By Bob Seidenberg
Evanston City Council members approved a new Comprehensive Plan for the city on Monday, bringing to a close a process kicked off nearly two years ago.
A provision to expand by right residential development drew the strongest opposition.
”How can the city make a plan premised on supply and demand when it hasn’t tracked the demand or evaluated impacts of density,” asked Jeff Smith, a frequent commentator on zoning issues.
“This plan will be gentrification on steroids,” charged another speaker, Tina Paden, landlord and resident of more than 50 years.
”We think that the need to look at housing on a neighborhood basis is very necessary,” said Connections for the Homeless’s Sue Loellbach, surrounded by other housing advocates at the lectern during public comment.
”A mix of diverse housing — single family homes, duplexes and multi-family is a vital part of Evanston’s culture,” said another speaker. “It’s why people chose our city over more restrictive, elitist suburbs…”
In the council vote, Council members Krissie Harris, 2nd, Shawn Iles, 3rd, Jonathan Nieuwsma, 4th, Bobby Burns, 5th, and Juan Geracaris, 9th, voted in support of passing the ordinance.
Council members Clare Kelly, 1st, Tom Suffredin, 6th, Parielle Davis, 7th, and Matt Rodgers, 8th, voted against.
—Bob Seidenberg