HomeMy WebLinkAbout45-O-25 Approving a Minor Adjustment to the Planned Development at 1621-1631 Chicago Avenue Page 1-5-1756860475449
6/23/25
45-O-25
AN ORDINANCE
Approving a M inor Adjustment to the Planned Development at 1621-
1631 Chicago Avenue Previously Authorized by
Ordinance 95-O-24
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston is a home-rule municipality pursuant to
Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, as a home rule unit of government, the City has the authority to
adopt legislation and to promulgate rules and regulations that protect the public health,
safety, and welfare of its residents; and
WHEREAS, it is a well-established proposition under all applicable case law
that the power to regulate land use through zoning regulations is a legitimate means of
promoting the public health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Division 13 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11 -13-1,
et seq.) grants each municipality the power to establish zoning regulations; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule authority and the Illinois Municipal
Code, the City has adopted a set of zoning regulations, set forth in Title 6 of the Evanston
City Code of 2012, as amended, (“the Zoning Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, on November 25, 2024, the City Council enacted Ordinance 95-
O-24, attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference, which granted a
Special Use Permit for a Planned Development (the “Planned Development”) at 1621-
1631 Chicago Avenue (the “Subject Property”), which is legally described in Exhibit 1; and
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WHEREAS, Ordinance 95-O-24 approved the construction of a 12-story,
mixed-use residential planned development with 10,832 square feet of ground floor and
basement commercial space, 110 dwelling units and 48 parking spaces within a 2 -level
parking garage located at the Subject Property (the “Project”), which is detailed at
length in Exhibit 1; and
WHEREAS, by submitting an application to amend a planned development
to the City, dated May 7, 2025, the Applicant, Horizon Group XXIII, LLC (the “Applicant”),
requested a minor adjustment to modify the previously approved development plans, with
such modifications portrayed in Exhibit 2 attached hereto and incorporated therein (the
“Modified Development”), as provided for in Ordinance 95-O-24; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2025, the Planning and Development Committee
(“P&D Committee”) held a meeting, in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Open
Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq), during which it considered the Applicant’s request;
and
WHEREAS, during said meeting, the P&D Committee received input from
the public, carefully deliberated on the minor adjustment, and recommended approval
thereof by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, at its meetings on June 23 and July 7, 2025, held in compliance
with the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the City Council considered the P&D
Committee’s recommendation, heard public comment, made findings, and adopted said
recommendation; and
WHEREAS, it is well-settled law in Illinois that the legislative judgment of
the City Council must be considered presumptively valid (see Glenview State Bank v.
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Village of Deerfield, 213 Ill.App.3d 747) and is not subject to courtroom fact -finding (see
National Paint & Coating Ass’n v. City of Chicago, 45 F.3d 1124),
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The foregoing recitals are hereby found as fact and
incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2: Pursuant to the terms and conditions of this ordinance, the
City Council hereby grants an amendment to the Special Use Permit previously
authorized by Ordinance 95-O-24 to allow for modifications to the previously approved
development plans of the Planned Development described herein.
SECTION 3: Pursuant to Subsection 6-3-6-10 of the Zoning Ordinance, the
Applicant shall, at its cost, record a certified copy of this ordinance, including all exhibits
attached hereto, with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, and provide proof of such
recordation to the City, before the City may issue any permits pursuant to the Planned
Development authorized by the terms of this ordinance.
SECTION 4: Except as otherwise provided for in this Ordinance 45-O-25,
all applicable regulations and conditions of Ordinance 95-O-24 shall apply to the Subject
Property and remain in full force and effect with respect to the use and development of
the same, with the following exceptions:
1.The Development Plans identified in Condition A of Ordinance 95 -O-24
shall be replaced by the plans approved by this Planned Development
Minor Adjustment Ordinance 45-O-25.
2.The language of Condition G of Ordinance 95-O-24 shall be replaced
with the following: “The Subject Property will provide and maintain a
passageway (either open or enclosed) to the abutting property to the
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through the Subject Property as necessary for the abutting property to
the south to comply with any applicable Building Code or Life/Safety
requirements.”
3. Condition Q of Ordinance 95-O-24 shall be modified to reset the 24-
month timeline from the time this Ordinance 45 -O-25 is adopted.
4. A new condition S to Ordinance 95-O-24 shall be established as follows:
Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the Modified
Development, the Applicant shall lease a minimum of three (3) parking
stalls from the City within one of the City-owned garage facilities at the
standard feemonthly theforsupply parkingtotal that so the
development shall be forty-four (44) parking spaces. However, if after 3-
years of issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the City decides not to
renew the parking lease(s), or if the Applicant adequately demonstrates
to the satisfaction of the City that it is unable to sublease the parking
stalls to its residential or commercial tenants due to lack of demand, then
this obligation shall be terminated and no longer required.
To the extent that the terms and/or provisions of any of said documents conflict with any
of the terms herein, this Ordinance 45-O-25 shall govern and control.
SECTION 5: When necessary to effectuate the terms, conditions, and
purposes of this ordinance, “Applicant” shall be read as “Applicant and its agents, assigns,
and successors in interest” and shall mean Horizon Group XXIII, LLC, and any and all
successors, owners, and operators of the Subject Property.
SECTION 6: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after
its passage, approval, and publication in the manner provided by law.
SECTION 7: Except as otherwise provided for in this ordinance, all
applicable regulations of the Zoning Ordinance and the entire City Code shall apply to the
Subject Property and remain in full force and effect with respect to the use and
development of the same. To the extent that the terms and provisions of any of said
documents conflict with the terms herein, this ordinance shall govern and control.
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SECTION 8: All ordinances or parts of ordinances that are in conflict with
the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 9: If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any
person or circumstance is ruled unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such invalidity shall
not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance that can be given effect without
the invalid application or provision, and each invalid provision or invalid application of this
ordinance is severable.
SECTION 10: The findings and recitals herein are hereby declared to be
prima facie evidence of the law of the City and shall be received in evidence as provided
by the Illinois Compiled Statutes and the courts of the State of Illinois.
Introduced:_________________, 2025
Adopted:___________________, 2025
Approved:
__________________________, 2025
_______________________________
Daniel Biss, Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________
Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
_______________________________
Alexandra Ruggie,
Corporation Counsel
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June 23
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