Scope of Work

The scope of this effort is to implement the zoning recommendations called for in the Downtown Plan Update, adopted by City Council in February 2009.  These recommendations can be found in the plan document in Section 8: Form-Based Zoning for Downtown. 

 

The adoption of the Downtown Plan Update by City Council created a policy for development in downtown Evanston, but did not embody that policy in the portions of the city code that actually regulate development – primarily, the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map.  In order to amend the city code (which includes the Zoning Map), specific procedures must be followed which include public notice, public input, property owner notification, and review by the boards and commissions which are specifically entrusted with this responsibility.   The final authority on all changes to the city code is the City Council. 

 

implementing the Downtown Plan Update will require replacing the five existing “performance-based” zoning districts (D1-4 and RP) that comprise the downtown with eight new “form/incentive-based” districts identified in the Plan (RD1-3, DT1-2 and DC1-3), completely rewriting Chapters 11 and 12 of the Zoning Ordinance, re-zoning every parcel of land in downtown Evanston, and making a host of ancillary amendments across the Zoning Ordinance and to other sections of the city code to accommodate these changes. 

 

Approach and Strategy

While the Plan recommendations are specific in their intent and effect, this implementation effort will determine the appropriate zoning vehicles and mechanisms that:

  • achieve the intent,
  • are realizable within the City’s resources, and
  • minimize potential negative impacts. 

 

This will be accomplished through dialog, discovery, and consensus-building with area stakeholders, property owners, community members, and others.  The resulting map amendments and text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance will be realized using the regular process as specified in the Zoning Ordinance, including proper notification, opportunity for input, and required deliberation by City bodies, including the City Council.

 

Because of the large scope of work to be done, the implementation effort is expected to take at least six months to complete.  The public hearing and notification process will be organized in phases sequentially by target district (i.e., the new zoning district for which a property is proposed).  Each phase will begin with a public hearing of the proposed regulations for the district under consideration (the “text amendment” part,  conducted by the Zoning Committee of the Plan Commission), followed by a public hearing on the rezoning (the “map amendment” part, conducted by the Plan Commission) for properties proposed to be rezoned to that district.