Here’s a recap of our live coverage of Monday evening’s meeting of the Evanston City Council Planning and Development Committee.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
A packet with information on the agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:16 p.m. Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) chairs.
All seven members present.
Minutes approved.
Public Comment
Bonnie Wilson says there’s no reason to hire Daniel Lauber as a consultant. Says he’s already said he opposes eliminating the three-unrelated rule. Says the city also didn’t put out a request for proposals for the job.
Says staff has already proposed the best approach to eliminating the three-unrelated rule. Says the issue has been on the council agenda for over 10 years.
Sue Carlson and Wynn Graham say they agree with Wilson.
Sue Loellbach of Connections for the Homeless says the definition of family issue is complex. Says given that there are group homes in Evanston performing well, and that the city is embarking on a comprehensive plan, doesn’t think it’s worth looking at the one aspect that Lauber was supposed to do. Wants to get rid of restrictions making it difficult to do affordable housing.
P1 – Contract with Daniel Lauber
Revelle announces that item had been removed from agenda and will be discussed by the Planning and Development Housing Subcommittee
P2 – Whither Ordinance 83-O-21?
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) says “three-unrelated” is next on the subcommittee agenda after the current discussion of rental licensing.
Asks to defer this issue for a couple of months to give the subcommittee more time to address it.
Revelle says subcommittee has had a robust discussion of licensing so far and can wrap it up soon.
Ald Bobby Burns (5th) says he agrees with Kelly’s and Revelle’s comments.
After a lengthy parliamentary discussion regarding how to postpone the issue — the motion is to table it until the April 11 P&D meeting. That’s approved.
Meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m. City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
I’m really sick and tired of people like the otherwise wonderful Bonnie Wilson putting words into my mouth. I have not said that I oppose eliminating the cap of three unrelated in the city’s definition of “family.” What I have said is, under the case law of the Fair Housing Act, that if the city eliminates that cap or eliminates the definition of “family” altogether, it legally loses the ability to regulate community residences for people with disabilities and recovery communities through zoning. Under those circumstances, the city could not require a license and could not prevent the creation of counterproductive clusters or concentrations that undermine the ability of these two essential land uses to achieve their core goals of normalization and community integration. For full details, visit https://grouphomes.law