Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago wants to update the city's 43-year-old zoning codes but leave developers out of the decision-making process.
Not since the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 has Chicago experienced such a high level of downtown growth and development. In the midst of the city's building boom, Mayor Daley plans to overhaul Chicago's Zoning Ordinance so that it is compatible with modern uses and meets the unique needs and goals of the city's neighborhoods. A Zoning Reform Commission is holding weekly meetings to gather information and reaction about the new zoning plan from communities across Chicago.
The decision to exclude developers from membership on the commission was a "conscious decision" on the part of the mayor, says former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Schmidt, chairman of the new zoning commission. "We want input from the developers, but at the end of the day zoning is for the community," he says.
The commission is seeking bids from zoning consultants, and expects competition to be hot.
Over the years, Mayor Daley has taken several major steps toward enhancing and updating the zoning ordinance. These included design standards for drive-thru facilities, strip malls, townhomes and parking structures, landscaping requirements and riverfront and open space protection.
