Preview the zoning & other ordinances proposed in December ‘24

Chicago Cityscape members know that we have the only map and details of proposed zoning changes, updated each month. This month we’re doing something a little extra and previewing municipal code amendments that are related to zoning, land use, and transportation.

Would any of these proposed ordinances be useful to your work?

• Ald. Yancy (5th) proposed an ordinance that would allow many special uses to be approved by the zoning administrator rather than having to appear before and be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. This would allow shelters, nursing homes, medical services, hair salons, outdoor patios, and more to be approved administratively (although the same documentation and application standards would apply). Plus, applications not approved by the zoning administrator within 120 days would be automatically approved. On the other hand, the ordinance, as written, would allow RV and boat storage, self-storage warehouses, shooting ranges, and strip malls to also take the administrative approval path. (read the proposal)
• An ordinance proposed by Ald. Reilly (42nd) would require city to publish account balances of all TIF districts within 10 days after each quarter. Currently, balances are published when the TIF annual reports are published…months after the year ends. (read the proposal)
• An ordinance was proposed to amend the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOP) procedures in the Northwest Preservation Ordinance that went into effect in September. The ordinance also implemented some minor upzoning, which is not affected by the proposed amendment. Key changes include requirements that tenants have to show a lender’s pre-approval letter (for 1–4 unit buildings) or letter of intent from a lender that the tenants are seeking pre-approval (5+ unit buildings). (various sponsors; read the proposal and check out the coverage in Crain’s)
• Ald. La Spata (1st) has proposed an ordinance that would expand the area of the ADU pilot area’s Northwest Zone. Previous attempts by other alders to expand one or more ADU pilot areas, or to allow ADUs citywide, were never map voted on. (see the map below and read the proposal)

• Ald. La Spata (1st) also introduced a revenue-raising transportation ordinance that would expand the area where TNC rides (Lyft, Uber, etc.) are subject to a surcharge, and expand the hours of the surcharge to include weekends. (see the map below and read the proposal)

Preview the land use & transportation ordinances proposed in December ‘24 was originally published in Chicago Cityscape’s Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.