Proposed Zoning Changes
The following developments were submitted to our office’s Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC). ZAC meets monthly to hear about these developments and to advise the Alderman on how to move forward. Submit feedback for ZAC and the Alderman’s consideration.
Major Projects
Our community Process
Property owners or businesses may request Alderman Martin’s support when applying for a zoning district change, which requires approval by the full City Council. Administrative adjustments (decided by the city’s Office of Zoning Administration), variances, and special uses (decided by the Zoning Board of Appeals) are not normally reviewed by the 47th Ward’s Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC).
The Process
Note: the Alderman only considers meeting with interested parties after steps one through three are completed.
Intake form: The applicant completes the 47th Ward Zoning Information Form and Sustainability Matrix. Email this, along with associated drawings, to Lucy at lucy@aldermanmartin.com. Lucy refers all proposals to relevant neighborhood associations and chambers of commerce. Each has the opportunity to provide their own feedback to the Alderman to inform his decision.
Community input: Once accepted as a complete application package, the documents will be posted on our website where neighbors will have the opportunity to review them and provide feedback. In addition, the applicant will be instructed to contact the occupants of the buildings immediately adjacent to the site of the proposal. Please note that our office will require a Type 1 Amendment for larger projects (generally three stories or higher). This helps ensure that commitments made to our office and the community are enforceable.
Meeting with ZAC: ZAC asks questions about the proposal, provides technical and aesthetic feedback, and advises on ways additional neighborhood feedback may be solicited (e.g., one or more community meetings). Generally, ZAC meetings occur on the second Thursday of every month. Applications must be received before the 1st of the month to be added to that month’s ZAC agenda.
After this stage, and after the Alderman reviews feedback from the community and ZAC, an applicant may request a meeting with the Alderman. Once the Alderman’s decision is communicated to the applicant, the decision is posted online here.
Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC)
Members of ZAC are ward residents selected by the Alderman who have some area of expertise, experience, or interest regarding zoning or development. In June 2019, more than 60 neighbors applied to serve on ZAC. In addition to their expertise and interest, members were selected to ensure the body is representative of our ward’s diversity. Our 25-member ZAC includes a balance of renters and homeowners from every 47th Ward neighborhood. All members are required to sign a pledge to disclose potential conflicts of interest, to report attempts of financially interested parties to lobby them, and to recuse themselves from applications as appropriate.
ZAC vets proposals ahead of Alderman Martin’s review. It hears applicants’ presentations, asks questions and clarifications, and privately identifies the salient issues of each particular case. The Alderman then reviews the proposal along with all community feedback and ZAC’s input. While ZAC’s feedback is non-binding, the Alderman seriously weighs ZAC’s input, including when it recommends that one or more community meetings be held for a particular proposal.