Section 3: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The Near South Community Plan Key participants in the implementa- Business and Resident Groups and sets forth an agreed-upon "road map" tion process should include the follow- Individuals. A number of neighbor- for improvement and development ing: hood groups exist in the area and during the next ten to fifteen years. City of Chicago. The City must are actively involved in initiatives, It is the product of considerable assume the leadership role in imple- including this Plan, that affect its effort on the part City of Chicago menting the Plan. In addition to carry- future. The Greater South Loop elected officials and staff; other pub- ing out many of the public improve- Association, Near South Planning lic agency representatives; and sev- ment projects called for in the Plan, Board, New South Association, and eral community-based organizations the City will administer a variety of Historic Printers' Row Neighbors, including the Greater South Loop financial and technical assistance pro- among others, should assist the City Association, Historic Printers' Row grams available to local businesses, in monitoring the Plan's implementa- Neighbors, and the Near South Plan- property owners and developers. City tion. Residents, business persons, ning Board. staff, elected officials, and community employees, and other interested individuals should also provide The Plan is the culmination of a groups should monitor the implemen- input as to the Plan's effectiveness. detailed planning process. Adop- tation of the Plan and identify updates tion of the Plan is one of the first as conditions in the area change. Private Property Owners, Builders, steps, not the last. Without continu- Land use control laws, such as the Zon- and Developers. This group has the ing actions to implement Plan rec- ing Ordinance, should be modified as primary responsibility for enhancing ommendations, efforts to this point needed to carry out the recommenda- the overall quality and character of will have little lasting impact. tions of the Near South Community the Near South Community's pri- vately held land. Private property This section presents the recom- Plan. owners, builders, and developers mended Implementation Action Other Public Agencies. A variety of should be encouraged to rehabili- Agenda, which is intended to help taxing districts and other public agen- tate existing buildings as needed the City organize and initiate the cies will need to undertake many of and undertake new construction Plan implementation process. the recommended improvement activi- Action Responsibilities: ties, and participate as a partner in oth- that is consistent with the Plan and ers. Examples include Metra, the enhances the overall quality and In order for the Near South Com- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the character of the Near South Com- munity Plan to be successful, it must Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago munity. be based on strong and consistent Park District, and the Metropolitan partnerships between the City and Pier and Exposition Authority. Schools, other public agencies, local busi- churches, and other institutions should ness, community groups and organi- continue to maintain their own proper- zations, and the private sector. ties while adhering to the overall guide- lines and objectives of the Plan. Near South Community Plan City of Chicago URS TPAP May 2004 55 Implementation (continued) Zoning The City is currently undertaking a Zoning Issues: l Zoning should foster the comprehensive revision of its Zon- The following sections outline zoning- design and character recommenda- ing Ordinance, which was enacted related issues and opportunities that tions established in the Plan. The in 1957. Redrafting the Zoning should be addressed as the City Plan includes a number of design- Ordinance affects all property own- begins implementation of this Plan. related recommendations that focus ers and residents of the City by on the appearance and character of l Zoning should help ensure that changing the character of develop- sites, buildings, street-level develop- the intensity of new development is ment on private land; therefore, it ment, and public areas. For exam- consistent with existing and proposed should involve significant commun- ple, the Plan recommends that build- neighborhood scale and character. ity participation. The intended out- ings in many Development Districts The intensity of development allowed come of this process is a set of pro- be located very close to the front under existing zoning can exceed the cedures and standards that are user- property line in order to maintain scale of development recommended friendly and more helpful in guiding the "street wall" effect. The Plan in the Plan. The FARs currently permit- future improvement and develop- also promotes upper story building ted in the Near South range from 3 to ment consistent with contemporary setbacks in several Development 12. The FARs of existing buildings conditions and needs. Districts, especially where future vary widely throughout the Study Area. buildings are likely to be taller than Revisions to the Zoning Ordi- Also, the FARs of some existing build- the predominant existing character nance will take place in a series of ings in Planned Developments fall well of the area. While these design- "modules," each covering a subject below the permitted FARs of zoning related characteristics are not or geographic area. The Downtown districts. module covers most of the Near addressed to any significant degree l Zoning should preclude the South Community. Other modules in current zoning regulations, they establishment of incompatible land include residential, industrial, could be advanced effectively uses. The Plan recommends a diverse parks/open space, and business and through new zoning controls. mix of residential, retail, service, office, commercial. l Zoning should allow for some entertainment, public, and recreational flexibility to permit creative devel- uses. However, portions of the area opment solutions. The use of Plan- are currently zoned for manufacturing, ned Developments has been popu- which is not consistent with recent lar in the Near South area due to a development trends or the land use number of special conditions (such and character recommendations of as rail lines and small building sites) the Plan. Furthermore, some uses cur- affecting development. Planned rently allowed in the commercial zon- Developments can encourage build- ing districts (such as poultry slaughter- ing and development patterns and ing, house trailer sales, and materials amenities that provide mutual bene- processing) would be incompatible fits to the developer and commun- with recent development and recom- ity. Planned Developments must mended land uses. Zoning districts still be in compliance with underly- should be established for the area that ing zoning. better reflect the desired land use mix. * Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The FAR of a site is the ratio of building floor area to parcel size. For example, in simplified terms, an FAR of 7.0 applied to a 10,000 square foot lot would permit a 70,000 square foot building. Precisely how the 70,000 square feet is configured will be guided by other "bulk regulations" such as building height, setback, and yard requirements. 56 l May 2004 l URS l TPAP l City of Chicago l Near South Community Plan Implementation (continued) l Zoning should help conserve l Building Scale and Mass. The The density that is ultimately historic buildings and areas that Plan establishes a variety of guidelines allowed in each Zoning District in are not protected by Landmark sta- intended to encourage new construc- the Near South Community will tus. Historic buildings and areas are tion that promotes continued growth likely be controlled through various important distinguishing characteris- and development, while respecting the methods, including building mass reg- tics of the Near South Community. character that exists in the various ulations; parking and access require- The use of a) planned development Development Districts. ments; and proximity to Landmark procedures, b) building height and The Development District guidelines Districts, transit facilities, and open bulk controls, and c) design guide- in Section 2 of this Plan provide recom- spaces. lines can help protect important his- mendations pertaining to building l Pedestrian Scale and Street toric resources. scale and mass. In addition, building Character. The Plan includes many Zoning Recommendations: height guidelines illustrated in Figures recommendations for enhancing the This section outlines zoning 17 and 18 are intended to provide pedestrian scale and character of the actions and recommendations to guidelines for new development and Near South Community. These rec- address the issues outlined above assist in the review of proposed Plan- ommendations encompass private and to assist in the implementation ned Developments, and to protect and properties and the public rights-of- of the Near South Community Plan. enhance existing neighborhood charac- way, and focus on street-level ter, especially where historic and archi- improvements. Street furniture, way- No single zoning district in the tecturally significant structures exist. finding signs, landscaping, curb current Chicago Zoning Ordinance Current building height limitations that bump-outs at intersections for pedes- can effectively address the full range apply to designated Chicago Land- trian safety, and the provision