[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6171100,"mediaKeyId","5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0","parentId",5394915,"title","Resident tells committee overgrown street trees have blocked sidewalks for 14 years, asks for accountability","audioSeconds",185,"startMs",57890,"endMs",243545,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0&start=57&end=243","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0/thumbnail_57890.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6171100/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Resident-tells-committee-overgrown-street-trees-have-blocked-sidewalks-for-14-years-asks-for-accountability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171100-5d86527a5012a132e13fc6b27e3441a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152731&Signature=JHT8ZfDAVMruVuNzAJNV-WAp1aGwcH4sH2jMgAfhGU-QlJszgrbyhpfer-2MQkadOLIkV6Dm7wrOnUbpHbfVsZ74WGG~tL3oOQ-4~~p1sSFnirl7sOjfGY5aGFNq4CYB1aT31zFxlxLaoL88-UA5MiHx-EfMhfLbDZYlGubNZYTdOFzYN6V1s-VYQgg-CLmDWzllryw-x-HfEBDnlCCjO8TTxUe7WNTm7T6tLf8I27cnSCANgIBdlmmIWCQ~uJhI0CSLx0xjhY-Mh0lIlqIM3SDF3gg7e3FlG7ocVjf7AtE3HH02P6YdiUO0-6J2p86f~NweoqNi9GRp~nMBn00Njg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-07-16T04:06:59.303Z","article","During the public‑comment portion of the July 14 Planning and Development Committee meeting, resident Dave Michealak told the committee that overgrown street trees have obstructed sidewalks across the city for about 14 years and described repeated, unsuccessful attempts to get the issue addressed.

Michealak said he has called 311, the forestry director, the city manager and the mayor “probably hundreds of times” about trees growing into the sidewalk pathway so that children on bikes must swerve into the street. “This is a safety risk,” he said. “I think the real issue is accountability.”

Michealak said the problem persists in winter when low branches can strike pedestrians. He described the condition as chronic and widespread: “We’re talking hundreds of trees, not 1, 10, 20, 30.” He asked who at the top of the chain of command is responsible for ensuring the forestry director addresses the problem.

Chair Harikaris responded that the comment period was not the time for back‑and‑forth and offered to provide email addresses after the meeting so Michealak and staff could follow up. The meeting record does not show a committee policy response or a pledge of action during the session.

Michealak also linked the perceived lack of upkeep to broader local economic concerns: “Maybe that has played a factor in fact that about 75% of the businesses here fail on a regular basis,” he said, attributing the problem to poor city upkeep rather than a single neglected block. The chair reiterated that staff would follow up with contact information after the public‑comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning and Development Committee Meeting 7-14-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A longtime resident told the Planning and Development Committee that trees on the city side of sidewalks are overgrown, creating safety hazards and raising questions about which city official is responsible for maintenance and follow‑up.","taxTitle","Evanston, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171105,"Committee approves vacation‑rental license for 3210 Colfax Street over objections from two members",332,1217280,1550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0&start=1217&end=1550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0/thumbnail_1217280.jpg","/articles/6171105/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Committee-approves-vacationrental-license-for-3210-Colfax-Street-over-objections-from-two-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171105-50d1e332078523dd5f8b6b706b8894f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152731&Signature=KoMCt4pRvIqIzrLe15UW6oIZAFTkojF6JTMhqguUxGyXDsuu52RL4GDlyP8s2BjzbAP~Z2U8cqzzTvFYvTByYp~VDerreQWOn04TQPTW1WyVmTyySNjw6MRK-H3LxwEfUvOlCbronQkQ0G7OPhhwmZEQAJMU5-NSeTlKLoVTCjWiirVDq0KE6Ivp4CNJ58jjalw~Qo5a3S2pISNe~1g9JO7sybDYaZWCLtAx7HpvCniWh2rVhrzUicVgXpFrcJW9pW-qtSlf38wekTTi2KPqe9q4HtWcSNDAa356UoxRcwGWFb05vEeeGAc1Jp2ut~IyBdorkcsSPWQHSJ~oRVoPjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Monday, July 14, the Planning and Development Committee approved a vacation‑rental license for 3210 Colfax Street by a 4‑2 vote after the owner spoke in favor of licensing and council members debated the broader policy on short‑term rentals.

John Fell, the applicant, told the committee he has lived in the city for years and operates two other licensed vacation rentals. “I think it bodes well for the people who are staying to know that the city has approved the unit,” Fell said, and added that licensing also helps the city collect tax revenue.

Council members debated whether to delay decisions while the city refines its vacation‑rental ordinance. Council member Rogers argued that if applicants meet the ordinance standards, the committee must approve applications. Council member Ailes and Council member Davis expressed broader concerns about housing availability and about neighbors not receiving mailed notices in other cases, but they voted no on this particular license.

The roll call vote was: Council member Kelly, aye; Council member Ailes, no; Council member Burns, aye; Council member Davis, no; Council member Rogers, aye; Chair Harikaris, aye. The license passed and council staff confirmed applicants have been asked to apply under the current ordinance while revisions are drafted.

During debate Council member Kelly asked whether licenses are renewed yearly; the meeting record shows she asked the question but staff did not provide a definitive confirmation on the renewal period during the committee discussion. Fell said he had mailed postcards to addresses provided by the city and expected the notices were delivered.

Committee members said they will continue work on ordinance changes with HCDC and staff, but the Colfax Street application was decided under current rules.","The Planning and Development Committee approved a vacation‑rental license for 3210 Colfax Street on a 4‑2 vote after hearing from the owner, who said he completed notice mailings and supports licensing for tax and quality control reasons.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171109,"Planning committee tables vacation‑rental application for 806 Main Street amid notice and policy concerns",904,280450,1185000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0&start=280&end=1185","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394915-1bd02f50f4c8abcbbcd1e58fc1e9d8d0/thumbnail_280450.jpg","/articles/6171109/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Planning-committee-tables-vacationrental-application-for-806-Main-Street-amid-notice-and-policy-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171109-1fa66185c162f71e708c3c0f61ef0f2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152731&Signature=eTzK1W-9mLOtFglXzHflxwqEEjro4N0BNeVmZPVguAJwP6rjFPRTl-eFbZRJm2NmcmrQoX0pbb8m~s572MMfVEisV-mdmZc9xjWNczlAMMGm7BubFzKMj9H3LJEJziEC4B2tYOJE4TVYyP-JHUNmCE6v9j4Xl3NHM2XnkDS8UuqDVaqOJvDaBxWAJKWaWVNl0uQdpkriIGR0Ewyl4Hfeh1zsYUNWuSa-jC-sGbV87y1vyrwkvwDpshJ74CTdQqF-inMDLhwGiCAnHbP0rqikldKSzgqOud7ARdXXJhufvpaHUZbQRpvOIt7PSbLPpJ5OByplJJIKv0PbZwED~kO~eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Monday, July 14, the Planning and Development Committee voted to table consideration of a vacation‑rental license for 806 Main Street after members expressed concerns about neighbor notification and ongoing policy changes. The motion to table carried on a roll call vote.

The item was initially moved for approval by Council member Rogers and seconded by Council member Ailes. During discussion several members said the city is reassessing how short‑term rentals should be regulated and suggested pausing approvals until the standards are clarified. “We really just need to table these for a little bit,” Council member Burns said, urging time to develop consistent application criteria so approvals are not “arbitrarily denying some and approving others.”

Andrew San Roman, building and development services manager, told the committee there had previously been a moratorium on non‑owner‑occupied vacation rentals that ended “when we acquired software that allowed us to identify the different vacation rentals that are in operation in town.” He said the city has since mailed notices to existing operators so they could apply, and that applications are being judged under the current ordinance while staff and the Housing and Community Development Commission work on revisions.

Council members expressed two central concerns: whether the notice process reached all addresses within the required radius and whether the council should delay decisions while the ordinance is being redrafted. Council member Davis said residents within 250 feet reported not receiving mailed notices, and recommended tabling so affected neighbors and the ward council member could speak to the issue. Council member Rogers countered that if applicants met the ordinance standards as written, the committee must grant approvals under current law.

A motion to table the 806 Main Street application for two weeks was moved and seconded and passed on roll call. Council members Kelly, Ailes, Burns and Davis voted aye; Council member Rogers and Chair Harikaris voted no. The committee instructed staff to bring the item back at the next meeting so the ward council member can present the concerns documented in the packet and interested neighbors can speak.

The discussion referenced the city’s existing ordinance standards for vacation rentals, which staff read aloud from the packet: (1) no negative cumulative effect in the immediate neighborhood; (2) no substantial adverse impact on adjoining property use, enjoyment or values; (3) compliance with the rules in the ordinance; and (4) not likely to adversely affect public health, welfare or safety. San Roman said those standards remain in effect while the ordinance is being revised with HCDC.","The planning and development committee voted to table consideration of a vacation‑rental license for 806 Main Street after members raised questions about neighborhood notice, a pending policy review of short‑term rentals and whether current standards are being applied consistently.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident tells committee overgrown street trees have blocked sidewalks for 14 years, asks for accountability

Committee approves vacation‑rental license for 3210 Colfax Street over objections from two members

Planning committee tables vacation‑rental application for 806 Main Street amid notice and policy concerns