Ward Zoning and Planning Committee Meeting: 4/27/05

Greg Harris opened the meeting, summarizing upcoming events in the area, including the Arbor Day occasion on Friday 4-29 at 10a.m. at Thorndale & Sheridan.

The Broadway Zoning Strategy report is near completion and the hope is for the report to be disseminated on or around May 2, 2005. We were asked to please review the report and use it as an adjunct to any decision making processes for changes that need to be voted on for Broadway. There was some discussion regarding Special Service Areas (SSAs). The upshot is that the SSAs are for commercial streets and avenues, controlled by the commercial leaders of the area from Foster to Irving Road and Sheridan west to Broadway. The SSAs are responsible for concentrating efforts of the business community to help in the cleaning and upkeep of the street, gutters and curbs, litter pick-up, sidewalk snow-plowing etc.

The Uptown Theater Building on Friday 4-29-05 will see the city taking some preemptive measures as ordered by the courts to ensure safety of pedestrians and auto traffic. The city will be extending the scaffolding/covering surrounding the building's perimeter as some of the Terra Cotta has begun to break loose. There will be netting added and a portion of the walk area closed off. The terra cotta will be removed and salvaged, safely stored for future renovation. There is some concern about the pace of work, as there are Peregrine Falcons nesting about the Theater. Because they are federally protected wildlife, there needs to be extended measures taken during the shoring up process.

There was initial discussion/description of the CPAN program.

• The 44th Ward has a policy whereby any new building of 10 units or more, or subject to zoning changes, is required to set aside 10% of the units for the program
• 43rd Ward, essentially same as above
• 47th Ward, essentially same
• 49th Ward, essentially same
• 42nd Ward: CPAN is mandatory for new buildings; participation with units or fees in lieu of are directed.

Finally, there were 3 developments that were previewed to the participants and put up for vote.

• In summary, the 5858-5868 N Broadway, 6 story mixed-use building met with mixed reaction, and there was a motion to approve the building BUT only if some modifications were met.
  
  This plan generated the most heated reaction. Following a discussion a vote was taken and the proposed development was allowed to proceed but only if some changes were made. However, the developer remained noncommittal on this requirement and was seemingly taken unaware by the requested modifications (e.g., an insistence on three more bedroom units than originally proposed). CARMEN-WINONA abstained from voting; we felt that the building was a bit out of our area and because of the tethering changes to a proposal of yes or no, we did not feel it prudent to give the firm up or down on the matter.
• The second development was for a residential property development at 5800 N Ridge. A motion was made to table the vote as the developers had not engaged the various block clubs on the project and the block clubs wanted time to study the project and meet with the developers. The motion to table was overwhelmingly passed. CARMEN-WINONA voted to table, siding with the block clubs in their right to review.
• The final project was for a 6 story, mixed use development at 5014-5016 N Broadway, developed by Edward Lin of Tai Grocery. After the presentation, a motion was called to vote for the proposed development and seconded. The vote was for the development to go ahead. Mr. Lin is still studying his possible participation in CPAN. CARMEN-WINONA voted for the proposal. There was one abstaining vote.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2005.

Joe Trendl has replaced Kim White as our volunteer block club representative at WZPC meetings. The Carmen-Winona Block Club thanks him for his community service.