The Evanston City Council Planning and Development Committee approved a new restaurant and amendments to a proposed ordinance regulating bed and breakfast establishments.
P1 – Special use permit for Type II restaurant — Blues — at 1806 Church. Approved.
Top: The site of Blues, at 1806 Church St.
Background on tonight’s agenda items available here.
P2 – Amending city code provisions regarding bed and breakfast establishments.
Alderman Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, proposes raising the distance requirement between B&Bs from 500 to 750 feet.
Also wants to eliminate use of on-street parking for B&Bs.
Community and Economic Development Director Steve Griffin says plan would be to have as many off-street parking spaces as there are bedrooms in the B&B.
Fiske says the B&B already passed by council at 300 Church St., is in an area of restricted parking — wants to keep commercial use parking off the street.
Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, says if this means neighborhood parking — what would prevent the operator of the B&B from getting resident visitor parking permits for guests?
City planner Dennis Marino says owner could park with permit … but guests couldn’t.
Rainey says where does it say that individual is discriminated against from getting guest parking passes.
Alderman Melissa Wynne, 3rd Ward, says there’s a limit on how many guest parking spaces you can get.
Rainey says she objects to a provision in the ordinance that would allow B&Bs in a two flat building — like a two-unit condo. “I just think that is a little extraordinary and we should eliminate that from the ordinance,” Rainey says.
Fiske moves the 750 foot distance requirement. Wynne seconds. Approved 3-2. Fiske, Wynne and Holmes vote yes. Wilson and Rainey vote no.
Fiske moves the elimination of letting on-street parking count toward the number of spaces required for the B&B. Approved 4-1. Rainey votes no.
Fiske moves elimination of allowing B&Bs in two-flats. Approved 5-0.
Ordinance as amended approved 5-0.
Meeting adjourned 7:34 p.m.