Ward Zoning and Planning Committee Meeting: 11/30/05
Marge Britton gave the Alderman's update in the absence of both Alderwoman Smith and her Chief of Staff Greg Harris.
The scaffolding surrounding the Uptown Theater should be coming down in a week or two. The building has been reinforced at the appropriate places and many of the terra cotta tiles removed for preservation. Nothing specific was shared, but Alderwoman Smith seems to have found a buyer for the complex-- news to follow at a later date. There was a meeting amongst the powers to be at the Ward office regarding the Armory and all are hopeful that work there will begin in the Spring.
A planning group is being organized for the proposed Baby & Tot Lot at Thorndale and Greenview. Volunteers are being sought. Please call the Ward office for details.
A dog park named HollyWoof Park is being planned near Hollywood and Sheridan. Please call Tom Samuels at the Ward office for additional details and information.
A question was raised regarding the addition of a left turn lane at Foster & Broadway; Marge promised to look into the matter.
The Chicago Police are emphasizing their recruitment efforts. On Saturday Dec. 3, 2005 they will begin the 5th annual recruitment campaign. Interested persons should report to the Police Academy at 1300 W Jackson between the hours of 10am - 2pm. Applications may be picked up first at the 48th Ward office as a means of getting a head start on the process.
5715-5719 N Broadway: This was the only development item on the agenda. It was a special use request for a drive-through facility at a proposed Chase Bank on leased land at the address. The former Taco Bell building will be demolished and a new structure erected. The drive-through will be located at the rear of the lot behind the proposed building and parking would be located on the north side of the site. The architect for the bank is Brian Taylor. The bank will be a full service structure and will occupy 3700 SF. There will be a dual use curb cutout for ingress and egress off Broadway, with the exit being a right turn only onto Broadway per neighborhood request. Shrubbery and trees will be planted on Broadway as well as within island structures inside the parking lot. If ground is broken by Jan 1, 2006 the structure should be open for business in June of 2006. A motion was made and seconded to approve the development. There were 16 votes to approve, 2 against and 3 abstains. Carmen Winona cast an abstain vote.
There will be no Ward Zoning and Planning meeting in December. The next meeting is scheduled for the last Wednesday in January of 2006.