TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
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Ordinances Associated with 971 Collins Street:
Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit to Allow Community Mental Health Services, an R-B (Restricted Business) Use, in the I-2 (General Industrial) Zoning District, Located at 971 Collins Street (ZBA 2025-01)
Ordinance Approving a Variation of Use to Allow an R-B (Restricted Business) Use in the I-2 (General Industrial) Zoning District, Located at 971 Collins Street (ZBA 2025-02)
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BACKGROUND:
The petitioner, Pilsen Wellness Center Inc., is requesting approval of a special use permit and variation of use to allow a community mental health office, an R-B (restricted business) use, in the I-2 (general industrial) zoning district at 971 Collins Street. The Zoning Ordinance does not permit R-B uses within the I-2 district, though they are allowed as special uses within the I-1 (light industrial) district and are permitted in the B-3 (general business) district. The subject property is zoned I-2 because it was originally part of the U.S. Steel Mills complex along Collins Street. It was parceled off prior to 1972 when the existing commercial building was constructed and has functioned as a commercial site in recent decades.
Pilsen Wellness Center proposes to provide outpatient behavioral health services such as mental health counseling, substance use prevention, and youth programs at the subject location. Pilsen Wellness Center was established in 1967 and seeks to provide quality and affordable culturally-sensitive human services to a multi-cultural population. Their administrative offices are located in Chicago, and they have numerous programming and service locations in Chicago and its immediate suburbs. They purchased the subject property in May 2024. The previous owner received approval of a special use permit from City Council in November 2022 to allow a banquet hall at the site but never completed any work...
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