Latest news with #EnvisionEvanston
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Residents can comment on Envision Evanston, which would increase density, before it heads to City Council
Envision Evanston, a proposal for a comprehensive 20-year plan with goals for housing, business, transportation and more, is now in the final stretch of consideration from the city, leading up to a deadline of mid-August. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the plan at Special City Council meetings on June 24 and July 21 at 7 p.m., which the public is welcome to attend, according to the city's spokesperson, Cynthia Vargas. The plan stalled in January after receiving pushback from residents concerned about the city's zoning and land use plans. Critics said the plan would allow too much density, in all of Evanston as well as downtown. The comprehensive plan is still in a draft phase, and is susceptible to additional edits by the City Council. Eighth Ward City Councilmember and former chair of the Land Use Commission Matt Rodgers told Pioneer Press while the current version of the plan is a vast improvement over the first draft he saw when he chaired the commission, he still has reservations about missing or incomplete information. 'I would not vote 'yes' on the plan as it is, but with some tweaks and clarifications, I can see a path forward,' Rodgers said. With a 7-1 recommendation from the Land Use Commission, Envision Evanston 2045 is now headed to the Evanston City Council for consideration before the August deadline. The June 24 and July 21 Special City Council meetings, which will welcome input, are in addition to the Regular City Council meetings, Vargas said. All take place at 909 Davis Street, Evanston. The City Council has yet to determine what those additional meetings will look like, Vargas said. According to Rodgers, the Special City Council meetings will not include town hall style meetings in which residents can ask questions of city staff and City Council about the Envision Evanston proposal. 'We've talked about creating special rules for our meetings to allow for longer public comment, but I don't know if those rules will allow for Council responses to citizen questions or not,' Rodgers said. Meanwhile, the City Council will need to make a decision before its August deadline to comply with state and local laws. 'If the City Council does not take action within that timeframe, another public hearing must be held, which can be with either the City Council or the Land Use Commission,' Vargas said. Some Councilmembers are using their ward meetings to discuss Envision Evanston, with those discussions already being held for the 1st, 4th and 7th Wards, Rodgers said. The 8th Ward will have its meeting on July 10, with plans in the works to have councilmembers from the 3rd and 9th Ward join. Rodgers said he and 6th Ward City Councilmember Tom Suffredin are considering a combined 6th/8th Ward virtual meeting. 'Some of these are Zoom discussions, and a couple are using the world cafe model with the League of Women Voters as moderators, so there will be different opportunities to gain public input,' Rodgers said. Separate from the comprehensive plan is a plan to update the city's zoning code. Both were meant to be approved by the City Council as a package with one guiding the other, but those plans were derailed after pushback from residents who wanted the city's zoning code to continue to allow single-family homes and prohibit duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes (two-, three- and four-flats) from being built on certain blocks. 'In my informal conversations with some other members of Council, there is an appetite to have town halls once we get into the Zoning Ordinance and the details,' Rodgers said. Throughout the drafts and public meetings regarding Envision Evanston, it has been mired in controversy. Opponents have organized public comment sessions against the city's planned densification that could change the cityscape downtown and in their own neighborhoods, and advocates have insisted that more businesses and housing in Evanston will make the city more affordable and energy efficient. Those points of view have been expressed in conversations about a proposed 31-story apartment building in downtown Evanston, which would be the tallest residential building in Cook County outside of Chicago, and in the selection process of a pick for a vacancy on the city's Land Use Commission. Mayor Daniel Biss, a proponent of Envision Evanston, released a statement after the Land Use Commission gave its recommendation on the final draft of the comprehensive plan. 'I'm appreciative of the Land Use Commission members for investing a tremendous amount of time and care into this process. I'm excited that the comprehensive plan now comes to Council, and I know that all Councilmembers are looking forward to digging in and doing their part to deliver a terrific plan for the whole community.' Rodgers emphasized his concerns with the draft in its current state. 'There are still some issues that are not included in this draft which I feel would be important in the City's vision for the next 20 years. Council should provide input on the top-line items — density, parking, sustainability, public spaces, etc.— and if necessary, ask LUC [Land Use Commission] to address issues that are not clear, or lacking,' he said.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Residents can comment on Envision Evanston, which would increase density, before it heads to City Council
Envision Evanston, a proposal for a comprehensive 20-year plan with goals for housing, business, transportation and more, is now in the final stretch of consideration from the city, leading up to a deadline of mid-August. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the plan at Special City Council meetings on June 24 and July 21 at 7 p.m., which the public is welcome to attend, according to the city's spokesperson, Cynthia Vargas. The plan stalled in January after receiving pushback from residents concerned about the city's zoning and land use plans. Critics said the plan would allow too much density, in all of Evanston as well as downtown. The comprehensive plan is still in a draft phase, and is susceptible to additional edits by the City Council. Eighth Ward City Councilmember and former chair of the Land Use Commission Matt Rodgers told Pioneer Press while the current version of the plan is a vast improvement over the first draft he saw when he chaired the commission, he still has reservations about missing or incomplete information. 'I would not vote 'yes' on the plan as it is, but with some tweaks and clarifications, I can see a path forward,' Rodgers said. With a 7-1 recommendation from the Land Use Commission, Envision Evanston 2045 is now headed to the Evanston City Council for consideration before the August deadline. The June 24 and July 21 Special City Council meetings, which will welcome input, are in addition to the Regular City Council meetings, Vargas said. All take place at 909 Davis Street, Evanston. The City Council has yet to determine what those additional meetings will look like, Vargas said. According to Rodgers, the Special City Council meetings will not include town hall style meetings in which residents can ask questions of city staff and City Council about the Envision Evanston proposal. 'We've talked about creating special rules for our meetings to allow for longer public comment, but I don't know if those rules will allow for Council responses to citizen questions or not,' Rodgers said. Meanwhile, the City Council will need to make a decision before its August deadline to comply with state and local laws. 'If the City Council does not take action within that timeframe, another public hearing must be held, which can be with either the City Council or the Land Use Commission,' Vargas said. Some Councilmembers are using their ward meetings to discuss Envision Evanston, with those discussions already being held for the 1st, 4th and 7th Wards, Rodgers said. The 8th Ward will have its meeting on July 10, with plans in the works to have councilmembers from the 3rd and 9th Ward join. Rodgers said he and 6th Ward City Councilmember Tom Suffredin are considering a combined 6th/8th Ward virtual meeting. 'Some of these are Zoom discussions, and a couple are using the world cafe model with the League of Women Voters as moderators, so there will be different opportunities to gain public input,' Rodgers said. Separate from the comprehensive plan is a plan to update the city's zoning code. Both were meant to be approved by the City Council as a package with one guiding the other, but those plans were derailed after pushback from residents who wanted the city's zoning code to continue to allow single-family homes and prohibit duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes (two-, three- and four-flats) from being built on certain blocks. 'In my informal conversations with some other members of Council, there is an appetite to have town halls once we get into the Zoning Ordinance and the details,' Rodgers said. Throughout the drafts and public meetings regarding Envision Evanston, it has been mired in controversy. Opponents have organized public comment sessions against the city's planned densification that could change the cityscape downtown and in their own neighborhoods, and advocates have insisted that more businesses and housing in Evanston will make the city more affordable and energy efficient. Those points of view have been expressed in conversations about a proposed 31-story apartment building in downtown Evanston, which would be the tallest residential building in Cook County outside of Chicago, and in the selection process of a pick for a vacancy on the city's Land Use Commission. Mayor Daniel Biss, a proponent of Envision Evanston, released a statement after the Land Use Commission gave its recommendation on the final draft of the comprehensive plan. 'I'm appreciative of the Land Use Commission members for investing a tremendous amount of time and care into this process. I'm excited that the comprehensive plan now comes to Council, and I know that all Councilmembers are looking forward to digging in and doing their part to deliver a terrific plan for the whole community.' Rodgers emphasized his concerns with the draft in its current state. 'There are still some issues that are not included in this draft which I feel would be important in the City's vision for the next 20 years. Council should provide input on the top-line items — density, parking, sustainability, public spaces, etc.— and if necessary, ask LUC [Land Use Commission] to address issues that are not clear, or lacking,' he said.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters reelect numerous suburban mayors, despite a few upsets of incumbents
Despite voters dumping a few high-profile suburban mayors, most incumbents claimed victory Tuesday in a flurry of races that were hotly contested but generally saw low voter turnout. While mayors in Aurora, Orland Park and Waukegan lost in unofficial vote counts, incumbents in Evanston, Elmhurst, Oak Park, Park Ridge, North Chicago and Tinley Park appeared to have held onto their seats. Just 17% of registered voters went to the polls in Cook County, a slight uptick from local elections in recent years, but well below the participation rate for presidential and statewide elections. In Arlington Heights, where Mayor Tom Hayes is stepping down, Trustee Jim Tinaglia won a three-way race with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jon Ridler and Trustee Thomas Schwingbeck Jr. Hayes had endorsed Tinaglia, who vowed to keep up the momentum to persuade the Chicago Bears to build their stadium in Arlington Heights and has even floated the idea of getting the Chicago White Sox to relocate there as well. There was also turnover in Dolton, where Mayor Tiffany Henyard was defeated in the Democratic primary in February by Trustee Jason House. House was on the way to a lopsided victory in Tuesday's consolidated election over Casundra Hopson-Jordan. For those mayors who were victorious, several plan to continue work on significant projects in their municipalities, from new police stations to village halls and a casino. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss thanked his opponent Jeff Boarini for raising issues in the campaign, but declared victory with 60% of the vote. Boarini had championed greater transparency and affordability. Biss, a former state representative and senator, faced opposition over his support of a new football stadium for Northwestern University. His reelection means he will continue his work on providing reparations for Black residents and the Envision Evanston plan for long-term planning and rezoning of single-family homes, which has gotten pushback from some residents. Biss promised change, saying, 'The question before us should not be, 'Is it OK to just stick with what we've always had and not move forward at all?' The question before us needs to be, 'How do we move forward?'' In Elmhurst, Mayor Scott Levin won 71% of the vote in early returns, leading challenger Mark Mulliner, who was the city's longest-serving alderman before leaving the City Council two years ago. 'I've proven through my track record that I'm the right person to be mayor,' Levin said. 'I also think it was a bit disingenuous (for Mulliner) to campaign saying you're going to lower the water rates and reduce taxes. We've been very good stewards of tax dollars and we've only raised taxes infrequently when necessary.' Levin, who spent more than a decade as an alderman, said he will pursue building a new police station. Following a contentious race in Oak Park, preliminary results showed Village President Vicki Scaman beating challenger Ravi Parakkat. Parakkat had opposed a proposal for a new village hall, a new leaf bagging ordinance and a pay raise for the village president. Scaman, who was endorsed by state Senate President Don Harmon, of Oak Park, presented herself as a collaborator who would listen to all sides and unite residents on issues such as a new police station. 'I am committed to listening to all and bringing our community together,' she said. In Waukegan, former Mayor Sam Cunningham was ready to return to office after declaring victory over incumbent Mary Ann Taylor, who ousted Cunningham four years ago. Taylor was the city's first woman chief executive, while Cunningham was its first Black leader. A former resident of public housing, Cunningham pledged to build new housing downtown, to proceed with plans for a permanent casino, and to sell Lake Michigan water to other communities. 'I'm ready to work alongside the City Council and other local leaders, but more importantly Waukeganites, to rebuild a stronger, more united community,' he said. Cunningham's victory continues a streak of Waukegan voters choosing a new mayor every election for the past 28 years. In neighboring North Chicago, Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. claimed an unprecedented sixth term to add to his 20-year tenure and continue his agenda. Rockingham said he wants to make North Chicago safer, improve its infrastructure and increase economic development. Park Ridge Mayor Martin 'Marty' Maloney also claimed reelection over a challenge from city Clerk Sal Raspanti. 'I am so thrilled to continue as mayor of Park Ridge. I am excited that this opportunity has been afforded to me and the community has faith in my experience and vision of the future of the next four years,' Maloney told the Pioneer Press. Maloney was on the City Council before being appointed mayor in 2015 following the sudden death of then-Mayor David Schmidt. He was then elected to the post in 2017 and reelected in 2021. And in Tinley Park, voters rewarded Mayor Michael Glotz with a second term, with 60% of the vote over Michael Maloney, a former union executive. Glotz's One Tinley Park slate also appeared victorious in races for village clerk and trustees. Glotz, first elected in 2021, is a member of Operating Engineers Local 150. Unions contributed to both candidates, and state Sen. Michael Hastings and state Rep. Bob Rita supported Maloney. When casting their vote for mayor, Tinley Park voters told the Daily Southtown that their most important issues were property taxes, a police contract and improving relations with the suburb's park district. The incumbent victories reversed trends in other suburbs such as Aurora, where incumbent Richard Irvin lost to Ald. John Laesch, and Orland Park, where former Trustee Jim Dodge declared victory over two-term Mayor Keith Pekau.
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Voters reelect numerous suburban mayors, despite a few upsets of incumbents
Despite voters dumping a few high-profile suburban mayors, most incumbents claimed victory Tuesday in a flurry of races that were hotly contested but generally saw low voter turnout. While mayors in Aurora, Orland Park and Waukegan lost in unofficial vote counts, incumbents in Evanston, Elmhurst, Oak Park, Park Ridge, North Chicago and Tinley Park appeared to have held onto their seats. Just 17% of registered voters went to the polls in Cook County, a slight uptick from local elections in recent years, but well below the participation rate for presidential and statewide elections. In Arlington Heights, where Mayor Tom Hayes is stepping down, Trustee Jim Tinaglia won a three-way race with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jon Ridler and Trustee Thomas Schwingbeck Jr. Hayes had endorsed Tinaglia, who vowed to keep up the momentum to persuade the Chicago Bears to build their stadium in Arlington Heights and has even floated the idea of getting the Chicago White Sox to relocate there as well. There was also turnover in Dolton, where Mayor Tiffany Henyard was defeated in the Democratic primary in February by Trustee Jason House. House was on the way to a lopsided victory in Tuesday's consolidated election over Casundra Hopson-Jordan. For those mayors who were victorious, several plan to continue work on significant projects in their municipalities, from new police stations to village halls and a casino. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss thanked his opponent Jeff Boarini for raising issues in the campaign, but declared victory with 60% of the vote. Boarini had championed greater transparency and affordability. Biss, a former state representative and senator, faced opposition over his support of a new football stadium for Northwestern University. His reelection means he will continue his work on providing reparations for Black residents and the Envision Evanston plan for long-term planning and rezoning of single-family homes, which has gotten pushback from some residents. Biss promised change, saying, 'The question before us should not be, 'Is it OK to just stick with what we've always had and not move forward at all?' The question before us needs to be, 'How do we move forward?'' In Elmhurst, Mayor Scott Levin won 71% of the vote in early returns, leading challenger Mark Mulliner, who was the city's longest-serving alderman before leaving the City Council two years ago. 'I've proven through my track record that I'm the right person to be mayor,' Levin said. 'I also think it was a bit disingenuous (for Mulliner) to campaign saying you're going to lower the water rates and reduce taxes. We've been very good stewards of tax dollars and we've only raised taxes infrequently when necessary.' Levin, who spent more than a decade as an alderman, said he will pursue building a new police station. Following a contentious race in Oak Park, preliminary results showed Village President Vicki Scaman beating challenger Ravi Parakkat. Parakkat had opposed a proposal for a new village hall, a new leaf bagging ordinance and a pay raise for the village president. Scaman, who was endorsed by state Senate President Don Harmon, of Oak Park, presented herself as a collaborator who would listen to all sides and unite residents on issues such as a new police station. 'I am committed to listening to all and bringing our community together,' she said. In Waukegan, former Mayor Sam Cunningham was ready to return to office after declaring victory over incumbent Mary Ann Taylor, who ousted Cunningham four years ago. Taylor was the city's first woman chief executive, while Cunningham was its first Black leader. A former resident of public housing, Cunningham pledged to build new housing downtown, to proceed with plans for a permanent casino, and to sell Lake Michigan water to other communities. 'I'm ready to work alongside the City Council and other local leaders, but more importantly Waukeganites, to rebuild a stronger, more united community,' he said. Cunningham's victory continues a streak of Waukegan voters choosing a new mayor every election for the past 28 years. In neighboring North Chicago, Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. claimed an unprecedented sixth term to add to his 20-year tenure and continue his agenda. Rockingham said he wants to make North Chicago safer, improve its infrastructure and increase economic development. Park Ridge Mayor Martin 'Marty' Maloney also claimed reelection over a challenge from city Clerk Sal Raspanti. 'I am so thrilled to continue as mayor of Park Ridge. I am excited that this opportunity has been afforded to me and the community has faith in my experience and vision of the future of the next four years,' Maloney told the Pioneer Press. Maloney was on the City Council before being appointed mayor in 2015 following the sudden death of then-Mayor David Schmidt. He was then elected to the post in 2017 and reelected in 2021. And in Tinley Park, voters rewarded Mayor Michael Glotz with a second term, with 60% of the vote over Michael Maloney, a former union executive. Glotz's One Tinley Park slate also appeared victorious in races for village clerk and trustees. Glotz, first elected in 2021, is a member of Operating Engineers Local 150. Unions contributed to both candidates, and state Sen. Michael Hastings and state Rep. Bob Rita supported Maloney. When casting their vote for mayor, Tinley Park voters told the Daily Southtown that their most important issues were property taxes, a police contract and improving relations with the suburb's park district. The incumbent victories reversed trends in other suburbs such as Aurora, where incumbent Richard Irvin lost to Ald. John Laesch, and Orland Park, where former Trustee Jim Dodge declared victory over two-term Mayor Keith Pekau.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Evanston voters re-elect Daniel Biss as mayor, per unofficial results
Evanston voters appear to want to keep the momentum going on a number of issues in the city, including Ryan Field, reparations, Envision Evanston and others, by retaining the incumbent mayor, unofficial Cook County Clerk's office election results show. Mayor Daniel Biss declared victory over challenger Jeff Boarini after unofficial results showed he had captured about 60% of the vote to about 40% for Boarini. 'I want to thank Jeff for running, for giving the community a choice, for making points and bringing forward issues that I think we'll all be better off for having discussed together,' Biss said to his supporters at an election-night campaign gathering. With 100% of Evanston's precincts tabulated in the April 1 election, unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk's office show incumbent Evanston Council Members Clare Kelly, Krissie Harris, Bobby Burns, Jonathan Nieuwsma and Juan Geracaris leading in their races. City Councilmember Devon Reid (8th) was the only incumbent to be losing Tuesday night, unofficial results show, to former Evanston Land Use Commission Chair Matt Rodgers. City Councilmember Tom Suffredin was showing about a 9% lead over his challenger Candance Chow for the hotly contested 6th ward race, unofficial results showed. Newcomers Shawn Iles and Parielle Davis were also in the lead for open seats in the 3rd and 7th wards, respectively. In his next term, Biss will face big issues in Evanston, including charting the future of the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, continuing to oversee Ryan Field and dealing with a K-8 school district, Evanston-Skokie District 65, in dire financial straits. The next City Council's first big items will include the consideration of Envision Evanston, the city's comprehensive 20-year plan and an updated zoning code, which received heavy pushback from Evanston residents in the months leading into the election. Previously, Biss campaigned hard for the Envision Evanston plan, but the city had to dramatically slow the pace of the project due to dissenting voices. 'Envision Evanston 2045 was a tough issue in this campaign,' Biss said. 'To those who are concerned about some of the changes we've been discussing, I hear you. I respect you. I appreciate that your voice is just as critical as every other voice, and that's why we slowed this down. That's why we created opportunities for more discussion and more engagement.' 'I need to say that every voice counts equally and so to those of you, or those maybe not in this room, who would say, 'Hey, nobody is asking for this,' I say simply, 'you are wrong.'' 'You don't know my friend, Katie, who, when you ask her how she feels about Evanston, she says, 'The thing I love best is the new bagel shop in my neighborhood, and I just want more people so there can be more customers for more small businesses like that,'' Biss said. 'And you don't know the couple whose door I knocked on a couple months ago in the Fourth Ward who are way too busy with their multiple jobs and their small child to even really be paying attention to municipal politics at all. 'But when I ask them what's on their mind, they said, you know, we live in this two-unit building, and it was so hard for us to find something like this in this town… Could you do something so we could have more of those in this town?' Biss, a former state representative and state senator, has maintained that he will not seek higher office during his next term as Evanston mayor.
