Did You Know?
Evanston's zoning code determines:
Evanston's zoning code determines:
- Who you can live with
- The kinds of buildings that can be built and where
- Which neighborhoods have affordable and accessible homes
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Joining Forces for Affordable Housing is conducting an Equitable Zoning Project to identify the impacts of Evanston's current zoning code on residents' ability to access housing that is equitable and affordable.
What is Zoning? Zoning is a tool used by governments to control the physical development of land, density, dimensions, parking, and the kinds of uses allowed for individual properties. We want to know how zoning currently is and how it should reflect both the needs and values of communities in Evanston and the needs and values of individuals. Why Does Zoning Matter? If a building has many affordable units but doesn’t meet the parking requirements, which factor is more important? What constitutes a “family” and who decides how many unrelated people can live together? What is the most important factor in deciding what buildings are built, where they are built, and who has access to them? Answers to the above questions and more are written in Evanston’s zoning code. While the intention of zoning codes is to monitor the types of developments happening in a city, in practice zoning codes have served as a moral barrier that may or may not reflect the current values of a community. We want to know how Evanston’s zoning code currently reflects and how it should reflect both the needs and values of communities in Evanston and the needs and values of individuals. |
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Process
Phase 1: Zoning Review
In the first step of the project, Connections hired ZoneCo to complete a comprehensive analysis of the existing city of Evanston Zoning Code. In their analysis, ZoneCo found Evanston's zoning code to be relatively restrictive, with a emphasis on preserving property values and community character and little attention to equity and access to affordable housing. You can read the summary of the ZoneCo report here.
Phase 2: Community Input
The next step is to engage in a community dialog around those most impacted by the current, restrictive zoning code. Connects awarded $5,000 grants to seven community organizations to help design, organize, and implement a process for gaining input from community members on the impact of the current zoning code and how to create more equitable zoning code.
Project Community Partners include:
EC2C Advocates for Action
Center for Independent Futures
Evanston NAACP
Evanston Latinos
Evanston Own It
Laude Consulting LLC with Radio La Difference
VAJM Consulting
Other participants in the project include:
Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning, First Repair, the City of Evanston, and ZoneCo LLC
Additionally, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Housing & Grants Manager for the City of Evanston, Sarah Flax, are participating in designing the input vehicles and questions.
The project is funded by the Chicago Community Trust, the Crossroads Foundation, and the Evanston Community Foundation, as well as by Connections for the Homeless.
Process
Phase 1: Zoning Review
In the first step of the project, Connections hired ZoneCo to complete a comprehensive analysis of the existing city of Evanston Zoning Code. In their analysis, ZoneCo found Evanston's zoning code to be relatively restrictive, with a emphasis on preserving property values and community character and little attention to equity and access to affordable housing. You can read the summary of the ZoneCo report here.
Phase 2: Community Input
The next step is to engage in a community dialog around those most impacted by the current, restrictive zoning code. Connects awarded $5,000 grants to seven community organizations to help design, organize, and implement a process for gaining input from community members on the impact of the current zoning code and how to create more equitable zoning code.
Project Community Partners include:
EC2C Advocates for Action
Center for Independent Futures
Evanston NAACP
Evanston Latinos
Evanston Own It
Laude Consulting LLC with Radio La Difference
VAJM Consulting
Other participants in the project include:
Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning, First Repair, the City of Evanston, and ZoneCo LLC
Additionally, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Housing & Grants Manager for the City of Evanston, Sarah Flax, are participating in designing the input vehicles and questions.
The project is funded by the Chicago Community Trust, the Crossroads Foundation, and the Evanston Community Foundation, as well as by Connections for the Homeless.
