November 2019:
Evanston City Council, by a 5-4 vote, adopted an amendment to the U2 district’s zoning that allowed up to 13 days of pro/commercial events. However, because of the huge amount of opposition, they made it a 2-year pilot program. At the end of 2021 the amendment would expire, and NU would have to apply for a new amendment if it wanted to continue holding these events.
NU's has not actually held any of these events because the pandemic shut everything down in March 2020, a few months after the amendment was passed. Separately, 3 of the Council members who voted in favor of the amendment did not retain their seats in the 2021 municipal elections (Wilson, Rainey & Fiske).
In late March of this year, a new amendment (Ordinance 46-O-21) was proposed that would have changed the expiration date of the 2019 amendment to December 31, 2023, giving NU another 2 years to hold events, on the basis that NU had not really had a chance to implement it. 7th Ward Alderperson Eleanor Revelle and a few neighbors spoke against it when it was introduced at the 26 P&D meeting, and the 2-year extension was defeated in committee.
2021 April 26 P&D and City Council
May 10: During P&D the motion was introduced to grant NU a one-year extension (Ordinance 53-O-21). The amendment passes out of committee and the 80th City Council votes for its introduction, on the same evening that the 81st new Council is sworn in.
2021 May 10 P&D and City Council
May 24: The one-year extension is discussed at Council.. New 8th Ward Council member Devon Reid asks that the item be held until June 14th so that he can study the issue more. In the meantime, a small band of neighbors reaches out to our alderpersons, sending them information on the issue and asking for their support.
III . May 3rd Text Amendment