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Committee approves zoning text amendment clarifying 'temporary' uses, says it won’t expand permissions

Evanston Planning & Development Committee · July 28, 2026

Summary

The committee voted 5-1 to approve a text amendment that standardizes a definition of 'temporary' in the zoning code (30-day standard), with members stressing the change clarifies language and does not allow new temporary uses without separate authorization.

The Planning & Development Committee approved a text amendment (ordinance 56-O-26) to define 'temporary' consistently across the zoning code, voting 5-1.

Council member Rogers said the measure clarifies existing distinctions between the word 'temporary' and formal temporary-use categories and does not grant staff new decisionmaking power or permit uses that are not already allowed. "This does not change any temporary uses; it merely provides a definition of temporary that is consistent across the zoning code," Rogers said. Members discussed whether 30 or 90 days was appropriate; staff and supporters favored 30 days to align with seasonal uses such as pumpkin patches and Christmas tree lots that the code already treats as temporary.

The amendment passed on a recorded roll call of 5-1. Staff and council members said the change will reduce ambiguity in enforcement and public review of temporary events and uses.

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