Here’s a recap of our live coverage of this evening’s Evanston City Council Planning and Development Committee meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:50 p.m.
A packet with information about the committee’s agenda is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:58 p.m.
All committee members — Alds. Kelly, Wynne, Nieuwsma, Burns, Revelle, Reid and Fleming — are present. Wynne chairs.
Public Comment
Four speakers.
Only one item on tonight’s committee agenda.
P1 – Provisional moratorium on non-owner occupied internal and attached accessory dwelling units.
Kelly says wants discussion, but withdraws motion to have for intro and action and instead send to Plan Commission for hearing.
Kelly says allowing proliferation of student housing creates spikes in rent, making housing less affordable. Says absentee landlords are making neighborhoods less affordable.
Burns says he wants to stop a problem that developers could take advantage of right now.
Sarah Flax of city staff says that unless and until a moratorium is actually in place the city couldn’t block ADUs. Adds that so far there’s only been one application for an internal ADU since last October, so doesn’t anticipate much demand.
Reid suggests that code already bars packing houses with students. Doesn’t think there’s any need to rush the process. Says would be better to address the actual issues already present.
Revelle says it feels like there’s a tremendous amount of pressure near the university with investors eager to snap up more houses and if they can add an ADU the could legally house more students.
Fleming says doesn’t believe overcrowding is a result of ADUs — but rather of bad landlord practices. Asks what impact would be on the rest of the city? Doesn’t want to discourage ADUs throughout the city.
Says city has three unrelated rule — and it hasn’t solved the problem. Doubts an ADU moratorium would address the problem.
Revelle asks whether can do a moratorium for a part of the city. Wynne says maybe.
Burns says he’s not in favor of banning non-owner occupied ADUs.
Flax says city has rules in place that its unable to enforce.
Kelly says ADU requires less intense zoning review than creating a new multifamily apartment building.
Flax that’s not correct. Depends on the zoning district. In R1 no multifamily units could be built
Approved 5-2. Reid and Fleming vote no.
Meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
City Council meeting to start at 6:55 p.m.