Evanston looks to tighten "Five Points" business district

Evanston's NBD: Click to enlarge

The City's Economic Development Committee will hear two rezoning cases at this afternoon's meeting which could alter the look of the Five Points business district.

Recently, the Evanston Community Council received $2 million* to help implement the Evanston Five-Point Urban Renewal Plan, which was adopted in 2003.

The plan recommended the concentration of commercial uses near the five-point intersection. The idea was to give the neighborhood business district (NBD) focus, to get more small businesses in existing commercial storefronts, and to help save some of the adjacent housing stock from being demolished to make way for undesireable commercial uses.

At the time of the plan's adoption, the City's zoning code was being re-written. Since no zoning designations had been included in the plan, the Evanston Community Council asked for a zoning study from the City's Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP).

Based upon the goals outlined in the plan, the DCDP recommended in one ordinance that portions of the NBD between Fairfax and Holloway and along the eastern side of Woodburn (opposite of Merrimac) should change from CN-M Commercial Neighborhood-Mixed to CN-P Commercial Neighborhood-Pedestrian zoning. This designation would retain the commercial density of the area. It would also disallow any future auto-oriented development on the site. Existing auto-oriented businesses would be allowed to operate, but not to expand.

In the second ordinance, the mostly residential properties along Woodburn between Gilpin and Fairfax would change from CN-M to RMX Residential Mix. This would have the effect of helping to shift commercial uses farther north to the Five Points intersection. Again, existing uses could remain.

Zoning along Montgomery between Ruth and Duck Creek and along Woodburn south of Gilpin would remain the same.

After a public discussion between community members and staff from DCDP eight days earlier, Evanston Community Council voted to support the rezoning on April 18.

The City Planning Commission unanimously approved this rezoning on May 18.

City Council's agenda has not yet been posted.

WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW (looking north)
GOOGLE AERIAL MAP

* I do not know the source of this money.