1 USER GUIDE

1.1 Why You Should Care About Zoning

Zoning shapes the form and appearance of the neighborhoods in which we live, work, and play by directing what gets built and where. Zoning laws regulate the use of private property in the name of the broader community. A zoning code should reflect and protect a community's character, heritage, values and vision. In a city as diverse as Chicago, reaching a consensus on that vision can be quite a challenge.

Indeed, the last time the city reached such a consensus was back in 1957, when the current zoning code was adopted. The code embodied a vision of the city of that era, and it worked well for quite a while. Over time, the zoning code has been changed (in recent times, a few hundred times a year) to reflect the changing needs and values that we have as citizens of Chicago. However, these small changes to the zoning code have only made the code more complicated and difficult to understand - and they haven't addressed fundamental problems. To fix these, Mayor Richard M. Daley recently called for a revision of the zoning code and appointed a commission to gather input and oversee that process. The new code, when completed, will reflect Chicago's new vision for the twenty-first century.

Why should you get involved with zoning? As a citizen of Chicago, your neighborhood and the entire city are shaped by the zoning code. Later in this guide, we explain some of the effects of development on communities. Look around and consider these effects. Does your community have the mix of housing options, shopping, other services and parks that you need? If not, you can influence this through the zoning process.

Some community organizations are consulted frequently by their local alderman about zoning questions. Other individuals and groups haven't had the chance to investigate the zoning code to see how it fits (or doesn't fit) their needs. This "Neighborhood Guide to Zoning" hopes to assist individuals and community groups in both understanding and influencing local zoning ordinances.

In this guide, you'll find resources to help you understand and analyze the current City of Chicago zoning ordinance and some possible changes to it. It explains how the zoning code works, what it allows, what it prohibits and how it can affect your neighborhood. You can use the tools we've gathered here to develop a vision for your neighborhood and to help make the new zoning code reflect your values and meet your community's needs.