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Alderman Mary Ann Smith
5533 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 784-5277
Fax: (773) 784-5033
info@masmith48.org
City Hall Office
121 N. LaSalle St.
Room 300
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 744-6860
Fax: (312) 744-0804
48th Ward Zoning & Planning Committee Community Approval Process
Process for review of requests for developments that require special use permits, change of zoning, zoning variations, alley access for new developments, approval in a designated TIF area, or are Planned Developments or developments covered by the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. The committee also reviews requests to lift the 48th Ward Liquor License Moratorium.
- Initial request or proposal comes to Ward office
- Alderman or her representative meets with w/developer:
Reviews proposal
Makes initial suggestions
Explains community process
Provides contact information to developer on community groups, block clubs, etc.
- Developer schedules presentations with suggested community groups.
- Organizations should hold meetings in a timely manner. If possible, more than one group should co-sponsor a meeting to hear the developer's presentation. If organizations do not review a proposal within 6 weeks, their response shall be viewed as agreement by default.
- Following their meetings, community groups convey, in writing, their recommendation on proposed development. If the decision is made shortly before the Zoning & Planning meeting, the group may give an oral report at the meeting, to be followed by a written statement.
- When community groups have reviewed the proposal, the developer is asked to make a presentation to the 48th Ward Zoning & Planning Committee. Notices, including a brief description of the proposal, are sent to committee delegates in advance of the meeting.
- Zoning & Planning Committee hears a presentation by the developer. Community groups that reviewed proposal are asked to report. A motion is made, discussed, and vote taken. Voting is limited to designated delegates (one per organization) to the Zoning & Planning Committee or their alternates.
- The Alderman conveys in writing to the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Committee on Zoning, or other appropriate authority the decision of the committee. Letters from community groups are enclosed. Committee members should note that jurisdictional agency's decision may sometimes differ from the recommendation of the Alderman and the community.
In certain circumstances, at the discretion of the Alderman, a developer may be asked to present to Z&P first, then contact the community groups.
At times the Z&P committee may be asked to endorse a concept, not necessarily a plan. The plan would be subject to further review.