Newsletter – March, 2026

The Southeast Evanston Association (SEA) is an accredited 501 c(4) Illinois non-profit organization, incorporated in 1969. We remain committed to:

• Preserving the essentially residential character of our neighborhoods through citizen participation in city zoning and planning.

• Maintaining and improving practices and regulations affecting Evanston land use.

• Aiding in the solution of community problems and encouraging informed citizen participation in community affairs.

• Fostering research, education and study of various aspects of legislation directly affecting our community and providing a clearinghouse of information on community affairs.

Lakefront Protection Ordinance – Update

Evanston’s Environment Board recently recommended stronger restrictions on the sale or leasing of public lakefront land.  The proposed Lakefront Protection Ordinance would direct the City’s law department to draft language preserving public ownership and access to lakefront areas in perpetuity. The proposal also includes provisions that would make it more difficult for future City Councils to amend the ordinance.   Supporters say the goal is to ensure that public lakefront land remains protected for future generations. Some city officials have raised questions about whether certain provisions—such as limiting the City Council’s ability to amend the ordinance—would be legally viable.

The proposal is expected to move forward for further review by the City Council.
Read the full article in Evanston Now

Envision Evanston 2045 and Zoning Timeline

On January 26, Evanston’s City Council voted 5–4 to adopt Envision Evanston 2045 as the city’s new comprehensive plan. The close vote reflects the significance of the document as Evanston prepares for a major update to its zoning code. SEA Board Member John Storey Williamson recently published a letter in the Evanston RoundTable examining the relationship between the City’s comprehensive planning process and its pursuit of federal PRO Housing grant funding.

The letter notes that Evanston submitted its initial PRO Housing application in fall 2023—prior to release of the first draft of the comprehensive plan—and raises questions about how federal grant commitments may influence expectations surrounding future land-use and zoning changes.  As Evanston enters the zoning code revision phase, the letter encourages earlier public disclosure of federal grant commitments and clearer City Council authorization when such commitments involve land-use policy.  Read the full letter in the Evanston RoundTable

SEA Recommended Action:

SEA will continue to track the zoning code update process carefully in light of the city’s lack of transparency concerning the PRO Housing grant application timeline influence on the passage of EE 2045. We encourage residents to attend ward meetings and Evanston commission meetings to keep up with anticipated fast-tracked zoning proposals.

Putting Assets to Work (PAW) Community Meetings

Submitted by Sheila Sullivan & Linda Damashek

A community-wide PAW meeting will be held on Wed., March 25th, at the Robert Crown Community Center from 6-8 pm.  SEA encourages all residents to attend this meeting to better understand the process, provide ideas, and express opinions regarding the three city-selected properties:

Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, Noyes Cultural Arts Center & the Police/Fire Headquarters 

"Putting Assets to Work" (PAW) is a strategic approach for local governments to unlock the value of under-utilized public assets. Read more here.

SEA Recommended Action:

SEA believes that all citizens should take advantage of the City’s efforts to collect community opinions and preferences for the use of these properties. This is best done by attending the March 25th meeting and visiting the Consultants’ website to express your ideas and/or your preferences.

City Considering Repeal of Panhandling Ordinance

Evanston officials are considering repeal of the City’s ordinance regulating panhandling and solicitation in certain locations, including restrictions near intersections, businesses, and ATMs.  The proposal originates from a February 2 memorandum from Chief Legislative Policy Advisor Liza Roberson-Young, recommending repeal in response to potential First Amendment concerns and possible litigation risk.

Courts have increasingly scrutinized laws that specifically regulate requests for money, treating them as content-based restrictions on speech under the First Amendment. At the same time, municipalities across the country have taken different approaches in response to these rulings, including revising ordinances to address aggressive conduct rather than repealing regulations entirely.

SEA is monitoring the issue as it moves to the City Council. Regardless of the outcome, residents should expect continued discussion about how Evanston addresses:

• pedestrian safety
• solicitation near intersections and businesses
• the balance between public order and free-speech protections

Read more earlier coverage at the Evanston RoundTable

Reparations Program Funding Debate

Evanston’s municipal reparations program began in 2019, when the City Council committed to a $10 million initiative funded through local cannabis tax revenue. In 2021, the Council expanded the program’s funding sources to include an additional $10 million from a portion of the real estate transfer tax paid by Evanston property sellers.  As cannabis tax revenues have produced less funding than originally projected, the Reparations Committee is now exploring additional revenue sources. Proposals discussed at recent meetings include allocating proceeds from the sale of city-owned property and potentially adopting new taxes on certain cannabis-related products.

These discussions highlight the evolving funding structure for the program and raise broader questions about how its long-term costs will be supported.

City Council Contact Page - Click Here

Upcoming City Meetings

Below are some meetings to be aware of as they often include topics/issues we follow. Please click here for more information.

Housing & Community Development, March 17 - 6:30pm

Planning & Development, March 23 - 5:30pm

City Council, March 23 - 5:45pm

Economic Development, March 25 - 5pm

Land Use Commission March 25 - 7pm

Putting Assets to Work Community Meeting, March 25 - 6pm

Preservation Commission, April 7 -7pm

4th Ward Meeting, April 7 - 7pm, Robert Crown Community Center, Room BC 

Land Use Commission April 8 - 7pm

Planning & Development, April 13 - 5:30pm

City Council, April 13 - 5:45pm

Preservation Commission, April 14 -  7pm
 

SEA Annual Membership Drive

If you haven’t renewed your SEA membership yet, we hope you’ll consider doing so. Your support strengthens our efforts to educate residents and maintain vigilance. We are currently monitoring and providing input to City Council and city staff on zoning, pedestrian safety, lakefront protection, and historic preservation matters.  Please renew your membership here. If you are not sure of your renewal status, please get in touch with us. 

For a listing of SEA Board Members, click here.

CITY ZONING UPDATE- OUR POSITION

February 23, 2026

Dear Evanston City Council Members,

The attached letter contains a statement from the Southeast Evanston Association (SEA) concerning the revised Draft Scope of Services for the Zoning Update. 

The Southeast Evanston Association (SEA) appreciates the City’s incorporation of public feedback into the revised Draft Scope of Services for the proposed Zoning Update released on February 19, 2026. Several of the procedural clarifications we identified—including expansion of the anticipated impact analysis to include infrastructure capacity, school enrollment, displacement risk, and fiscal sustainability—are meaningful improvements to the revised document.

However, SEA remains concerned that the revised Scope of Services continues to contemplate a consultant-led concept development and drafting process prior to explicit legislative determination by the City Council of the scale, scope, and implementation parameters of the zoning update itself. Should the City proceed with the zoning update process, SEA believes it is essential that the consultant's role remain analytical and advisory, rather than policy-setting, and that land use policy direction originate from elected officials through public legislative action.

In addition, the revised Scope of Services still does not clearly define whether publicly-owned land, institutional campuses, historic districts, or overlay areas are included within the contemplated scope of rezoning analysis. SEA therefore believes that the independent impact analysis contemplated in the revised Scope of Services should explicitly evaluate the likely effects of proposed zoning changes on designated historic districts, contributing structures, lakefront access and open space protections, and established residential building patterns prior to development or testing of initial zoning concepts.

The process needs to be rigorous, legally sound, and respectful of established community frameworks before it proceeds to City Council. Our comments provided in the attached statement will assist in this endeavor. We appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback.

Sincerely,

Sheila Sullivan

Vice President, SEA

Newsletter - January 2026

The Southeast Evanston Association is an Illinois non-profit corporation. We remain committed to maintaining our advocacy for the shared values that define our neighborhood.   

Envision Evanston 2045 (EE 2045) – Evanston’s 20 Year Comprehensive Plan
On January 26th, a vote will be taken by the City Council to adopt the latest draft of EE 2045 plan. While the SEA Board has concerns with elements of the plan, we recognize that the process has been a long and contentious.  The Council will almost certainly adopt the current plan with only minor changes to language. The next step in the process is to develop a new zoning code that is to be based on the core policies expressed in the Comprehensive Plan.

• The Evanston Roundtable has an excellent summary of the EE 2045 process that can be found here.

In the past, SEA has had some significant concerns around several of the points in the plan.  We have been heavily focused on a few zoning matters:

Ø  Advocating for maintaining single-family zoning.  The current EE 2045 plan calls for abolishing single-family zoning and allowing for up to 4 housing units to be built on residential lots.

Ø  Advocating for height limitations for tall buildings on Chicago Avenue and throughout downtown Evanston. 

Also at the January 26th City Council Meeting, a vote will be taken on another proposed ordinance: Short Term Rentals - https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/01/13/vacation-rental-ordinance-moves-forward-with-a-few-proposed-changes/

The current edition of the ordinance includes:

• A reduced total number of units that could be offered as short term to 145 from a proposed 180.

• Increased restrictions on the distance between rental properties

• Requires the owner or property manager to live within 3 miles of the rental property

Lakefront Protection Ordinance (LPO) – Update
Council Member Clare Kelly and 3rd ward resident and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner, Cam Davis, have been drafting a LPO, which has been shared on the city website. 3rd Ward Council Member Shawn Iles has also been involved in this effort.  SEA has been working with CM Kelly to make improvements to the draft, specifically citing more clarifications about the consequences of either the City or Northwestern University ignoring the Ordinance. 

Main/Forest Pedestrian Alliance
A group of 3rd Ward residents have become concerned about pedestrian safety, especially in the area near Lincoln School. The area is a dense neighborhood, with many pedestrians – dog walkers, people walking to the trains and the beach, people taking their children to school. At the same time, commuters driving south are routed through this neighborhood, creating a toxic mix. The stretch of Main Street between Forest and Sheridan is also quite dangerous, with southbound motorists racing to the light at Sheridan Road. In 2023, an elderly man was struck by a car and killed.

A proposal was put together in cooperation with Traffic Engineering to:
Ø  Put a raised intersection at the corner of Main and Forest

Ø  Put a raised crosswalk at Main and Michigan Avenue

Ø  Install lighting that will shine directly down on the sidewalk in both these dangerous spots

This is an ambitious proposal, but, if implemented, can be a model for the rest of the 3rd Ward and the city. 

Parking
Council Member, Shawn Iles recently worked with city staff members to remove the short-term parking space areas in front of the former Starbucks space on Main Street.  By removing the short-term designation, other businesses such as Kuni’s, Oceanique and Lucky Platter will benefit. 

City News
NU To Bring Chicago Stars Soccer Team to Ryan Field With A 5 Year Lease? 

Chicago Stars and stadium opponents building campaigns around team’s ask to play at Ryan Field. The Most Livable City Association will petition to force supermajority vote requirement at City Council, says org’s president.

https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/01/12/chicago-stars-stadium-opponents-building-campaigns-around-teams-ask-to-play-at-ryan-field/ 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/13/chicago-stars-soccer-evanston-play-ryan-field/

Let your council member know your thoughts on allowing more use of Ryan Field by professional sports teams or other matters such as the Envision Evanston Plan or the Short-term rental ordinance. You can reach council members at these email addresses: dbiss@cityofevanston.org, ckelly@cityofevanston.org, mrodgers@cityofevanston.org, siles@cityofevanston.org, kharris@cityofevanston.org, parielledavis@cityofevanston.org, jnieuwsma@cityofevanston.org, bburns@cityofevanston.org, tsuffredin@cityofevanston.org, jgeracaris@cityofevanston.org

The January 23, 2026 City Manager’s Report notes that two more city owned venues hope to serve liquor, including The Noyes Cultural Center and Ecology Center. https://www.cityofevanston.org/home/showpublisheddocument/102881

SEA Block By Block (Party)
The SEA would love to attend your summer block party to help better understand the needs of our member base and neighborhoods.  You can apply for a permit at Block Party Application(Printable) or Block Party Application (Online)
Let us know if we can attend and chat with you and your neighbors!  Please contact Board Member Steve Test to invite him to join you.

SEA Annual Membership Drive
If you haven’t renewed your SEA membership yet, we hope you’ll consider doing so.
We are currently working with the City Council and staff on zoning, pedestrian safety, lakefront protection, and historic preservation matters.
Please renew your membership here:
https://www.southeastevanston.org/membership
If you are not sure of your renewal status, please get in touch with us at:  info@southeastevanston.org
 
SEA Board:
John Kennedy –President
Sheila Sullivan – Vice President
Mimi Roeder – Secretary
Martha Ash – Treasurer
Board Members:
Linda Damashek, John Storey-Williamson, Steve Test, Marcus Thimm, John Walsh, Emily Williams Guthrie (non-voting), and Laurie Zoloth,

The Southeast Evanston Association (SEA), Inc., an Illinois non-profit corporation- EIN No 36-3986627

Click Here to review the SEA Annual Meeting Presentation from Assistant City Engineer Chris Sous on the Chicago Avenue Multimodal Corridor Improvement Plan- October 28,2025

Annual Meeting Minutes- October 28, 2025

SEA Members in attendance –

John Kennedy, Martha Ash, Mimi Roeder, Fred Ash, Sheila Sullivan, James Kirk, Helen Hilken, Dia Walsh, John Walsh, Thomas Judge, Susan Sobczak, Debbie Mara Evans, Kelley Hughes-Liao, Shirley Dugdale, Zafiro Papastratakos, Andrea Liss, John Storey-Williamson, Josh Bowes Carlson, 3rd Ward City Of Evanston Council Member Shawn Iles, Steve Test

Guests- Chris Sous and Lara Biggs from the City of Evanston Department of Engineering 

The annual meeting of the Southeast Evanston Association was held on Tuesday, October 28th at the Firehouse Grill, second floor.

Ø  7:03 PM – Call to order

o   John Kennedy provided an overview of the organization’s activities this past year and future objectives.  John noted that Josh Bowes Carlson led the organization to inoculate trees against Dutch Elm Disease, as well has organized candidate forums during the local 2025 election.  Josh kept the SEA organization moving even through CO-VID.  John gave Josh the gift of a book about the history of Evanston. 

o   John described the mission of the organization (see below*).  We have resumed monthly board meetings.  We are looking at the infrastructure in our organization including the website and communications, membership levels and discerning issues on the horizon.  John would like to have a better understanding of member views.  Zoning codes will be at the forefront of city discussions in the future.

Questions and Comments:

o   A question was asked about stabilizing the lakefront erosion; what is the plan to keep erosion at bay?  It appears to have stalled out due to lack of funds. A lake front protection ordinance is being worked on by Council Member Clare Kelly.  Erosion plan funds were applied for during COVID through FEMA, but those funds are no longer available.  The city also applied for a grant for Sheridan Road to upgrade the area to keep erosion at bay, as well as at Greenwood Avenue at the lake.  Assistant City Engineer, Chris Sous, also applied for a state grant feasibility study at Sheridan Road near the Calvary Cemetery.  The public was involved in the lake front stabilization plan.  The city is now in the midst of implementing that plan. The city is also working to improve the native habitat plantings with the Parks and Recreation Department. 

o   Balance of programming vs. passive use of lakefront; it seems that the balance is being lost.  At what point is the lakefront too commercialized and overused for events and concerts?

o   CM Kelly was asked by Sheila Sullivan (SEA Vice President) to share the lakefront ordinance draft document and says she will make it available to the SEA; Sheila Sullivan plans to follow up with Council Member Kelly to make sure the SEA can see it before it is made fully public. 

o   Lakefront management and development is worth keeping our eyes on. 

o   The Parks and Open Space Master Plan was passed in 2024 and is available for viewing on the city website here.

o   What is SEA’s role in involving itself in areas outside of our boundaries?  We use our mission statement as our guide.   

*SEA Guiding Mission Statements

SEA and its Board aim to fulfill these essential tenets of our bylaws with the help of our members:

·         Preserve the essentially residential character of Southeast Evanston through developing citizen participation in the processes of city zoning and planning. 

·         Maintain and improve practices and regulations affecting Evanston land use. 

·         Aid in the solution of community problems and encourage informed citizen participation in community affairs. 

·         Foster research, education and study of various aspects of legislation directly affecting our community.

·         Provide a clearinghouse for information on community affairs. 

·         Actively monitoring development along the lakefront, as well as events and uses that are scheduled and requested. We believe in an active, healthy and vibrant lakefront, that allows people to freely enjoy nature without overcrowding or misuse. 

We welcome thoughts, concerns and efforts to collaborate with our organization.  Our email address is info@southeastevanston.org.

 Ø  John Kennedy - Presentation of Proposed Slate:

o   John Kennedy – Interim President since June 2025.

o   Sheila Sullivan – Vice President

o   Mimi Roeder – Secretary - 1st term ending in October 2027

o   Martha Ash – Treasurer - 1st term ending in October 2027

o   John Walsh – Board Member

o   Marcus Thimm – Board Member

o   Laurie Zoloth – Board Member

o   John Storey-Williamson – Board Member

o   Linda Damashek – Board Member

o   Steve Test – Board Member

o   Emily Williams Guthrie – Board Member (non-voting) 

Ø  Motion – Josh Bowes Carlson moved to adopt the slate as presented.  John Walsh, 2nd.

Motion passed in a unanimous voice vote  

Meeting adjourned at 7:45PM 

Presentation by City Staff

·         There was a short presentation by Chris Sous, Assistant City Engineer.   City Engineer, Lara Biggs, was also present.  The city staff person spoke to the current plans for the rebuilding of the Chicago Avenue Corridor and the addition of a protected bike lane.

·         Click here for the complete presentation. 

 __________________________________________________________________

We welcome thoughts, concerns and efforts to collaborate with our organization.  Our email address is info@southeastevanston.org.
 ________________________________________________________________
 
City of Evanston Helpful Tools and Information -

City Council Email list:

dbiss@cityofevanston.org, ckelly@cityofevanston.org, mrodgers@cityofevanston.org, siles@cityofevanston.org, kharris@cityofevanston.org, parielledavis@cityofevanston.org, jnieuwsma@cityofevanston.org, bburns@cityofevanston.org, tsuffredin@cityofevanston.org, jgeracaris@cityofevanston.org

City Portal with up to date information

https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/Portal/Default.aspx