Chicago: Mayor Lightfoot introduces ordinance modifying requirements for industrial uses in manufacturing districts

On September 9, 2020, Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced an ordinance to the Chicago City Council that modifies the approval requirements for certain industrial uses and public/civic uses near industrial uses.

Under the proposed ordinance, warehousing, wholesaling and freight movement uses will require special use approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals on M- and PMD-zoned property. Certain industrial uses will require approval of a planned development if located within 660 feet of an R, B, C, M or POS zoning district. Additionally, general retail sales of goods produced off-site on PMD- and M-zoned property may no longer be accessible to the general public.

Zoning map amendments seeking to establish residential, daycare, hospital, parks and recreation, school or outdoor assembly uses within 660 feet of the following types of sites will require a special use approval: windrow composting; intensive manufacturing; waste-related; recycling; warehousing, wholesaling and freight movement or manganese-bearing material operation uses.

The ordinance still requires approval by the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and the full City Council. If approved, it will have significant implications for the timing for approvals of certain industrial uses that were previously permitted by right.

For more information about this proposed ordinance, contact any of the members of the Chicago Land Use team at DLA Piper: 

Katie Jahnke Dale
Theodore J. Novak
Richard F. Klawiter
Paul W. Shadle
Mariah F. DiGrino
Liz Butler
John Gholar