December 2002 Media Tips

• December 1, 2002

MPC to hold two media briefings

Business Leaders for Transportation to release federal action agenda for the region; Briefing for media on Jan. 15

In January, Congress will begin re-authorization hearings for federal transportation legislation that will expire next September.  On Jan. 15, Business Leaders for Transportation will release its recommendations, Getting the Chicago Region Moving: A Coordinated Agenda for the 2003 Federal Transportation Debate.  The report demonstrates the impact federal transportation dollars have in our region and proposes an agenda to ensure that federal policies encourage coordinated land use and transportation decisions for a more efficient system. A media briefing featuring experts from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Metropolis 2020 and the Metropolitan Planning Council will provide background on what's at stake in northeastern Illinois, and how Business Leaders is building regional consensus from government, business and civic leaders to meet the region's complex highway, transit and freight system needs.

The briefing is on Jan. 15, 2003 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at MPC.  Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is requested by Jan. 10, 2003.

Chicago zoning recommendations get first public hearing; Briefing for media on zoning rewrite process on Jan. 8.

THIS MEDIA BRIEFING HAS BEEN POSTPONED.  SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION. 

The first public hearing to consider zoning ordinance changes was held by the Zoning Committee of the Chicago City Council on Dec. 19.  The Committee took testimony on residential and open space recommendations. Since the historic rewrite process began in 2001, MPC has played a significant role, working to ensure community input through focus groups in the summer of 2001, and through workshops this fall to introduce community groups to the mapping stage of the process. MPC made nine recommendations to the Mayor's Zoning Reform Commission, all of which were incorporated into interim reports on the plan.

A high level of citizen participation has made this rewrite process stronger.  Zoning Committee hearings are another critical opportunity for that input. 
MPC will hold a briefing for reporters to describe the progress and pitfalls of the zoning rewrite process in depth.  A community representative will talk about the mapping experience at the neighborhood level. In addition, MPC will outline the remaining steps in the process.

The briefing has been postponed.  Contact Kim Grimshaw Bolton for more information. 

Contact:  Kim Grimshaw Bolton
Communications Director
312-863-6020

Wilmette Housing Commission recommends adoption of innovative development criteria

In January, the Housing Commission of Wilmette will recommend to its Village Board adoption of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' Housing Endorsement Criteria. Riverdale, Arlington Heights and Round Lake Park have already adopted the criteria, which promote housing and mixed-use developments to meet community needs.  The criteria support new housing and redevelopment that promote economic development and sustainability and encourage an array of quality housing options, the use of public transit and sensible growth.  Earlier this year, Dave Bennett of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus called the passage of the criteria by the region's mayors, "a victory for local governments and their residents." Bennett added that the criteria allow municipalities to "take more control over the development process and the types of housing welcomed into communities."

Contact: Robin Snyderman
Housing Director
312-863-6007

Campaign for Sensible Growth, Chicago Urban League and Latinos United join forces to use sensible growth strategies to aid urban revitalization

State and regional funding investments often favor outlying areas, while our established cities and inner suburbs suffer from disinvestment.  To begin to address this problem, the Campaign for Sensible Growth, Chicago Urban League and Latinos United brought together housing, transportation, economic development and environmental advocates to explore how to promote economic and community redevelopment through the application of sensible growth strategies.  The first task of the working group, which convened for the first time this week and is co-chaired by the Chicago Urban League and Latinos United, will be to develop an urban policy agenda at the local and state levels.  "We need to connect sensible growth solutions to urban and inner-suburban areas," said MarySue Barrett, MPC president. "The Urban Affairs Working Group is a terrific opportunity to identify problems and advance strategic alliances between environmentalists, housing activists, businesses and urban affairs advocates."

Contact:  Ellen Shubart
Manager, Campaign for Sensible Growth
312-863-6009

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