Highland Park council approves 5-story 'Walton' on 2nd Street after public objections and developer concessions
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Summary
The City Council voted 7-0 to approve a five-story, 19-unit development on 2nd Street that requires zoning relief for height and lot coverage; the developer agreed to $125,000 in public-benefit contributions and strengthened tree-preservation and construction-staging commitments after residents raised concerns about trees, parking, and neighborhood scale.
The Highland Park City Council on Dec. 15 approved final plan documents, a special-use permit, and a development agreement for a proposed five-story, 19-unit multifamily project on 2nd Street known in the record as the Walton. The measures passed 7-0 after lengthy public comment and a presentation from Community Development Director Joel Fontaine.
The council approved zoning relief that allows a 64-foot, five-story building where the code generally allows up to 51 feet and four stories, and an increase in lot coverage to 49 percent vs. the 33 percent maximum in the ARO zoning district. Fontaine told the council staff recommended adoption of the approval documents, noting the applicant offered public benefits commensurate with the requested relief: a $100,000 donation to the housing trust fund, $25,000 to the city's Place of Remembrance, and landscaping improvements and maintenance for the Parkway in front of the building.
Residents urged the council to reject or scale back the project. "This is nearly 50% over the code maximum," resident Jana Hill said, arguing the proposal would blot out sky and reduce open space for neighbors. Dale Cohodes and Dennis Siegel raised tree-preservation and visual-impact concerns, and Kathy Thistle described prior pedestrian crashes nearby and urged additional traffic study work.
The applicant's representative responded that the team has worked with an arborist and has taken steps to protect heritage trees, citing prior arborist treatments and a construction sequencing strategy designed to limit street disruption. "We're hoping that that tree is going to survive," the representative said, noting ongoing monitoring.
Council members and staff said they had incorporated new or clarified contractual requirements in the development agreement. City staff pointed to a strengthened construction and traffic-management-plan provision that requires the owner to submit a plan for review and approval by the director of public works before any building permit is issued. The provision addresses schedule, construction-traffic routes, machinery, screening, hours of operation, and on-site parking for construction vehicles.
After public comment and council discussion, the council approved items A, B and C—final plan development, plat of re-subdivision, and design review with modifications—by recorded vote (7 ayes, no nays). The council then thanked neighbors for their comments and participation.
What happens next: the approvals allow the project to proceed to permitting and the developer must satisfy the construction and tree-preservation requirements written into the development agreement before permits are issued.
