Champaign Council and In-Town Zoning Change

The "In Town" neighborhood zoning rule passed, but with a last minute amendment that made a final adjustment. From the News-Gazette today:

Champaign council approves zoning changes for In-Town neighborhood
...
Before the final vote on the measure, council member Alicia Beck offered an amendment that reduced lot coverage from 40 to 35 percent and reduced footprints of new buildings from 3,750 to 3,250 square feet, which was narrowly approved, 5-4.

Council member Clarissa Nickerson Fourman, who voted against the amendment, quickly grabbed the microphone after the vote to call it a "joke" and said the council did not listen to the people.

The final vote for approval of the zoning changes was 8-0, with Fourman abstaining.

More arguments for and against with all the passions the issue raised at the full article here. Other issues were on the agenda too (video of the meeting available here):

In other business, the council unanimously approved finalizing a plat and amending zoning rules for the development of Union Gardens, a townhome and apartment complex proposed for an area that straddles the city line north of historically black neighborhoods in Champaign and Urbana...

Fourman said she fully supports the project, despite some of the comments from area residents.

"We are not going to get development on the north end if we don't start somewhere," she said. "I understand Urbana's position, but it's hard for me in my position to look at it and say 'No, this isn't good.' We should all be supportive of development in the north end. The north end has been stalled for my entire life."

Yard waste pickup was made available to all residents in a resolution passed last night as well in two consolidated council bills 2018-152 and 2018-153. The last few minutes of the council meeting covered quite a few bills on the agenda after a very long portion on the zoning issue and amendment. Video is available here from the city website along with the agenda.