How the people can shape what their neighborhood becomes: Community Driven Zoning & Development.

By Grace Del Vecchio

🤔 What is Community Driven Zoning and Development?

Community-Driven Zoning and Development is a formalized process meant to ensure inclusive, transparent and democratic decision-making around land use and development. In Chicago, this process was first used by Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th ward), elected in 2015, and has since been implemented in wards across the city. 

But the city’s zoning process simply isn’t very accessible to the general public — the very people who are most affected by it. CDZD is a response to that issue to give people a say in how the space in their community is used, based on their shared priorities.

When anyone (developer or resident) wants to change a property’s zoning, alders will use community input to inform whether they support the move when it goes before City Council. And, especially in Chicago, an alder’s support can carry a lot of weight.

🗣️ How McKinley Park neighbors are taking control of their zoning

In 2017, neighbors in McKinley Park got tired of development happening in their community without their input. A group of residents, teachers and business owners formed the McKinley Park Development Council with the goal to work toward answering a very big question:

How can we ensure our community members have everything they need to live and thrive while also ensuring those who already live here can afford to remain here? 

The council holds monthly meetings where members provide updates on major developments in the neighborhood and related public meetings. They act as liaisons between the city, developers, local alders and community members. In doing so, they lay out the language, legalities and processes necessary to navigate the maze that is zoning law. 

The group works to ensure residents know their rights and, in turn, the city’s responsibility to them — things which really shouldn’t require a degree in urban planning to know. (Hey, I walked away from one of its meeting learning tons, and I do have an urban planning degree.)

One developer the council has been keeping a close eye on is MAT Asphalt, a heavy polluter that settled a class-action lawsuit last November to the tune of $1.2 million.

They’re also actively communicating around he city-owned warehouse at 1769 W. Pershing Road in McKinley Park’s manufacturing district. Community members were a part of the group which voted to select a developer who proposed to turn the space into mixed-income housing, offices and retail space.

🛠️ How do I get involved with community driven zoning in my ward?

Most neighborhoods do not have an independent community zoning organization like in McKinley Park. However, many alders do provide information about zoning to their constituents. Here are some step you can take to find out what developments are happening in your ward and attend a zoning meeting – let’s use the 26th ward as an example:

Step 1: Figure out who your alder is – you can enter your address here to find your ward. 

Step 2: Once you’ve found your alder, check out their website (it can be hard to find an up-to-date list for all 50 wards, but you can usually track it down with a quick online search of their name and ward). Note that Some alders don’t have websites.

Explore the website and look for any mentions of zoning or development, and then read it up — what information does your alder provide on zoning or development within the ward? Do they have community zoning meetings?

Step 3: Look out for upcoming zoning meetings.

  • Sign up for your alder’s email newsletter. These emails are the best way to find out about upcoming meetings and events in your ward.  

  • Follow your alder’s social media accounts

  • Check the website regularly for upcoming meetings. 

Call, email or even visit your alder’s office directly to ask about how the office is taking part in community-driven zoning and development.

Step 4: Pay attention to zoning issues around the city.

  • Follow our Chicago Documenters. There’s a zoning committee meeting next week where alders will vote on zoning changes that will allow residential construction in Pilsen, a West Loop hotel on the site of a corned beef sandwich shop, and more  — see below!

  • Attend a zoning meeting — either in your own ward or outside it to learn more about the process.

  • Look up those addresses — a proposed zoning change may not mean much to you on paper, but you may recognize it on the map or in person.

A version of this story was first published in a January 19, 2024 edition of the Newswire, a newsletter filled with civic knowledge and opportunities for Chicagoans who want to make a difference in and for  their communities.

This story is available to republish under a Creative Commons license. Read City Bureau’s guidelines here.

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