old post,
new comment......
Mike,
Thanks for your e-mail and comments. I certainly share your desire to protect the lakefront, our most valuable asset I feel compelled, however, to correct your misunderstanding of the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. The ordinance, which has been in effect for 30 years, does not prohibit development per se on the lakefront. Instead, it simply puts into place a review process for any proposed development in the "Lakefront Protection Zone" (the area bounded by the lake and the alley immediately west of Sheridan Road). No development in that area is permitted whatsoever unless it first receives the approval of the Chicago Plan Commission.
If the development receives Plan Commission approval, it does not mean that the Lakefront Protection ordinance has been "modified" or that an "exception" has been granted. It simply means that the Commission has determined the proposed development will not harm the lakefront.
As a long-time resident of Rogers Park, you probably recall a number of developments that have occurred in the Lakefront Protection Zone. The Lakeview Point Condominiums at the northern entryway to Rogers Park, Paul Goguen's developments on Eastlake Terrace, the Natalie Salmon Intergenerational Home, the Simpson Living-Learning Center at Loyola, the Loyola Parking Garage and the new Loyola Math and Science Center are some examples of developments that have occurred in the Lakefront Protection Zone. Some of them required zoning changes and all required and received Plan Commission approval. This did not mean that exceptions were made to the Lakefront Protection Ordinance; it simply means that a review process was followed.
In addition to Plan Commission review, I have put into place an extensive community review process, which allows community residents to weigh in on any proposed development that requires a zoning change, variance or exception a special use permit or lakefront protection review. This provides our community with further protection against any development that may be deemed harmful to our lakefront.
I hope this answers your concerns.
Very truly yours,
Joe Moore
new comment......
Mike,
Thanks for your e-mail and comments. I certainly share your desire to protect the lakefront, our most valuable asset I feel compelled, however, to correct your misunderstanding of the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. The ordinance, which has been in effect for 30 years, does not prohibit development per se on the lakefront. Instead, it simply puts into place a review process for any proposed development in the "Lakefront Protection Zone" (the area bounded by the lake and the alley immediately west of Sheridan Road). No development in that area is permitted whatsoever unless it first receives the approval of the Chicago Plan Commission.
If the development receives Plan Commission approval, it does not mean that the Lakefront Protection ordinance has been "modified" or that an "exception" has been granted. It simply means that the Commission has determined the proposed development will not harm the lakefront.
As a long-time resident of Rogers Park, you probably recall a number of developments that have occurred in the Lakefront Protection Zone. The Lakeview Point Condominiums at the northern entryway to Rogers Park, Paul Goguen's developments on Eastlake Terrace, the Natalie Salmon Intergenerational Home, the Simpson Living-Learning Center at Loyola, the Loyola Parking Garage and the new Loyola Math and Science Center are some examples of developments that have occurred in the Lakefront Protection Zone. Some of them required zoning changes and all required and received Plan Commission approval. This did not mean that exceptions were made to the Lakefront Protection Ordinance; it simply means that a review process was followed.
In addition to Plan Commission review, I have put into place an extensive community review process, which allows community residents to weigh in on any proposed development that requires a zoning change, variance or exception a special use permit or lakefront protection review. This provides our community with further protection against any development that may be deemed harmful to our lakefront.
I hope this answers your concerns.
Very truly yours,
Joe Moore
22 Comments:
According to Moore, the Lakefront Protection Ordinance ain't nothing but a hearing, and the Plan Commission ain't nothing but another approval that can be purchased.
hugh-
have i missed a meeting or was there only ONE community review to discuss the incomplete 7015 sheridan rd. concept?
where and when are the "extensive community review process" meetings taking place? i would like to attend.
is tonight one of those?
"You and any other member of the public may attend that portion of the meeting and silently observe the proceedings. Following the presentations, the Committee will engage in further deliberations. This portion of the meeting is not open to the public."
Makes sense Moore would defend the Plan Commission process, he thinks his ZALUAC is an extensive open community process.
hugh-
it's more 'slippery on your dime" language.
it IS open to the public, we can REVIEW the plan and proceedings but we CANNOT SPEAK. can we use sign languge to communicate with the committee?
Many developers have learned to communicate with the committee by naming Aldermanic pal, committee member, and real estate broker Rich Aronson the listing agent for the luxury condos in their cookie cutter concrete block condo project. Commissions speak louder than words.
Other developers get to know Moore through the "community" zoning committee process and take a shine too Moore's special brand of pro-business, progressive politics, and are moved to express their appreciation for his time in his careful consideration of their proposal. Campaign contributions are another powerful and very reliable non-verbal form of communication.
Other developers have discovered an efficient non-verbal means of communicating with committee member David Fagus: mailing an envelope to the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward.
Still other developers have discovered that the "us" versus "them" distinction which can interfere with a persuasive presentation can be bridged by a quick membership in DevCorp North. DevCorp North serves Alderman Moore by providing staff for his "community" zoning committee.
"Abel's" zoning attorney/lobbyist James Joseph Banks, the most successful lawyer in the history of Chicago, works for the law firm of
Samuel Vincent Panebianco
221 N. LaSalle St. 38th Flr
Chicago, IL 60601-1206
Wonder why Sam changed his name? Isn't he proud of his Italian-American heritage?
Anyway, JJ's firm is a regular supporter of the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward:
$250.00 7/18/2005
$500.00 2/23/2004
Illinois State Board of Elections
Words are so inadequate to express some things.
hey neighbor, can you spare a stamp?
How do you change your name to something more white bread when your name is already Panebianco?
maybe he became overly enthusiastic during the low carb craze. you know, panera bread's stock slid pretty hard during that period too.
At this juncture, I would like to once again encourage all of our readers to please, please read the actual text of the LPO.
(Scroll down to chapter 16-4 of the municipal code to find the LPO section.)
The municipal code, including the LPO, is a tool for all citizens to use.
I wonder if JJ will be there tonight. Maybe we can ask him about the name change.
I wonder of Reza Toulabi will be there tonight or if he will continue the charade of the little old neighborhood lady vanity retirement project.
hugh-
well, if reza does come i hope he doesn't show up empty handed. we are going to need something to do while we sit silently.
Folks, we can talke about LPO all we want but Joey is da neighborhood mayor and final authority to give the exemption is entirely his to make. What say we instead turn this into a little betting action. I'll toss in $10 that Joey is going to give Connie her exemption.
pamela-
zaluc voted it down 7-0, with one abstention. do you still like your odds?
based on his letter today it seemed they were definitely considering a challenge to the lpo.
I still like my odds. Final call is Joey's, irrespective of the committee. Though I'll hedge and say that if he does turn Connie down that she'll sell the property to a development consortium and someone, not Connie, will be back, and they will get approval. This isn't going to go away with a "no" on this person, this time.
Okay, I give up.
I'll throw down $20 just for sport.
Just curious...what exactly does it take to be "the most successful lawyer in the history of chicago"?
pamela-
i agree. they will be back just as they will be back with a new version of a lakefront development plan to replace the "shoot for the moon, then accept less and appear conciliatory" marina proposal.
i don't think the hiring of such seasoned and expensive help is a ploy. the intention is to probe the lpo and the language used in the alderman's letter confirms that imho. as rebbecca continues to point out, there seems to be ambiguity in the language of the lpo that they intend to challenge.
i believe it would be political suicide for the alderman to vote yes on the heels of this 7-0 vote down by ZALUC. i think there is obvious recognition from all involved that they need to offer us something in return and they will try and craft a proposal to make it more palatable for us to agree with the zoning variance.
this is a marketing excercise and connie abel's odd answers to obvious business plan questions only confirms this imho.
in the current process, the alderman COULD just vote yes, against yesterday's recommendation. i hope he doesn't and i don't think he will. in an election year, it would create a politcal firestorm and that doesn't seem a wise opening position to start the campaign season with.
> what exactly does it take to be "the most successful lawyer in the history of chicago"?
OK, admittedly zoning changes are a somewhat narrow specialty, but, in his field, JJ is top banana, he is perfecto, he is batting 1000. You can measure it. Here's how.
Check out this fragment from the official Journal of Proceedings of the Chicago City Council, this sample from the 1/11/06 meeting:
Communications From City Officers
"Augusta West Loop, L.L.C., in care of Mr. James J. Banks -- to classify as a B2-3 Neighborhood Mixed-Use District instead of an RT4 Residential Two-Flat, Townhouse and Multi-Unit District the area ..."
This section is the introduction of new business from the City Clerk, business coning in over the transome, so to speak, rather than from an Alderman. These zoning are refered to the zoning committee, considered by the zoning committee, and then by the full Council.
Note that many of the zoning changes are flagged as:
"in care of Mr. James J. Banks"
This puts the Aldermen on notice that this zoning change has friends. If you take the time to track the JJ zoning changes forward through the Council process through the Proceedings, you can convince yourself of an amazing result:
ALL zoning changes introduced "in care of JJ" are eventually become the law of the land.
Now, back to your original question, how to become the most successful lawyer in Chicago history:
Never introduce a zoning change until you have walked it around enough and passed around sufficient cash that you KNOW it will pass.
> what exactly does it take to be "the most successful lawyer in the history of chicago"?
The real secret to Banks' success lies in his generous heart. Go to the Illinois State Board of Elections Campaign Contribution search engine. Go to "Contributions Search" and shoot on "Banks" and "James." But if you do, favor "Contains" over "Starts with," and don't forget to also look up "Jim" and "Sam" and "Samuel."
OK, OK, I admit, it isn't really fair to compare JJ, who earns his living in front of the Chicago City Council, to REAL lawyers, who earn their living in courts of law.
If a REAL lawyer passed cash to judges like this, there would be scandal and indictments and disbarements and impeachments. But a lawyer passing cash to Aldermen, well, that's just business as usual in Our Fair City.
been there done that-
i think we might be tracking on developing some new zealots and maybe the shades and shadows you speak about will make more noise than us newbies.
i'll bet you a buck.
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