Latest news with #EnvisionEvanston2045
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.
Chicago Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston mayor breaks tie to OK appointee to Land Use Commission
New City Council members made it close, but not impossible, for Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss to cast a tie-breaking vote to approve his appointee to the city's Land Use Commission. The commission is currently charged with giving final approval for Envision Evanston 2045, an initiative that would increase density that Biss has strongly supported. Councilmembers Tom Suffredin (6th), Clare Kelly (1st), Parielle Davis (7th) and Matt Rodgers (8th) voted 'no' to Lutheran Grace Church Lead Pastor Luke Harris joining the Land Use Commission. Councilmembers Shawn Iles (3rd), Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th), Bobby Burns (5th) and Juan Geracaris (9th) voted to approve the mayor's pick. In Evanston, the mayor is responsible for appointing members to the city's Boards, Commissions and Committees. Those appointees are then voted on by the City Council, and need a simple majority of votes to join a board. Before casting their votes, city councilmembers gave their opinion on their vote. 'I have never had the privilege of being able to be underqualified for a position. I've never gotten a position over someone else who had higher credentials, and so I'll say that this is a soft spot for me,' Davis said. 'Quite frankly, I find this appointment to some degree insulting,' she said, because of Harris' lack of experience compared to other applicants to the commission. Previously, Biss allowed former Commissioner George Halik's term to expire in order to create a vacancy on the Land Use Commission. Biss also attempted to appoint to the commission an affordable housing expert who specializes in low income housing tax credits, but the appointee was met with significant pushback following the discovery of her social media posts that critics said were ageist and biased in favor of making Evanston more dense. Iles, the Overnight Shelter Director for Interfaith Action of Evanston, was under fire by some public commenters and Kelly who speculated that because of his employment and Lutheran Grace Church's ties to Interfaith Action, he could not cast an impartial vote to approve Harris to the Land Use Commission. Iles checked with Corporation Counsel Alexandra Ruggie to ask whether his vote would meet the city's standard of a conflict of interest. Ruggie said Iles' vote would not be considered a conflict of interest under the city's ethics code. 'It's just not there,' Ruggie said. 'It's just too far removed.' Lutheran Grace Church is one of 40 churches that provide funding to Interfaith Action, but a large portion of funding comes from individual donors, Iles said. Iles commented, 'He (Harris) has direct experience with affordable housing. I find him to be a passionate, informed, thoughtful member of our community. I think he can serve us well both as a younger person and as a renter,' he said. Rodgers said prior to the meeting, he met with Harris over coffee to discuss his interest in being on the commission. 'I was impressed with his commitment to affordable housing in Evanston, and making sure it's some place that people can move to and live.' 'However, I do have a number of reservations about his overall qualifications for this position,' he continued. 'Outside of recommending for the comprehensive general plan and the zoning ordinance, affordable housing is a very small part of what Land Use does.' 'I mentioned to the mayor in my letter to him that if Mr. Harris was nominated to (the) Housing and Community Development (Committee), I would be 100% supportive of that. I think that's a great place for them to do the work they are interested in doing and accomplishing great things for Evanston,' Rodgers said. Burns commented on the city's form of council-manager government, which some on the council have described as a 'weak mayor' government because the mayor does not vote or make motions, and does not typically give their opinion on agenda items during a council meeting. 'The one area where the mayor does have some influence, and obviously what you're seeing here today still needs to be confirmed by this council, is appoint people to BCC's (Boards, Commissions and Committees),' Burns said. 'In my opinion, that is the way a mayor with a limited influence in this form of government can try to think about how to compose a BCC in a way that helps to deliver on the things that he told his constituents in the community were important to him, important to them, etc.,' he said. 'I don't think there's anything improper with that. That's just to me the way that it works when you have that ability as a mayor,' Burns said. 'As council, up here, we have to use our own lens whether or not we feel we agree with that composition.'
Chicago Tribune
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss touts safety, future density, in State of the City address
Hours before announcing his bid for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky's seat in next year's election, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss touted Evanston's accomplishments and aspirations, from a proposal for greater density to more informed police responses, at a standing-room-only State of the City address on Wednesday. It was his first such address after winning about 63% of the vote in last month's mayoral election. The address, held at Evanston Space, brought in over 100 people to the city-sponsored event. Biss said it has been two years since the city has seen a murder, a feat not accomplished since the 1970s, and pushed for more affordable housing in Evanston, while taking shots against President Donald Trump. In his next four years as mayor–which could be curtailed if he wins the Congressional election — Biss will continue his efforts to lead and pass Envision Evanston 2045, an effort which updates the city's zoning code and serves as its comprehensive plan for the next 20 years. It has received a mix of support and criticism from Evanston residents when it comes to constructing bigger buildings and increasing density throughout Evanston. Biss will also need to balance the next year's budget without American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government after the Covid-era dollars ran out. Some city leaders noted, after Biss announced his run for Congress, that campaigning will take a significant amount of the mayor's time and energy, and they wondered aloud where that would leave Evanston. Biss touted the achievements of the Crisis Alternative Response Evanston (C.A.R.E) team, whose members have the training to respond to mental health and non-violent 911 calls. The team went through training at Oakton College last summer and has since responded to over 1,500 calls, Biss said. 'It's been a game changer in this community,' Biss said, adding it has opened lines of communication in Evanston for trust to be established. In April, the Evanston Police Department was selected the 2025 Illinois Crisis Intervention Team Department of the Year by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board. Prior to that, Evanston Police Chief Schenita Stewart was awarded Police Chief of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. 'More important than any prize or any word or any speech is that violent crime has plummeted in the city of Evanston,' Biss said. 'These changes are making a difference.' Biss then spoke about Trump, whose administration attempted to cut federal funds to Evanston and other municipalities, he said, but was blocked by a federal judge from doing so. 'The administration in Washington is terrifying people across Evanston… It's making the management of city government much harder — as we don't know what we're going to find out tomorrow about missing revenues.' 'In Evanston, we believe in fighting back. We believe in fighting back in any way we can. Before Donald Trump even took office on January 20, we had passed the strongest Welcoming City Ordinance in the state, possibly even in the country, to ensure that we are not doing anything to collaborate with or assist civil immigration enforcement that is counter to our community's values.' Biss said the city must ready itself for potential threats to federal grants, but also remain on course to implement innovative programs such as the C.A.R.E. team. 'This brings me to one of the main live topics that exists in our city government right now, which is Envision Evanston 2045: A hard issue, a complicated issue, an issue that has all kinds of nuance and all kinds of tactical components and all kinds of subtlety and all kinds of intense emotional balance,' Biss said. Biss repeated pillars of the comprehensive plan: to allow for more housing in Evanston, to create more housing in Evanston and to implement sustainable practices in Evanston in alignment with the city's Healthy Business Ordinance. 'There is a lot of good that will come in this, but it's hard work, and it's complicated and it's contentious, and there have been tough conversations.' 'My message to the community is very simple,' Biss said. 'We have to stay in these conversations. We have to welcome every voice to the table. We have to make sure that every point of view is represented and heard… We cannot accept the idea that it's too hard, it's too controversial… We're just going to ultimately back down.' 'We have to remember who we are. As Evanston, we see society's toughest challenges, we study society's toughest challenges and then we do what we can to address society's toughest challenges.' He cited an example from Evanston's history when Connections for the Homeless was formed in 1984. With a lack of support from municipal leaders to house the homeless, Biss said faith leaders took it upon themselves to use their houses of worship as shelters. 'The city said, 'Great idea. Too bad about the zoning,'' Biss said. 'A familiar sentence, that turns out.' Faith leaders found a loophole then, Biss said. 'The zoning did not permit a shelter. The zoning also did not prohibit an all-night prayer vigil. And how about one tomorrow night? How about the night after that? And how about the night after?'
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.
