City land dispositions will undergo an expedited sales process following procedural improvements identified by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Cut the Tape initiative and approved by City Council today.

Intended to streamline neighborhood revitalization initiatives involving the nearly 10,000 parcels of vacant land under City ownership, the changes eliminate the City’s practice of submitting proposed sales and acquisitions to the Chicago Plan Commission for omnibus approval. It also limits the Community Development Commission’s (CDC) review of land sales for City parcels that were originally acquired through TIF funding or that are being sold for projects to be developed with TIF funding.

Previously, Plan Commission voted on all City land sales and acquisitions via omnibus resolutions, typically five to 10 per meeting. CDC voted on all City land sales and acquisitions in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, typically two per meeting. Neither commission is required by state law or the municipal code to make recommendations regarding City land transactions.

The new procedures reserve the review and approval process for most sales to City Council, shaving weeks off typical timelines and freeing commission staff for other responsibilities.

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