Zoning Change Request Process for the 48th Ward
Thank you for your interest in development in the 48th ward. Please review the following guidelines that outline Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth’s priorities, as well as our process for applicants seeking a zoning change.
PRIORITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Please review the City of Chicago Sustainable Development Policy here. In addition to these requirements, the ward’s priorities regarding sustainable development in the 48th ward include:
Community Support and Engagement: We seek out developers who demonstrate respect and interest in the local community by seeking feedback and hiring locally within the community.
Affordable Housing: We encourage the preservation and development of a diverse set of housing types throughout the 48th ward, prioritizing preserving naturally-occurring affordable housing and ensuring that we encourage development that supports a range of household incomes.
Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD): We prioritize affordable, dense, and mixed-use projects near transit. We expect projects to offer bicycle parking.
Preservation and Adaptive Reuse: We ask developers and property owners to consider adaptive reuse and rehabilitation before considering new construction.
Sustainable Construction: We discourage teardowns of existing structures, particularly if they are of historical significance. We encourage use of reused and recycled construction materials, and under specific conditions, the deconstruction of building materials.
Green Building Certifications: We aim to increase the number of buildings with environmental certifications such as LEED, GBI’s Green Globes for New Construction, and Enterprise Green Communities.
Electrification and Decarbonization: We are working to replace fossil fuel combustion, especially in new builds, with newer, gas-free technologies such as electric stoves and heat pumps. We likewise encourage developers to introduce or participate in collective electrification initiatives such as community solar and shared EV charging stations.
Green Infrastructure: We support projects that utilize modern green infrastructure solutions for stormwater management and urban heat reduction, beyond minimum regulations. These include but are not limited to rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, and permeable paving.
Minimizing Environmental Hazards: We expect developers to minimize indoor and outdoor hazards, including via decarbonization, sustainable construction, and composting initiatives.
Community Green Spaces: We encourage developers to incorporate natural elements and green spaces that can be enjoyed not just by residents but by the whole community.
Plants & Wildlife: We value wildlife-friendly development that demonstrates respect for our local ecosystem. Examples include bird-safe design and tree canopy expansion beyond minimum regulations.
Please read on for information about the development process in the 48th ward.
ZONING CHANGE REQUEST PROCESS
The 48th ward follows the following process when considering zoning change requests in the ward: intake, community feedback, review by the Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC), and then finally, the notice of decision. See details below on each of these steps.
INTAKE
Applicants interested in requesting a zoning change should use this intake form.
Once the form has been filled out and submitted, the Director of Planning and Infrastructure will share the information with the 48th Ward Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC) and relevant neighborhood associations (i.e. Block Club/s and Chamber/s of Commerce) prior to publishing it for public view.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Community feedback can come in different forms, as described below. All proposed projects are subject to feedback via the Zoning Feedback Form. Additionally, some projects may also include one or more Community Meetings, as described below.
Zoning Feedback Form
Project documents will be posted on the 48th Ward website and announced in the 48th Ward newsletter. Neighbors will have approximately 30 days to review the project and provide feedback online via the Zoning Feedback Form.
The applicant will be instructed to contact:
occupants of the buildings that are immediately adjacent to the project site of the proposal and
relevant community organizations (i.e. Block Club/s, Chamber/s of Commerce, etc).
In addition to encouraging members to use the online feedback form, community organizations are welcome to submit a written recommendation and/or feedback to the Alderwoman’s office. If desired, community organizations are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Alderwoman to discuss their written recommendation and/or feedback.
Community Meetings
Community meetings may be called for projects of significant interest. Not every project will require a community meeting. The Alderwoman reserves the right to call a community meeting at any time as needed.
If desired, community organizations (i.e. Block Club/s, Chamber/s of Commerce, etc.) have approximately 30 days to call and organize a community meeting to hear from the developer first-hand, ask questions, and provide feedback. The 48th ward office can help organize this meeting if necessary.
48th WARD ZONING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ZAC)
After submitting the intake form, the applicant(s) will present the project to the 48th Ward Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC). The applicant(s) is/are required to share their presentation no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting. Out of respect for the time of our ZAC volunteers, the presentation and Q&A will each be allotted 15 minutes.
The Zoning Advisory Council has a constructive discussion on the proposed project and how it relates to the zoning change request and the overall vision/mission of the ward. Out of respect for the time of our ZAC members, the discussion will not exceed 45 minutes.
A summary of the ZAC’s feedback will be recorded by the Director of Planning and Infrastructure, and be delivered to the Alderwoman.
The ZAC reserves the right to motion an idle period for ZAC members to mull over the proposed plan and collect their thoughts. To pass an idle period, the motion must be seconded, and receive a majority vote of present members. When an idle period passes, the ZAC will reconvene two weeks later. Conversation on a specific development project shall not exceed 2 meetings, unless the Alderwoman deems that a 3rd meeting is necessary.
The ZAC reserves the right to motion the need for further engagement via a community meeting. To pass a community meeting motion, the motion must be seconded and receive a majority vote of the present members. When a community meeting motion passes, the ZAC members are required to attend that meeting.
ZAC members are required to abstain from the conversation on a particular proposal if there is a conflict of interest.
NOTICE OF DECISION
After reviewing the proposal and the feedback, Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth will share her final decision with the applicant, the Zoning Advisory Council, and the wider community. The decision will be shared in the 48th ward newsletter and on the 48th ward website.
The Alderwoman’s decision may include:
Accepting and recommending the proposed development project as-is.
Rejecting the proposed development project and denying the zoning change request.
Rejecting the proposal as-is and making recommendations for changes that would allow the project to move forward.
For questions about information on this page, email development@the48thward.org.