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Residents split on zoning and housing: advocates urge reform, neighbors press preservation
Summary
Public commenters were sharply divided during the Land Use Commission hearing: housing advocates and some residents urged zoning reform and more housing options; other residents and preservation groups warned against broad upzoning and urged protections for single‑family character and historic fabric.
The Land Use Commission hearing on Feb. 26 produced sharply divided public testimony on zoning, housing affordability and neighborhood character.
Sarah Friedman, a Sixth Ward resident, spoke in favor of allowing more housing options in single‑family areas, saying she and neighbors hosted discussions about zoning and “have heard no hesitancy toward the idea of upzoning in the Sixth Ward.” Scott Roberts, speaking for the Say Yes to Duplexes campaign, urged the plan to explicitly recognize duplexes and historic double houses as part of Evanston’s housing fabric, saying those forms predate modern residential zoning and provide lower‑cost ownership opportunities.
Opponents warned that broad upzoning would damage neighborhood character, increase congestion and not necessarily produce affordable units. Architect and…
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