Congratulations to Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) Principal Lesley Roth, AIA, AICP on being appointed to the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) inaugural Committee on Design (COD).
Introduced by Commissioner Maurice D. Cox in March, the informal committee will enhance and streamline the design review and approval process for Chicago’s largest construction projects. Largely comprised of globally recognized architects, artists, academics and real estate professionals, the 24-member committee will advise DPD and developers on innovative and cost-effective design considerations that will help large construction projects to be expediently processed through internal, Plan Commission and City Council-related project reviews. Committee members represent each of Chicago’s seven planning regions and will serve two-year terms.
“I am thrilled to be selected for DPD’s Committee on Design, and look forward to having an impact on Chicago’s future in design,” said Lesley. “I am passionate about bringing smart urban planning and design to our diverse communities, and working with the public to create high functioning places that improve quality of life.”
The committee will review projects in advance of their formal zoning applications to City Council, which triggers more formal review and approval processes. The projects that will be subject to committee review include:
- Planned Developments that exceed 10 acres, 2.5 million square feet of space, or 2,500 residential units
- High rises that are 80 feet or taller, any projects that are not height-compliant with current zoning and policy, and any projects that vary from the scale and character of the surrounding context
- Projects that use City resources, such as Tax Increment Financing, Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus funds, or support from the INVEST South/West initiative
- Projects that are adjacent to overlay districts or special street designations, such as landmark districts, pedestrian streets, etc.
In her 20-year career, Lesley’s professional training and practice include domestic and international architecture and urban design with an emphasis on public engagement, livable communities and sustainability. Lesley holds a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon. She is a certified urban planner and licensed architect in the state of Illinois.
For more information on the committee, please visit here.