Council approves Bartlett/2nd Avenue rezoning with amendment banning detention facilities; follow-up votes mixed

The Highland Park City Council voted to approve a rezoning for Bartlett and 2nd Avenue to Mixed-Use Urban Village (MUV) and Industrial Redevelopment District (IRD) with a council-introduced amendment that would bar correctional, detention or incarceration facilities in all zoning districts, including the MUV and IRD districts.

Councilmember Ashafi moved the rezoning; another councilmember proposed a detailed sixth whereas memorializing the ban on correctional facilities. The proposed amendment reads, in part, that "detention facilities, incarceration facilities, holding facilities, or any facility used for the confinement or detention of individuals by a governmental or private entity ... shall be prohibited in all zones, districts within the city of Highland Park." The amendment was added and item 7a passed with the amendment.

Votes on the second rezoning item (7b) produced a mixed record and debate about the charter's voting threshold. The clerk recorded a roll call that included 'yes' and 'no' votes, but other council members noted that the charter requires three affirmative votes for official action; council concluded one motion did not achieve the necessary three affirmative votes and therefore did not pass. The third rezoning item (7c) was tabled to a workshop.

Council members said the amendment was intended to close potential loopholes that might allow a detention-type use in an industrial or mixed-use district. One council member specifically cited concern about large buildings (including the 'Barney Building') being repurposed for detention uses and said the amendment was necessary to avoid that outcome.

The council asked for additional discussion in a workshop on the items that did not meet the voting threshold and confirmed the zoning for the parcels that were not approved remained as previously zoned until further action.