7 Ward Meeting WED April 15th 7:00-Professional Sports in U3-Office Depot Development and PAW

Council Members Davis and Kelly are holding a joing ward meeting tonight. Agenda & Link to virtual meeting below. 

Join via Google Meet Join via Phone: 978-361-0484‬  PIN: ‪977 502 615‬# Agenda: Chicago Stars Putting Assets to Work Office Depot on Green Bay Road

Please join me for a virtual 7th Ward meeting on Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m., where we will discuss Putting Assets to Work and the Office Depot on Green Bay Road. Then, at 7:30 p.m., members of the 1st Ward will join to discuss the Chicago Stars. 

 One of the agenda items is that The Stars professional soccer team owners want to play both their 2026 and 2027 seasons in the U3 district. The U3 has the same restrictions on professional sports as the U2 district and any changes which are not permitted by right or are a special use are not permitted which is why they need a text or map change amendment not administrative reveiw. 

We need a transparent, democratic zoning process and for staff to follow the zoning code as written.

Professional sports at Martin Field must be not allowed to proceed through administrative review by staff.  It must be approved by council via legislative action. Anything less is staff overreach. effectively opens the door to professional sports in the U3 district without proper process. The U3 language  mirrors the laguage in the U2 district, which states that the recreational sports use are for college/Universtiy.  

Staff is undermining years of careful planning, community input, and Council decisions.

Residents have fought long and hard to uphold our zoning code process.  The process and rules be followed—and decisions of this magnitude be made in public, by elected officials, not behind closed doors or by staff.