Evanston aldermen gave final approval Monday to plans for a shopping center at 2424 Oakton Ave. after writing into the ordinance provisions to limit the type of 24-hour fast-food restaurant that could be included on the property.

Evanston aldermen gave final approval Monday to plans for a shopping center at 2424 Oakton Ave. after writing into the ordinance provisions to limit the type of 24-hour fast-food restaurant that could be included on the property.

Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, said she didn’t want to see a Burger King or McDonalds on the site because, she said, they tend to create late-night loitering problems.

So the ordinance was amended to prohibit any cooking in the restaurant that require exhaust vents.

The developer said he hopes to have a Dunkin Donuts as part of the gas station complex on the site, which also includes retail shops, a bank and medical offices.

Ald. Rainey also succeeded in adding a provision to the ordinance that would bar outdoor pay phones and free-standing outdoor ATM machines at the site as additional ways of reducing crime and loitering problems.

The aldermen also:

  • Approved a resolution authorizing the settlement of litigation over the property on the southeast corner of Main Street and Chicago Avenue which will see a nine-story mixed-use condominium building replace the existing two-story commercial building on the site.
  • Postponed action on a developer’s plan to build a four-story mixed-use condominium building at 1700-1722 Central St., the site of the Evanston Theater building.
  • Adopted an ordinance setting in motion steps to expand the area included in the downtown special service area taxing district and extend the district’s life for 12 years.
  • Adopted ordinances setting the tax levy for next year.
  • Agreed to issue $15 million in general obligation bonds to retire portions of earlier bond issues. Because the new bonds will carry a lower interest rate, the city anticipates the move will save $664,000.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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