RESIDENTIAL PROJECT NEAR O’HARE SHOT DOWN BY ZONING COMMITTEE

A divided City Council Zoning Committee on Tuesday shot down a developer’s proposal to build a seven- story, 297- unit luxury apartment complex near the CTA’s Cumberland Blue Line station after an emotional debate about affordable housing.

Last year, the Zoning Committee shelved the M- shaped building at 8535W. Higgins Road at the behest of Ald. Anthony Napolitano ( 41st).

That preserved aldermanic prerogative that gives aldermen iron- fisted control over zoning in their wards.

A lawsuit was filed to force the issue, setting the stage for Tuesday’s vote on the project that includes 30 units set aside for low- and moderate- income Chicagoans, as required by the city’s affordable housing ordinance.

After a racially charged debate, the Zoning Committee rejected the development by a rare 7- to- 5 vote.

No votes were cast by Aldermen Michelle Harris ( 8th); Ray Lopez ( 15th); Matt O’Shea ( 19th); Marge Laurino ( 39th); Brendan Reilly ( 42nd); TomTunney ( 44th) and Zoning ChairmanDanny Solis ( 25th).

Voting in favor of the project were Aldermen Proco JoeMoreno ( 1st); Toni Foulkes ( 16th); Deb Mell ( 33rd); James Cappleman ( 46th) and Ameya Pawar ( 47th).

Prior to thefinal vote, Napolitano defended himself against a barrage of allegations he had used trumped up- fears of school overcrowding as excuses to block affordable housing in the Northwest Side ward adjacent to O’Hare Airport, where he has lived for 43 years.

“I strongly oppose the development at 8535W. Higgins. My objection is based on very serious concerns with the local schools that are extremely overcrowded that many of youwant to dismiss,” he said.

“The neighborhood school that would accommodate the children in this building is Dirksen elementary. Dirksen’s original building has capacity for 510 students. CPS has placedmobile units on the site, bringing the capacity to 780. Enrollment at Dirksen over the past three years has grown from 858 to 926. My mobile units hold 780. Dirksen is grossly overcrowded with no room for additional mobiles and there is not a CPS plan anywhere in sight of relief.”

Napolitano had his say, but not before getting a tongue- lashing from protesters, including Etta Davis.

Davis said she was “about to burst” while listening to people “come up with all kinds of excuses aboutwhy there should not be affordable housing on theNorth Side.”