning code changes in January that includes new ordinances to create and protect 27 pedestrian shopping streets and eight classic Chicago intersections in neighborhoods throughout Chicago, including 23 North Side locations.
According to the Mayor’s press release, the new codes would “protect the integrity of these ‘mini-Main Streets’ by requiring that buildings be built to the sidewalk with doors and windows facing the street. Any off-street parking has to be behind the building, to eliminate driveways. Strip malls, gas stations and drive-through businesses would be prohibited. The mayor’s proposed reforms recognize the importance of pedestrian shopping districts as economic engines that also reinforce the character of the community.”
However, some property owners and organizations feel that they were not told much about the proposed codes before they were announced, though others felt that they had plenty of advance notice. The gargantuan task of rewriting the city’s dated 1957 zoning codes is bound to cause conflicts but so has trying to make the old codes work in the 21st century.
“Prior to the announcement there were briefings for aldermen who will be most affected. You don’t want to discourage an idea as long as people understand it is an idea and not an edict... until it becomes a law,” said Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th) who, with Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th), represents a designated area in Andersonville on Clark St. from Foster Ave to Bryn Mawr Ave.
Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) didn’t risk misunderstandings of the Mayor’s proposals. A week before the announcement, he called a meeting with representatives of the Department of Planning and Development (DOD), The Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, the Ravenswood Industrial Council; Brad Leibov, executive director of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce; and Tom Lambros Bornstein, executive director of the North Center Chamber of Commerce. The meeting lasted over two hours.
“I applaud the proposal,” Leibov said. “Most people don’t realize it when they say Lincoln Square looks great and it has always looked great, but it isn’t protected. It was news to me that under the current zoning codes new development could be set back from the street, a door doesn’t have to be at sidewalk level, and driveways are allowed to access Lincoln Ave.” Leibov says that the new proposals would protect the character of Lincoln Square and other unique business areas.
“Most of the time, the alderman of a ward determines what development looks like. This proposal makes development much more predictable because it will be set into law,” Leibov said. “The pedestrian oriented designation will mean that any new development on Lincoln Ave. will have an entrance at street level with large windows. It will be a welcoming environment and maintain its character.”
“I’m sure there will be debate — it is the American way,” said Bornstein of North Center. “Will everyone, including property owners, like it? I think the majority will, but how do you bat 100?”
“From the chamber perspective it is good because we are promoting a traditional urban business community that means we encourage as much as we can the walking-in type of retail. I grew up in this community and we used to have gobs of walk-in retail. In the ‘60s and ‘70s people moved to the suburbs but they are returning through gentrification. The Irving-Damen-Lincoln intersection attracts new business that people walk to. We have new condos and more retail coming,” Bornstein said.
“With these changes, neighborhood commercial areas will be more competitive, attractive places to shop,” said Alicia Berg, DPD. commissioner “This will stimulate commerce from within the community while attracting new dollars from shoppers drawn to the area. It’s a giant step toward improving local business districts and revitalizing our commercial streets.”
Also included in the changes are new codes to create commercial “buffer zones” between residential and industrial areas, and to allow development of residences in areas that were previously zoned for business and commercial.
“Streets go vacant when zoning doesn’t allow choices,” said City Council Zoning Commission Co-chairman Ald. William Banks (39th). “New zoning will allow residences in underutilized commercial areas while putting Chicago more in line with modern retailing practices.”
“The proposal identifies areas that are pedestrian friendly and oriented and keeps them that way,” said Uptown Ald. Helen Shiller (46th). “The property owners are aware of these issues. There has been a huge amount of discussion regarding zoning and nothing has been passed yet. These are proposals we will be voting on in the future. Right now they are just announcing new parts and also announcing public hearings where people will comment and consider the proposals.”
Ald. Banks did not feel the need for any concern about property owners who might not know about the Mayor’s recent proposal. “Some business owners know of the plans and some don’t,” Banks said. “I would think the business owners would be happy that their options have expanded. They will clearly be part of the process. There will be more public hearings when we get to the map phase. All interests will be aired at community meetings. People with issues can meet on an individual basis or make arrangements to come downtown and talk,” Banks said.
“We are going through each and every ward with the sitting alderman and discuss the issues and we will finalize the community’s plans. We will have a consensus type situation,” Banks added.
“My only worry,” Ald. O’Conner said, “is that when this is all done in a couple of years and codified into law, we realize that zoning is not a static thing. It is a tool for positive change. If you need to change the zoning law to accommodate something that is positive, well, you’ve got to change it.” |
