EVANSTON — The Haw Patch third addition was the only subject on the agenda at the Sept. 10 Evanston City Council work session. Councilman David Welling and City Attorney Dennis Boal were absent and excused from the work session meeting. All other council members were present.

Dean Barker, director of engineering and planning, pointed out the city-owned land the city is considering subdividing and auctioning off. 

The land is located off Saddle Ridge Road across from the Evanston Recreation Center. Lot 1 of the proposed subdivision has an existing structure on it, while Lots 2 and 3 are undeveloped and located respectively to the south and east of Lot 1. Barker explained that the proposed property lines between Lots 1, 2 and 3 would be located within existing waterline and petroleum pipeline easements.

Barker asked senior planner DuWayne Jacobsen to address the current zoning regulations for the property.

“Lots 1 and 2 are currently zoned low density residential-established and Lot 3 is zoned public. A change in zoning from low density residential-established and public to medium density residential-developing is proposed for the three lots. The change in zoning would be consistent with anticipated land use for this area as possibly being developed for senior and affordable housing. There has been interest expressed in Lot 2 for an office use. An office use is permitted as part of a residential Planned Unit Development in developing zoning districts,” Jacobsen reported.

Councilman Tib Ottley said others have expressed a need for parking near the playfield at Aspen Elementary. He wondered if Lot 3 could be developed for parking. 

Jacobsen responded that if the zoning for Lot 3 were changed to medium density-developing, a parking lot as a principal use of a lot is addressed in the Schedule of Land Uses but would need to be reviewed further by staff.

“The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet the first Monday in October. We are planning to submit the zone change for consideration by the commission. If the commission recommends approval of the zone change, it will come before the council to be reviewed through three separate readings,” Jacobsen said.

“If this works out, the best thing will be to put this property back into private hands. It will be a positive outcome for the City,” Evanston Mayor Kent Williams said.