[{"_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",6161879,"mediaKeyId","5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b","parentId",5440557,"title","Environmental justice advocates press council to cite environmental equity investigation in the comprehensive plan","audioSeconds",78,"startMs",2792000,"endMs",2870000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b&start=2792&end=2870","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b/thumbnail_2792000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161879/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Environmental-justice-advocates-press-council-to-cite-environmental-equity-investigation-in-the-comprehensive-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161879-3d0a06e3c82fc98062aad7b606e14d96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154140&Signature=YeAhmMCIb9PkcD9lXkXO25zQNVcx55FIiXIWtor5azELLf04CLx6cvFCGFcCkaSYDIqGCUUaJOdp3yjLRzzIWBrtMrZd4UI8jq5hZ86iR8~aK61F4CFJ9OUhA~5FeZFnn3w3dSeOGRX011UThtegaVSv~J9aVlQgBNgTCqbfPU-b919B~ReAzDeR4M60Kau8Bw~D-XXUiXaSG-KrhmsWcOkPA5VyIi~gOKKJBjVaQUs8tT3gmByL7KyWbNDifJP0q0MpGx0XnvLzOzfJMh1NPinC3kzicTgDF9l5D~kiX7~MG63hjgHAKwvO2H9ln-9d4ggiFYXv8Jtw25NCvwYsIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-07-22T20:03:57.707Z","article","The Evanston Environmental Justice Coalition and partner organizations urged the City Council on July 21 to reference the city-funded Environmental Equity Investigation (EEI) in the Envision Evanston comprehensive plan.

Jack Jordan, executive director of Climate Action Evanston, said the EEI—funded by the city after a 2020 environmental-justice resolution and presented recently to community members—provides “nuanced” neighborhood-level data on tree canopy discrepancies, air pollution, flooding and housing costs. Jordan told the council that the consultant team’s work shows differences “down to the average inch of tree diameter” across wards and that including the EEI in the plan would ensure those inequities are addressed in long-term goals and policy actions.

Jordan said the EEI findings justify only small wording changes in the plan—\"merely a few sentences,\" he told the council—to ensure the city uses the investigation’s data in future policies.

Why it matters: The EEI maps and data could be used to target investments—tree canopy, stormwater management, neighborhood green space and air-quality interventions—to places historically disadvantaged by land-use decisions. Advocates asked the council to integrate the EEI now so that the comp plan’s long-range policies reflect the investigation’s findings.

Ending: The council did not take an immediate vote to insert EEI references; advocates said they would send a formal letter describing where in the comp plan the EEI should be cited.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Meeting 7-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Evanston Environmental Justice Coalition urged the council to incorporate the city-funded Environmental Equity Investigation (EEI) into the draft comprehensive plan, citing detailed neighborhood-level findings on tree canopy, air pollution and flooding.","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},6161884,"Evanston council extends public-comment time, votes on consent items and schedules follow-up session",107,405000,512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b&start=405&end=512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b/thumbnail_405000.jpg","/articles/6161884/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-council-extends-public-comment-time-votes-on-consent-items-and-schedules-follow-up-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161884-b88a0e47e23bdaafcc3ddf75514fa60d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154140&Signature=YBI0BAqSyUDXMmj6-ebHpgV0jkS4LREHyj5TkURGXp1YvgI70Ae3jaxaQ7MpTN-mvSvBGVEESz~bVqvCYOFw-3pk~ciQgVzxBpJE6QvUc0fnl6Pv1O787wBZ2hdjDdsXQMqTGJATBjD6z-ekBLfwluJzoC7J5Sy4hlQRGZ6UwY5EXhTfZ3ZTkzv8muiX6Ih2ncaqW50lWmqVv83vzM1~LL7mEU5VSJg-rPk0sO2Ezm~fLjGPGS1Qz0f2WLNYn72JFiWZQK5bJQAJZ4r37wDZ5TCSKF2bIgNqX6HF0JdvKrL~Wl4zbTNyS6tTMMXPmck1uGDTcquA61Qy0aLBdVleaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Evanston City Council on July 21 amended its public-comment rules for the meeting and conducted multiple procedural votes while continuing work on the draft Envision Evanston 2045 comprehensive plan.

Early in the meeting Councilmember Kira Kelly moved to allow each public speaker 1.5 minutes instead of the one minute previously announced; the council approved that motion by roll call: Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Rogers, Councilmember Haddakaddis, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Harris, Councilmember Ailes and Councilmember Nussbaum voted \"aye.\" The motion carried 7–0.

As the council worked through staff’s packet, members pulled a large number of items from a staff-flagged “consent” section for separate discussion. The council then took a roll-call vote to adopt the consent items excluding the pulled items; that motion passed 7–1. Over the course of the evening the council approved and amended multiple policy language edits proposed by members (for example, adopting edits to Chapter 1 and other provisions), recorded in the meeting packet and by roll calls in the official record.

On process and timing, Councilmember Davis proposed an additional special meeting to permit more review before a final vote; the council approved holding a follow-up special meeting on July 30 (the motion passed 8–0). Several councilmembers and staff also discussed whether remaining contested items should be deferred so staff could refine language and compile all council comments for the next packet.

Why it matters: The council’s procedural choices shape how much time residents have to speak and how quickly policy language moves toward adoption. The July 30 session will be the next formal opportunity for the council to consider final changes to the draft comprehensive plan.

Ending: The council adjourned after agreeing to reconvene; staff will prepare an updated packet reflecting council direction for the special meeting on July 30.","At the July 21 special meeting the City Council voted to give each in-person public commenter 1.5 minutes; the council approved a consent package after members removed numerous items for separate discussion and scheduled a July 30 special meeting to continue review of the comprehensive plan.",{"_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},6161888,"Hundreds of residents press Evanston council on affordable housing, zoning and displacement during Envision Evanston hearings",936,99000,1035000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b&start=99&end=1035","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440557-d6aa3bff9643c79a66ca77f58555e77b/thumbnail_99000.jpg","/articles/6161888/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Hundreds-of-residents-press-Evanston-council-on-affordable-housing-zoning-and-displacement-during-Envision-Evanston-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161888-fd0916615e67d0d78e954edd05b9b3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154140&Signature=G-dsHLh~SeA0~aBXcubreVIWcfz-ntWrxHYsU-gnx-X1apYprrrikJrW0fj0bEcSd2IvHKHVmjclf9VKMHRd5m8Q41uXE6HrwgzL6d4XqnqW~qFvHKXYT5-tndXXOxPoeZ3IhnzByiXTqmlEOHHv-fRpISgdfRxRpF4bEhIKlamLm-BWzQNYiPeegX2iI9Y0cCSJ~pKJ9oXRVUOLL2RxVMTUgo-HCYi~CwQk0YxX5yTkTdrYy~Mcn70WGP87CH8JHoU9jpxiHgfUzjbrLYPq~B973gOTlEDoI02LnJvjmcYITp3kTL7iaqDixrgf-SGK2eKwaVCTAxe57SLEZhUzXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Evanston residents pressed the City Council on July 21 to make housing affordability and anti-displacement an explicit priority in the draft Envision Evanston 2045 comprehensive plan.

Speakers representing neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations and residents delivered a steady stream of concerns that the plan’s language—especially phrases invoking “housing diversity” or citywide “increase housing supply and housing choices at all income levels”—could be interpreted as blanket upzoning that benefits developers but does not guarantee housing affordable to low- and moderate-income Evanstonians. Paul Breslin, identifying himself from the Evanston Action Coalition, warned that “affordability for everyone who wants to live in Evanston is unachievable with existing resources” and urged the council to consider evidence-based alternatives.

Many commenters challenged the assumption that market-rate development will “trickle down” into affordability. Linda Damashek said Evanston already has a “diverse housing stock” and that middle housing could be achieved without citywide upzoning. Multiple speakers cited studies and local examples they said show new luxury units have not produced lower costs for lower-income renters and homeowners; Meg Welch said there is “no consensus among housing experts” that blanket upzoning alone yields affordability.

Advocates for low-income and unhoused residents urged the council to pair zoning changes with funding and anti-displacement policies. Rodney Dawkins, speaking as a member of Connections for the Homeless’ Participant Advisory Board, said he wanted to remain in Evanston but could not afford it, and called for “more housing at more price points and in more forms.” Sheremer Chivanas, associate director at Connections for the Homeless, told the council the organization served “about 3,500 Evanstonians” last year and asked the city to include more clarity on subsidies, supportive housing and services in the plan.

Other themes in public comment included support for “missing middle” housing such as duplexes, fourplexes and cottage courts; concern about the removal of T1/T2 transition buffers near Northwestern University; and calls for clearer, enforceable commitments to deeply affordable units and rent protections. Philippe Largent of AARP Illinois urged policies that allow “duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts” to increase housing options for older adults. Johns Hopkins-style data and local speakers were cited to support competing claims about whether upzoning would help or harm affordability.

Why it matters: Commenters said the comprehensive plan will guide future zoning and development decisions, so language in the plan matters. Several speakers warned that deferring decisions to later rezoning steps would leave neighborhoods exposed to development patterns they oppose. Others said the plan must explicitly pair zoning changes with funding, anti-displacement measures and partnerships (including with institutions) to produce units affordable to teachers, nurses, seniors and long-time residents.

Ending: The council did not adopt the final comprehensive plan at the July 21 meeting. The meeting record shows the council will continue discussion at a special session on July 30; public commenters said they will return until the plan includes clearer, enforceable commitments to affordability and anti-displacement measures.","At a July 21 special meeting, more than 40 public commenters urged the City Council to address housing affordability, questioned blanket upzoning, and called for explicit anti-displacement and equity measures in the draft Envision Evanston 2045 comprehensive plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Environmental justice advocates press council to cite environmental equity investigation in the comprehensive plan

Evanston council extends public-comment time, votes on consent items and schedules follow-up session

Hundreds of residents press Evanston council on affordable housing, zoning and displacement during Envision Evanston hearings