Climate task force members frustrated to be asked for feedback on Envision Evanston draft they haven’t seen – Evanston RoundTable

Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan Implementation Task Force Prepares for Zoning Code Overhaul

The Climate Action and Resilience Plan Implementation Task Force in Evanston is gearing up to provide its input on the ongoing overhaul of the city’s zoning code. This overhaul is part of the comprehensive plan called Envision Evanston 2045. However, the development process for the updated code and plan is falling behind schedule.

The task force had hoped to receive the table of contents for the new plan and code by October, but it was not ready in time for their meeting. The city has now pushed back the release of the initial draft to November.

Land Use Commission Requests Feedback

The Land Use Commission, responsible for developing the new zoning code, has asked the task force, the Environment Board, and the Preservation Commission to provide their feedback during an upcoming meeting. However, task force members expressed frustration because they did not know exactly what they were being asked to comment on until the meeting packet is released 48 hours in advance.

As a solution, the task force agreed to work off the city’s referral tracker, which includes Envision Evanston-related requests to the Land Use Commission. They will focus on the requests that align with their own priorities.

Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

The CARP Implementation Task Force, a subcommittee of the Environment Board, is responsible for tracking Evanston’s progress towards the goals outlined in the Climate Action and Resilience Plan. The task force and board have previously provided input on the Envision Evanston plan. However, task force members expressed concerns that their priority of integrating sustainability into every aspect of the new plan and zoning code was being overlooked.

Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt reassured the task force that environmental sustainability would continue to be part of the conversation. The task force will be invited to give input during the Land Use Commission’s meeting, but the exact timing is yet to be determined.

Action Steps

Task force member Paula Scholl suggested that waiting until the draft is released and taking the time to review it would address concerns about not having enough time to prepare comments. The task force agreed to focus on four Envision Evanston-related referrals to the Land Use Commission, including eliminating parking minimums, revising the zoning code for outdoor dining and green spaces, increasing the tree canopy, and changing the project approval process to encourage multimodal transit use and pedestrian/cyclist safety.

The task force will provide their comments by next week for inclusion in the Environment Board meeting packet. They also emphasized the importance of pushing for sustainability goals beyond the comprehensive plan.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the Climate Action and Resilience Plan Implementation Task Force’s input on the city’s zoning code overhaul and comprehensive plan. This relates to SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. The task force aims to ensure that sustainability is woven into every facet of the new plan and zoning code, which aligns with SDG 11. Additionally, the article mentions the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which falls under SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

The article mentions specific targets related to SDG 11 and SDG 13. The task force aims to revise the zoning code to make it easier to set up outdoor dining and green spaces, which aligns with SDG 11.7. Additionally, the task force wants to ensure that sustainability is integrated into the new plan and zoning code, which aligns with SDG 13.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned in the article. However, progress towards the identified targets could be measured by assessing the extent to which sustainability is integrated into the new plan and zoning code, the availability and accessibility of green and public spaces, and the inclusion of climate change measures in national policies and planning.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: evanstonroundtable.com