Land Use Commission recommends 30-unit Maple Avenue apartment with variances for density and parking

The Evanston Land Use Commission on March 26 recommended 7–0 that City Council approve major variations to allow construction of a five‑story, 30‑unit apartment building at 2206 Maple Avenue and related properties, with 20 percent of units designated as inclusionary (six units).

Paul Harb, the applicant and developer (2206 Map LLC), told the commission he is proposing a five‑story building with 30 dwelling units (24 dwelling units plus six inclusionary units as bonus units) and 29 off‑street parking spaces. Harb said he is voluntarily proposing 20 percent affordable units—double the city’s baseline for the site—and described the project as transit‑oriented and a replacement for an underused, tax‑exempt surface parking lot. “I’m proposing we are proposing to double the amount of affordable units from what is required, 10% to 20%,” Harb said.

Staff read the application into the record and summarized the major variation requests. The packet identified the following code relief sought: a density variation…