Chicago River Design Guidelines City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development River Implementation Committee Updated Draft November 13, 2018 1 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Project Background Purpose Building off of the River Edge Ideas Lab and previous plans and guidelines, the Chicago River Guidelines will outline the guidelines for development in and adjacent to the setback area along the Chicago River and its branches within the city limits. • The Chicago River has a major role in the City’s economic success. • Recent land use shifts from primarily industrial to mixed uses and recreational activities. Chicago River: 26 miles Existing Chicago Riverwalk: approx. 15 miles 2 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Previous Plans and Guidelines greatriverschicago.com OUR GREAT RIVERS CHICAGO RIVERWALK MAIN BRANCH FRAMEWORK PLAN Chicago Department of Zoning and Planning | Chicago Department of Transportation Goodman Williams Group | Terry Guen Design Associates | AECOM | Construction Cost Systems | July 2009 A vision for the Chicago, Calumet and Des Plaines rivers THE VISION THE VISION Our Great Rivers is the result of the most varied and sweeping public outreach C HICAGO R IVER C ORRIDOR By 2040, Chicago’s rivers will be inviting, productive and process in the 82-year history of the Metropolitan Planning Council. With help from Friends of the Chicago River and to reach everyone we could, we know that there living, providing everyone with opportunities to find or Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, we met are many more people who have no relationship to people where they use—or hope to use—our rivers, our rivers, or difficulty accessing them, who must be D ESIGN G UIDELINES to see the present and future through their eyes. engaged moving forward. C H I C A G O R I V E R C O R R I D O R create their own place, their own experience and their own MAYOR EMANUEL’S INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR MODERNIZATION We organized nine community open houses, plus Our Leadership Commission, appointed by Mayor community on our rivers. factory visits, paddling trips, site walks, bike rides, Rahm Emanuel, and Resource Group met a total of AND STANDARDS boat tours, design charrettes and more. All told, there 17 times and collectively gave thousands of hours D E V E L O P M E N T P L A N were more than 100 formal and informal opportu- to help us grapple with conflicting interests, deepen Our rivers will invite us to engage in stewardship, nitiesNORTH for Chicagoans to tell us their vision. We also BRANCHour knowledge on particular issues and serve as a dug into reams of past reports and findings, and sounding board for ideas. recreation and work. conducted original research. While we did our best Our rivers will connect people to nature, in the city and FRAMEWORK beyond, and function as thriving ecosystems. WHY A VISION, AND HOW WILL WE USE IT? The vision of Our Great Rivers is a guide, not a The vision articulates a greater whole that unifies City of Chicago Our rivers will be the best of us, where communities, mandate, meant to create expectations and establish discrete activities—e.g. a new park here, a new busi- priorities, not hinder flexibility or creativity. ness there—increasing their impact and significance habitats and businesses prosper together. by making them part of something greater. Richard M. Daley, Mayor For each section, you’ll find aspirational visions of our rivers’ future, looking out to 2020, 2030 and 2040, The vision inspires detailed plans, new projects, new City of Chicago Ultimately, our rivers will define us, rivaling the with recommended actions for the public and govern- designs and new ideas for buildings, public spaces, ment to take. This is not a description of current landscapes, habitats, policies and businesses. lakefront in our hearts and minds, and become a key conditions, but a vision of the future, and the full Richard M. Daley, Mayor Department of Planning and Development realization of the idea in question. We timed the goals The vision motivates residents and elected officials source of pride for metropolitan Chicago. alike to invest time and energy in our rivers, and LAKE MICHIGAN City of Chicago Departmentbased on a ofcombination Planning of andfeasibility Development and priority. Department of Transportation guides the development of new programs and infra- Denise M. Casalino, Commissioner structure. Ultimately, the vision provides a basis upon Department of Planning and Development which to prioritize the allocation of public resources. Christopher R. Hill, Commissioner people contributed 1999 April 2005 Revised Edition 6,000+ to Our Great Rivers 8 OUR GREAT RIVERS OUR GREAT RIVERS 9 Chicago River Corridor Chicago River Corridor Chicago Riverwalk Main Our Great Rivers North Branch Framework Development Plan Design Guidelines and Branch Framework Plan 2016 Plan and Design 1999 Standards 2009 Guidelines 2005 2017 3 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Proposed Riverfront Projects Public Private 2FM Chicago 312 River Run Lincoln Yards: The 78: riverfront The River District Riverwalk East riverfront 2,500 LF & 2,500 LF at 777 W Chicago: 2,700 LF riverfront 2,100 LF – CDOT South Branch Implementation Plan – Greyhound site (Lake to Ping Tom Memorial Park) – Morton Salt site – Throop Street Park – Wild Mile and Turning Basin 4 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Where are we in the process? Chicago River Implementation Background Implementation Additional Public Comment Plan Commission Actions to City Research Committee Stakeholder Period Approval Council Meeting #1 Meetings July - September 2018 September 20, 2018 September - November 2018 December 2018 early 2019 early 2019 5 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Community Feedback Process A robust, multi-part public engagement process CDOT South Branch Implementation Plan / is ongoing in an effort to include as many voices ongoing as possible, and includes: – Stakeholder Interviews River Edge Ideas Lab / Sept 2017-Jan 2018 Great Rivers Chicago / 2016 – Public Exhibit/Gallery (11,500 visitors) – Group Interviews – Weekly Gallery Talks – Public Meetings/Activities – Exhibit Tours – Online Survey (3,800 respondents) – Traveling Exhibit (24,000 visitors) – Multi-Media Website/Video River Implementation Committee / ongoing – Online Survey/Written Feedback (500 – Committee of community leaders, elected respondents) officials, business owners, residents, and key – Public Panel Discussion stakeholders to provide input and feedback. 6 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Community Feedback Summary Three key themes emerged across the various public participation opportunities: NATURE: The river edge should have a natural RECREATION: Recreation and public access CONNECTIVITY: Designs should be creative aesthetic should be central to any design and unique, while utilizing consistent elements to unify the entire river edge 7 Chicago River Design Guidelines Chicago River Guidelines Areas Affected by the Design Guidelines and Standards Existing Zones Proposed Zones Chicago River Northwest Zone (City limits to Fullerton) Bubbly Creek Southwest Zone (City limits to Ping Tom Park) I-90 LAKE SHORE DRIVE LAKE SHORE DRIVE I-94 FOSTER AVE I-94 FOSTER AVE North Branch / (Fullerton to Grand) South Branch IRVING PARK RD IRVING PARK RD (Harrison to Ping Tom Park) Loop Zone (Between Harrison, Grand, and Lake Michigan) I-94 I-94 Bubbly Creek Zone NORTH AVE NORTH AVE I-290 I-290 LAKE SHORE DRIVE LAKE SHORE DRIVE I-55 I-55 I-90 I-90 9 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Minimum 30’ Setback Requirement Minimum 30’ River Setback 2005 Tree Planting Requirements: Development Riverbank (width varies) Required to be publicly accessible Fence: 4-6’ ornamental metal fence required for vehicular use areas. 4’ ornamental metal fence for non-vehicular areas Tree: 2 per 25 linear feet of river frontage for vehicular use areas. 1 per 25 linear feet of river frontage for non-vehicular use areas. May be placed in natural layout. Hedge: Continuous hedge on river side of fence for vehicular use areas. Not required for non- vehicular use areas. Foundation Plantings: Not applicable for vehicular use areas. Required for non-vehicular use areas. 10 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Trail Paving & Width 2005 Guidelines Proposed place-specific trail width guidelines: North Branch and South Branch zones: 8’ min. Separated Trails: 12’ bicycle, 8’ pedestrian path Combined Multi-Use Trail: 16’ wide Loop zone: Combined Multi-Use Trail: 10’ wide Forest Preserve NB Trail: 10’ + 2’ shoulders Eugene Field and River Parks: 10’ Northwest and Southwest zones: 312 River Run: 10’ + 2’ shoulders Combined Multi-Use Trail: 10’ wide with 2’ Main Branch Riverwalk: 10’ paved or gravel shoulders on each side Riverline: 10’ The 606: 10’ + 2’ paved shoulders 11 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Minimum Trail Paving & Width North Branch and South Branch Zones: Loop Zone: Northwest and Southwest Zones: Separated Trails min. 12’ bicycle min. 8’ min. 10’ min. 10’ combined pedestrian combined with shoulders Combined Multi-use Trail min. 16’ combined 12 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Materials Paving and Masonry Materials: Additional materials for Northwest and • Granite, Architectural Granite, Concrete, Southwest Zones Concrete Pavers, Unit Pavers, Permeable Paving and Masonry Materials: Paving / Pavers • Asphalt Pavement for primary riverwalk • Neutral tones / colors • Decomposed aggregate for secondary trails Metals: and gathering spaces • Stainless Steel, Cor-ten steel Metals: • When necessary, powder-coated finishes • Galvanized Steel or Powder Coated Steel in to be neutral colors (e.g. gray tones or neutral colors (e.g. gray, black, or colors in colors in related to innovative placemaking related to innovative placemaking design) design). Wood: Wood: • Recycled plastic lumber in warm, wood-like • Hardwoods, including but not limited to, tones is also allowed. teak, ipe, white oak, black locust, and thermally-modified ash. 13 Chicago River Design Guidelines Update Site Furnishings Generally-acceptable furnishing options for all Additional acceptable furnishing options for zones: Northwest and Southwest Zones: Design Best Practices • Integrate seating with landscape design.