Joe Moore is forging ahead, with no community input, with establishing a new manufacturing district in the 49th Ward on the east side of Western Avenue.
Excerpt from the agenda of the March 25, 2008 meeting of City Council Zoning Committee:
NO. 16536 (49th WARD) ORDINANCE REFERRED (2-6-08)The zoning changed was passed (of course) by the zoning committee last week, and next week, Wednesday April 6, 2008, it will be rubber-stamped by the full City Council and become law, with no community process.
To classify as C1-2 Neighborhood Commercial District, instead of B3-2 Community Shopping District ... 7429-35 North Western Avenue
C1 is a much more permissive zoning than B3. Many significant uses are permitted by rights under the new zoning that are not permitted under the current zoning, including taverns, liquor stores, tattoo parlors, car washes, auto garages, and storage of construction materials.
Although Chicago's zoning laws specify (17-3-0105-D):
"C1 zoning is generally intended to be applied in compact nodes, at the intersection of two or more major streets"... Moore's new manufacturing district is in the middle of the block on Western between residential side streets Birchwood and Jarvis, and in the middle of an area of B3-2 zoning. Immediately east of this proposed new manufacturing district, across the alley, is a vast area of residential zoning.
This will be the first use of C zoning on Western Avenue in the 49th Ward. Much of the Chicago side of Howard Street between Seeley (2017W) and Oakley (2301W) is zoned C, and this C zoning has complicated neighborhood issues for CAPS and other residents of Chicago and Evanston.
No neighborhood or block club meetings were held on this zoning change.
The zoning change was not considered by Moore's so-called "community" zoning committee ("Community Input Key To Decision-Making"), according to Moore's website.
No additional information on this zoning change is available on Moore's website.
No additional information on this zoning change is available in Moore's nearly-daily e-mail newsletters.
Joe Moore - he's alderman, and YOU'RE NOT!
PS: this is NOT an April Fool's post, I wish it were, you can look it up
17 comments:
Maybe he could work on getting us a crossing guard there for the Rogers, and St. Margaret Mary kids. It is one of the most dangerous intersections in the area. Jarvis jogs around there and the light is poorly timed. I have hounded Bernie Stone about this for years and nothing has happened. He tells me to go to the 24th district and present my case. On another note, the Lynn Cleaners which is located there lost it sign last night due to high winds. It is quite a site. There were many gawkers this morning.
Moore just rolls forward with whatever evil plans he has for us, with no consideration for what his constituents want.
Oh, but I forgot. We the residents of his ward are not really his constituents. His constituents are the contributors who contribute big bucks.
This is surely not what the residents of the fine neighborhood surrounding Western want. This is a beautiful, safe West Rogers Park neighborhood.
Thanks for alerting people. The denizens of this area will NOT be happy about this type of zoning.
Zoning this area for manufacturing would open the doors to a variety of uses that create noxious odors and noise, and could kill whatever value it has as a commercial district.
Does Moore ever consider what would actually be good for the neighborhoods he serves? Western Ave really does need to be rezoned, to allow for mixed use zoning with 3-4 story buildings with residential above and small retail below, to replace car dealerships as they move out, as they probably will over the next ten years. There are already a few antique stores on the street, but it needs more of this type of thing and it really needs things that the residents need to buy day-to-day.
Is it possible to have a recall election? How do we go about getting this jackass recalled? Many people who supported him are probably very sorry for it.
I think this is a good idea. Rogers Park needs development and Western Avenue sure isn't anything too special right now.
before anyone asks, Alderman Moore's office was contacted regarding this zoning change, and Moore's spokesperson on zoning issues commented:
"We were hoping to handle this quietly."
I'll be interested to see what they put in. The only other C zone on that part of the street is the strip mall across the street with Engs, Blockbuster and a (pretty nice actually) liquor store. Even the strip mall to the north with all the dollar stores is a B3. Of course ever since the furniture liquidator moved up to Howard, there has been a gaping empty hole in the C2 mall. Here's hoping Moore (well, whoever is going to be developing that small plot) has tenants lined up already. There are enough empty storefronts on Western already. Multiple empty C zoned storefronts just seems like it will cause trouble in the future.
Kelly, Western Ave itself doesn't look like much, but have you ever penetrated the neighborhoods on either side. You'd never know from looking at this ugly street how beautiful the neighborhoods a block are, because you see nothing but the backsides of apt buildings, and car dealership lots.
These are some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city, gracious, tree-lined streets lined with fine old homes and spectacular old buildings. Some of the quietest streets I've ever been on. Indian Boundary Park is a block off Western, and when you enter this area by Estes or Greenleaf, it is like stepping into another world.
The Park Castle and other great buildings are in this area.
I don't want to see this beautiful area turned into "factory" neighborhood replete with tractor-trailers parked allover the area. This will cause the area to slumify over time. There are plenty of places in Chicago where industry already has a big foothold and that are nothing but brown lots you can't do anything else with. Let it go to those areas.
If anything, most people would like to see Western Ave become a more pedestrian-friendly street with fewer parking lots and more resident-friendly commercial. The area is a commercial wasteland right now.
We can at least let the residents nearby have a voice, and I'm pretty sure they don't want their neighborhood to be industrial. These people should get first consideration and the biggest voice in how this street is developed.
I checked with the State Board of elections. There is NO provision for recall of any government official in Illinois. If they are convicted of a felony,they could be removed from office. Bummer.
Note to the north coast: The only way you can oust Alderliar Moore early (sans violence) is the traditional way; by getting his ass nailed by the US Attorney. Start gathering the evidence of his numerous misdeeds (such as "campaign contributions" from businesses that take place around the time Moore does something for them), and demand that the US Attorney act without delay!
Hugh
The spokesperson said they were hoping to handle it "quietly"??? That speaks volumes right there. And the fact that the Zoning Committee evidently was not involved says even more.
I said after the election that Yes, Joe Won and He Is the Alderman but that I didn't trust him. Too bad he is living down to my lowest expectations. How much lower can he go?
is this what is behind the change?
Andrea Lieu, c/o Law Offices of Samuel V.P.
Banks -- Application No. 16536 -- classification
of area shown on Map No. 19-H, etc. as a C1-2
Neighborhood Commercial District instead of a
B3-2 Community Shopping District.
[C.J.p. 199171
From the 2/6/08 Proposed Ordinances Page 10 (PDF).
Hugh? I am still a bit of a noob on this stuff, but does this look like the origin of the zoning change?
Does anyone know if there is a planned use for this zoning change? Or is this a case of just in case someone wants to do something?
yes, you make me proud
yes, the ordinance was introduced into City Council 2/6 - and will become law 4/6 - 2 months soup to nuts - ain't it impressive how swiftly your govt can work at times?
and yes, the lobbyist is Banks, the law firm of the Chair of the Zoning committee, if they had wanted our opinion, they would have asked
"Does anyone know if there is a planned use for this zoning change?"
whatever the planned use or current use, it is critical that neighbors carefully consider all POTENTIAL uses
our licensing & permitting processes operate in the domain of current use, allowable use is the domain of zoning law
tenants come & go, a zoning change is forever
before anyone asks, Alderman Moore's office was contacted regarding this zoning change, and Moore's spokesperson on zoning issues commented:
"We were hoping to handle this quietly."
Ah, same old s&*t, different street.
"tenants come & go, a zoning change is forever"
Until they change it again. :)
uh, yeah, north coast, i know what the neighborhood looks like. i've owned a single family home in rogers park for more than eight years and have been a resident of rogers park for more than 13 years. in that time i have seen little positive development but have certainly had to hear a lot of people talk about halting development. it's non-sense. i mean a vibrant neighborhood can only exist if you have opportunities to spend money in it. that's development.
Kelly, you had better be very specific about what kind of development you want.
Do you believe your neighborhood will be improved by the kinds of uses that this zoning will permit?
Do you believe that tatoo parlors and auto body repair shops and "adult" video stores will elevate the tone of the area and make Western Ave. a Destination Street? For what kind of people? These are just a few of the really undesirable types of businesses that would be permitted under the proposed zoning.
If that's "economic development", then I'd prefer permanent recesssion.
Yeah, it's a little dull over there,for sure. There could be more retail and more restarants; and you'd maybe like to have a meeting with whatever long-passed aldercreature let Western be zoned for all those auto dealerships. I'm sure those dealerships were not an improvement on whatever preceded them.
But it's also very beautiful and very nice. It is where the really beautiful single family homes are. The apartment buildings are gorgeous.It's much safer than around here. And it could get much worse. Do you want Western to look and act like N. Clark St. between Pratt and Howard? It will, if you let this type of zoning happen.
Joe's intended development is HORRIBLE and will make your neighborhood a slum. You're sort of on the edge now, as it is, for a few buildings over there have become bad, and the crime is up. But you could still salvage the situation by applying pressure to bad landlords.
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