The Evanston Plan Commission voted 5-3 tonight to reject developer Robert King’s proposal to construct an 18-story condominium building at 1881 Oak Ave.
Several commisison members said the revised design for the Carroll Place project was far better than earlier designs, but most still felt the building would be too tall for the site.
The site is located in the Research Park zone, which has a height limit of 85 feet and across Emerson Street from an R6 zone, which also has an 85-foot height limit.
The site has been a vacant lot for more than two decades and is flanked by three-story office buildings that are mostly empty.
The Plan Commission’s decision is advisory. The project next goes to the Planning and Development Committee of the City Council. City staff estimate that because of the time required to produce transcripts of tonight’s hearing, the project is not likely to be on the committee’s agenda until its June 11 meeting.
The commission also heard more testimony tonight on the Optima Promenade proposal for an 18-story mixed-use development at 1515 Chicago Ave. and the Smithfield Properties proposal for single family homes and townhouses on the former Kendall College propoerty at 2408 Orrington Ave.
Testimony before the Plan Commission on those developments is scheduled to continue on May 31.
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