Tribune Report On Zoning In Chicago
The Trib recently ran an excellent five part article on the zoning situation in Chicago. It is a bit long, containing way too many personal anecdotes for my preferences, but it does go into a good amount of detail on how the zoning process is supposed to work, and how it actually does work. Some of the Rogers Park bloggers show up in the final part. One of the most elucidating quotes from the entire series though, points out what I think the real problem with the zoning situation in Chicago is:
City officials in the Zoning and Planning Departments review proposals and issue recommendations before aldermen vote. That review involves determining if new construction would be an “intrusion” to the neighborhood.
But aldermen pay little heed. City staff objected to about 40 percent of the zoning changes that the council approved over the last three years, city records show.
If the city’s zoning department actually managed to form official objections to 40% of the zoning changes, but only 10 or so didn’t go though, there is a real problem in this city. We pay professionals to determine the proper city planning, but then they are simply ignored. If the aldermen are just going to have the final say, why do we even bother with the city planners in the first place? Save some money and get rid of the whole department.