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CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
2:00 p.m.
Room 2402
Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center
Ministers Present: Pastor Dennis, Pastor Mosley, Pastor Karen Grimmes
Aldermen: Jean -Baptiste Rainey
Grover Tendam
Holmes
Staff: Mr. Bobkiewicz, Mr. Lyons, Mr. Marino, Mr. Farrar,
Mr. Gaynor, Mr. Cox, Mr. Griffin
Ordinance 77-0-10, Amending Various Portions of the Zonine Ordinance Relating
to Religious Institutions in the Business, Commercial, and Downtown Zoning
Districts
The Plan Commission and staff recommend adoption of Ordinance 77-0-10, a text
amendment to the zoning ordinance to change religious institutions from a
permitted use to a special use where it so appears in the Business, Commercial, and
Downtown zoning districts, and to remove religious institutions from the general
exemption from the re-evaluation of off-street parking requirements for changes of
use (Section 6-16-1-2) in those zoning districts. This ordinance was introduced at the
October 25, 2010 City Council meeting. This ordinance was held at City Council
meeting on November 8, 2010 and discussed at Planning and Development
Committee on November 22, 2010.
For Discussion
Mr. Bobkiewicz opened the meeting at 2:10 p.m. and explained the meeting was
called to discuss the issues that arose from the introduction of the ordinance by
Alderman Rainey from the various religious organizations. Mr. Bobkiewicz also
stated, that Pastor Dennis would read the letter the ministers had prepared, and
Special Public Meeting
12/07/2010
after that there would be questions, answers and discussion. The remarks at the
conclusion would then be taken to Council on Monday, December 13, 2010 and if
there were no changes the ordinance would stand as is.
Pastor Dennis read the letter representing the Evanston Pastor's Fellowship,
Concerned Clergy, and the Religious and Civic Leaders. This letter is part of the
minutes of the day.
It was pointed out that this ordinance is directed mostly toward the black -churches
that usually start off as store -front churches. The store -front church is not included
in the ordinance, but it is the point of contention in discussing this proposed
ordinance.
It was also pointed out that many people come from outside of Evanston to attend
church services in Evanston, and when they leave services and before services they
frequent the restaurants and the shops. It was stated an issue exits with planning
and working together.
Finally it was stated the purpose of the meeting was to iron out some options and
move forward to share these discussions with the Council, and look at specific
districts and come to some conclusion on Monday.
Questions:
1) Are there any options to this proposed ordinance?
2) Where is the new language that the ministers want to be included?
3) What does a committee -of -one means?
4) Would an option of looking at all of the districts and then allow certain
districts be with permits and others let be make sense to the group?
5) What is the vision for Howard and Simpson Streets?
6) How do we move toward the goals of economic development in these
districts?
7) Is this ordinance a zoning issue or a community and economic development
issue?
8) What is the underlining issue for passing this ordinance?
Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rodney Greene, City Clerk
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