Why aren’t the Bird Protection strategies or other elements of the SDP mandatory for projects to achieve compliance?

The SDP is intended to help Chicago achieve wide-ranging climate and resiliency goals through a menu of options that reflect best practices for construction and rehabilitation projects. As a department-level policy guide, the SDP lacks authority to mandate design components of private projects. Mandates are typically authorized through ordinances approved by City Council in the City’s municipal code.

Why don’t point values for strategies vary by project type or size?

The SDP menu is intended to provide flexibility that complements the size and type of all impacted projects without the need for points to be scalable.

Can the SDP be changed as a result of future ordinances or related legislation?

Yes.

How were SDP points assigned and weighted across strategies?

The 2024 update considered current City priorities, recently adopted ordinances, and public input in assigning updated point totals. In certain cases, point values also reflect potential impact or challenges involving implementation, such as cost, technical complexity, and long-term monitoring requirements. DPD monitors strategy use, and point values may be adjusted to encourage or prioritize specific strategies as needed.

Community engagement is a critical component of sustainability — why doesn’t the SDP require community engagement?

The municipal code requires public meetings or hearings for certain types of projects. DPD encourages developers to engage with the community during the planning and entitlement process, which usually happens before SDP compliance is reviewed. Engagement improvements are anticipated within DPD’s forthcoming development process enhancements. Projects with innovative approaches to engagement are also recognized through the Innovation/Sustainability Excellence strategy.

Why does the SDP allow warehouses and other industrial projects to be developed in areas that are overburdened by these types of uses?

The SDP does not guide land use, project size, locations, or other issues regulated by the City’s municipal code. Its strategies help mitigate some of the negative impacts of industrial projects through menu options that incentivize buffering and other techniques. Additional mitigation measures will be considered through DPD’s ongoing review of the City’s Industrial Corridor system; 2024 study areas include the Armitage and Calumet area corridors (Calumet, Burnside, and Pullman).

The SDP assigns points to strategies that require regular maintenance and upkeep. How does the SDP ensure that this upkeep occurs?

Applicants must submit maintenance agreements or commitments to maintain specific project elements, such as green roofs, to demonstrate that minimum maintenance will occur during critical establishment periods. Building owners and managers are responsible for long-term operation and maintenance of building systems and landscaping, per the municipal code.

Will DPD monitor SDP strategy selections and provide the public with relevant data?

Yes. DPD tracks compliance documentation upon a project’s submission for review. DPD will make strategy-related selection data available on the SDP website when available.

How was public input incorporated into the final SDP update?

In 2022 and 2023, DPD conducted focus groups and small group discussions regarding potential improvements involving energy, health, transportation, workforce, green infrastructure, community benefits, wildlife, and stormwater. This feedback refined existing strategies, removed outdated ones, and developed new options. A draft update was released for public comment in April 2024, with input from emails and surveys leading to further changes prior to initial implementation in July 2024.

How does the SDP update comply with the 2020 ordinance requiring prioritization of bird protection strategies?

The ordinance specifically requires “greater weight and priority” for the SDP’s bird protection measures. The 2024 update quadruples basic protections from five to 20 points and triples enhanced protections from 10 to 30 points. A new bird protection guide is also included to further incentivize and facilitate strategy implementation.

How does the 2024 update address the importance of native plants to provide habitats for wildlife, reduce maintenance costs, and assist with stormwater management?

The Native Landscapes strategy clarifies the definition of native plantings, advises projects to minimize the use of cultivars, and includes resources that further explain the importance and identities of native plants.

Why doesn’t the Native Landscapes strategy require 100% native plants? 

A landscape plan with 100% native plants may not be appropriate for all urban landscape projects due to varying site characteristics and aesthetic considerations. The strategy provides flexibility while still ensuring at least 60% of site plantings are native to the region.

Why was the “proximity to transit” strategy removed from 2024 SDP update?

As of July 2022, provisions in the Connected Communities Ordinance involving density and parking made the 2017 SDP strategies redundant.