The Lincoln Yards development advanced Thursday on a 9-4 vote of the City Council’s Zoning Committee, despite Acting Chairman Ald. James Cappleman’s (46) effort to delay the $6 billion project that promises to transform the North Side of Chicago.

Ald. George Cardenas (12), Ald. Deb Mell (33) and Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) joined Cappleman in voting against the project.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8); Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17); Matt O’Shea (19); Howard Brookins (21); Walter Burnett (27); Carrie Austin (34); Margaret Laurino (39) and Brendan Reilly (42) voted in favor of the project.

Another key vote looms by the City Council’s Finance Committee, which is expected to approve a $900 million subsidy for the project, set to be generated by the 168-acre Cortland and Chicago River Redevelopment tax increment financing (TIF) district (F2018-72).

The City Council could give the 6,000-unit development poised to reshape the land between Lincoln Park and Bucktown along the Chicago River final approval Wednesday. Mayor Rahm Emanuel hopes it will solidify his legacy as the mayor who guided the final transformation of Chicago from an industrial behemoth to a city poised for growth in the 21st Century.

The project has the support of the Chicago Federation of Labor, as well as the Service Employees International Union, whose members will be among the 10,000 construction workers hired to build the development. Another 24,000 permanent jobs will be created by Lincoln Yards, city officials claim.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) said the changes to the development considered by the Zoning Committee — which he acknowledged came at the “11th hour” — made the project better. They were formally unveiled less than two hours before the meeting started.

“The community review process worked,” Hopkins said.

Among the changes – a reduction of the height of the tallest building in the 55-acre development from 800 feet down to 600. The total size of new buildings will be capped at 14.5 million square feet, Hopkins said.

Hopkins also said his office would hold a public meeting on each phase of the project as Sterling Bay prepares to build it, in an effort to give residents a chance to review the plans. In addition, Sterling Bay will be required to submit an annual traffic and transit study to the City Council. Hopkins pledged to hold a public hearing on those studies.

That will ensure Sterling Bay lives up to its end of the agreement, Hopkins said, before acknowledging that the new provisions don’t include penalties for violations – meetings would be advisory.

The revised plan requires 600 units of affordable housing to be built on site. Originally, the plan called for only 300 units to be built on site, a plan criticized by several alderman as insufficient.

Cappleman said he needed more time to review the changes, and moved to defer.

“And there’s still so much to digest — especially for a project that is this broad,” Cappleman said.

That brought a furious response from 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, a close ally of Emanuel, who questioned Cappleman’s position as acting chairman.

The Uptown alderman replaced disgraced Ald. Danny Solis (25) as chairman of the Zoning Committee in January. Cappleman faces scientist Marianne Lalonde in the April 2 runoff to win a third term on the City Council.

“You don't run zoning in other people's wards,” Burnett said. “This is not your ward."

Burnett’s motion to proceed with the hearing and a vote on Lincoln Yards also passed 9-4.

Under aldermanic prerogative — the city’s unwritten policy of giving aldermen the ultimate authority over projects in their own wards — the project only needs the support of the mayor and Hopkins, who has said the new roads, bridges and sidewalks set to be built as part of the Lincoln Yards development are urgently needed.

Lalonde spoke during the four-hour meeting and accused Cappleman of exploiting the City Council’s rules to appear to oppose Lincoln Yards without actually stopping the project.

It is "same cover he uses to make zoning decisions in our ward," Lalonde said.

A source in the mayor’s office said it would be a “stretch” to suggest the drama was orchestrated to boost Cappleman’s prospects in the April 2 runoff. But since no one knew what Cappleman was planning, contingency plans were in place to ensure Lincoln Yards advanced Thursday, the source said.

However, after the meeting Cappleman said he was surprised that his effort to delay a vote on Lincoln Yards failed. He did not think his City Council colleagues would deviate from the a yearslong practice of allowing a committee chair to defer an item.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) said he’d never seen committee members go against a chairman’s request to defer since he began serving in 2007.

Cappleman said he was pleased with the changes announced this week by Hopkins and planning officials, but wanted more affordable housing built for those making no more than 30 percent of the area’s median income, or $25,450 for a family of four, in the 2nd Ward.

“They really moved mountains,” Cappleman said, praising the reduction in the site’s density.

Announcing the changes less than 24 hours before the scheduled vote was “rushing it,” however. Cappleman said he wanted to see a more robust community input process.

“This is a plan of incredible scope,” Cappleman said. “It felt a little rushed to me.”

Cappleman said he knew he would make supporters of Lincoln Yards angry by delaying the vote.

“I was caught by surprise, because I have never seen it happen,” Cappleman said of aldermen refusing to defer an item at a committee chairman’s request. “I thought the right thing to do was to hold it a little longer.”

Although the 55-acre development is in the 2nd Ward, it is sandwiched between the 43rd Ward and 32nd Ward. Ald. Michele Smith (43) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) vehemently oppose the project, and have been urging its delay, but are not Zoning Committee members. Mayoral candidates Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot also urged a delay.

Department of Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman said the approval of Lincoln Yards is critical to ensure Chicago’s economy remains robust as the city transitions from its industrial past into the future.

“These sites are absolutely critical as we consider our fiscal issues and our need to grow our tax base without increasing the burden on existing residents and businesses,” Reifman said.

Smith said Reifman was speaking “from a place of fear.”

“I am baffled by the suggestion that if we don't approve Lincoln Yards on March 7 that it will mean Chicago is not open for business." Smith said. "Where is the school? Where is the library? Where is the true public park? Where is the true public benefit?"

Waguespack called Lincoln Yards “a monstrosity.”

Opponents of the project also said the planned 11-acre park is insufficient. The park will be owned by Sterling Bay, but function as a public park and overseen by a park advisory council, Hopkins said.

Follow the play-by-play @TheDailyLineChi.

Aldermen fed up with advertising stickers plastered all over light poles, traffic signals, signs and bicycle racks advanced new rules that will increase the penalties for those who advertise in the public way.

As a two-year-old bill that gives state officials the green light to sell the James R. Thompson Center awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) said he still hasn’t seen a new proposal for the much loved and loathed building. Meanwhile, Reilly moved Wednesday to force a vote on a measure to broadcast City Council committee hearings.

Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot is leading rival Toni Preckwinkle in nearly every category and has a lead of 30 points more than three weeks before the April 2, according to an internal poll provided by Lightfoot’s campaign.

Lightfoot is leading among union households, self-described liberals as well as those who voted for Bill Daley or Jerry Joyce; Amara Enyia or Willie Wilson; and Susana Mendoza or Gery Chico. 

Read the memo here.

Mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle said a Facebook post from a campaign worker for Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) “raises questions” about whether rival Lori Lightfoot promised the chairman of the Progressive Caucus a powerful position in return for an endorsement and campaign cash. In the 6th Ward, Black Caucus Chairman Roderick Sawyer prepared for a runoff against Deborah Foster-Bonner.

After months of protests, the massive Lincoln Yards development is poised for a decisive vote Thursday  that could transform the North Side of Chicago — and solidify Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s legacy as the mayor who guided the final transformation of Chicago from an industrial behemoth to a city poised for growth in the 21st Century.

With a deal in place to double the amount of housing for poor and low-income Chicagoans built as part of the development, the City Council’s Zoning Committee is set to vote Thursday to advance the massive development to the full City Council, which is expected to take a final vote Wednesday.

The revised plan requires 600 units of affordable housing to be built on site. Originally, the plan called for only 300 units to be built on site, a plan criticized by several alderman as insufficient.

Hours before the vote, Chicago planning officials announced the plans would be changed to reduce the height of the tallest building set to be part of the 55-acre development to 600 feet from 800 feet.

In addition, the total size of new buildings will be capped at 14.5 million square feet, said Department of Planning and Development spokesman Peter Strazzabosco.

Zoning Committee Chairman Ald. James Cappleman (46) did not return repeated calls from The Daily Line about whether the proposed changes to the development have secured his support. Cappleman had said proposal should be revised to provide housing those making no more than 30 percent of the area’s median income, or $25,450 for a family of four.

The Uptown alderman replaced disgraced Ald. Danny Solis (25) as chairman of the Zoning Committee in January. Cappleman faces scientist Marianne Lalonde in the April 2 runoff to win a third term on the City Council.

Lalonde said she planned to rally at City Hall Thursday morning before the Zoning Committee meeting with other opponents of the project, including Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), Andre Vasquez, who is running against Ald. Pat O’Connor in the 40th Ward and Rafael Yanez, who is running against Ald. Raymond Lopez in the 15th Ward.

Mayoral candidates Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot have called on aldermen to halt consideration of the project, which could be approved by the time the next mayor takes office in May, tying her hands.

Eleven aldermen told The Daily Line in January and February they would vote against the project unless it included more affordable housing than originally proposed.

Although the 55-acre development is in the 2nd Ward, it is sandwiched between the 43rd Ward and 32nd Ward. Ald. Michele Smith (43) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) vehemently oppose the project, and have been urging its delay.

However, under aldermanic prerogative — the city’s unwritten policy of giving aldermen the ultimate authority over projects in their own wards — the project only needs the support of the mayor and 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins.

Hopkins has said the new roads, bridges and sidewalks set to be built as part of the Lincoln Yards development are urgently needed.

Department of Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman said the approval of Lincoln Yards is critical to ensure Chicago’s economy remains robust as the city transitions from its industrial past into the future.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for jobs and economic growth,” said Reifman, who briefed aldermen Tuesday on the revised proposal. “I don’t know any other way to develop this site and have it come close to its potential.”

The development is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs and 24,000 permanent jobs, according to city officials. Under the city’s rules, $1.9 billion of the project’s cost will be set side for women, African American and Latino owned firms.

The project relies on a $900 million subsidy, set to be generated by the 168-acre Cortland and Chicago River Redevelopment Area (F2018-72), which could also be approved by the City Council on March 13 if it is endorsed by the Finance Committee on March 11.

TIF districts capture all growth in the property tax base in a designated area for a set period of time, usually 20 years or more, and divert it into a special fund for projects designed to spur redevelopment and eradicate blight.

Of the 6,000 apartments, condominiums and townhomes planned for Lincoln Yards, 1,200 must be set aside for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans. The total number of affordable homes will not increase under the revised proposal — only their location will change.

That is an “outstanding commitment” by a private developer, Reifman said.

Sterling Bay also plans to pay $39 million into the city’s housing trust fund. Half of the trust is earmarked to subsidize individuals’ rent in existing buildings, and the other half is set aside to build new homes for the poorest Chicagoans.

Another 300 units would be allowed to be built outside the development, but within three miles, according to the revised plan. Sterling Bay would also have the option to pay into the trust fund instead of building some of those remaining units, or including them as part of Lincoln Yards.

The 600 affordable units built as part of Lincoln Yards would be earmarked for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans making no more than 60 percent of the area’s median income, or $47,400 for a family of four, according to city data.

Members of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability sat behind Ald. Harry Osterman (48) during a sparsely attended Public Safety Committee meeting Tuesday to introduce an amended ordinance to give elected civilians oversight of the Chicago Police Department.

Ald. Willie Cochran (20) has had second thoughts about the second thoughts that prompted him to scuttle a plea deal on corruption charges back in November, court documents show. In the runoff for treasurer, the third-place finisher backed the first-place finisher, and the latest vote totals show some races still teetering on the brink.

Hailing it for bringing much-needed jobs to the West Side, Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24) and other members of City Council’s Housing Committee approved a land sale to The Will Group Tuesday.

A measure from Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) designed to increase the penalties for those who advertise in the public way is on the agenda of the City Council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection set for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The massive Lincoln Yards development will advance to the City Council’s Zoning Committee on Thursday after aldermen, planning officials and developer Sterling Bay announced an agreement to double the amount of housing for poor and low-income Chicagoans built as part of the development.

The deal, announced Tuesday, would require 600 units of affordable housing to be built on site, according to the deal announced by 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins. Originally, the plan called for only 300 units to be built on site, a plan criticized by several alderman as insufficient.

"This is a huge gain," Hopkins said at a City Hall news conference to announce the plan.

Although the $6 billion development has consistently been supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Hopkins, new Zoning Committee Chairman Ald. James Cappleman (46) said he wanted the proposal to be revised to provide housing those making no more than 30 percent of the area’s median income, or $25,450 for a family of four.

The Uptown alderman replaced disgraced Ald. Danny Solis (25) as chairman of the Zoning Committee in January. Cappleman faces scientist Marianne Lalonde in the April 2 runoff to win a third term on the City Council.

Mayoral candidates Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot have called on aldermen to halt consideration of the project, which could be approved by the time the next mayor takes office in May, tying her hands.

Eleven aldermen told The Daily Line in January and February they would vote against the project unless it included more affordable housing than originally proposed.

Although the 55-acre development is in the 2nd Ward, it is sandwiched between the 43rd Ward and 32nd Ward. Ald. Michele Smith (43) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) vehemently oppose the project, and have been urging its delay.

However, under aldermanic prerogative — the city’s unwritten policy of giving aldermen the ultimate authority over projects in their own wards — the project only needs the support of the mayor and Hopkins.

Hopkins has said the new roads, bridges and sidewalks set to be built as part of the Lincoln Yards development are urgently needed.

Department of Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman said the approval of Lincoln Yards is critical to ensure Chicago’s economy remains robust as the city transitions from its industrial past into the future.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for jobs and economic growth,” said Reifman, who briefed aldermen Tuesday on the revised proposal. “I don’t know any other way to develop this site and have it come close to its potential.”

Reifman rejected concerns that the project has been rushed — but said time was of the essence.

“If they don’t get out of the box, we might be waiting an inordinately long time to develop this land,” Reifman said.

The development is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs and 24,000 permanent jobs, according to city officials. Under the city’s rules, $1.9 billion of the project’s cost will be set side for women, African American and Latino owned firms.

If approved by the Zoning Committee, the full City Council could act on the proposal March 13.

Cappleman could not immediately be reached for comment. Hopkins said he could not say whether Cappleman supports the revised plan.

The project relies on a $900 million subsidy, set to be generated by the 168-acre Cortland and Chicago River Redevelopment Area (F2018-72), which could also be approved by the City Council on March 13 if it is endorsed by the Finance Committee on March 11.

TIF districts capture all growth in the property tax base in a designated area for a set period of time, usually 20 years or more, and divert it into a special fund for projects designed to spur redevelopment and eradicate blight.

Of the 6,000 apartments, condominiums and townhomes planned for Lincoln Yards, 1,200 must be set aside for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans. The total number of affordable homes will not increase under the revised proposal — only their location will change.

That is an “outstanding commitment” by a private developer, Reifman said.

Sterling Bay also plans to pay $39 million into the city’s housing trust fund. Half of the trust is earmarked to subsidize individuals’ rent in existing buildings, and the other half is set aside to build new homes for the poorest Chicagoans.

Another 300 units would be allowed to be built outside the development, but within three miles, according to the revised plan. Sterling Bay would also have the option to pay into the trust fund instead of building some of those remaining units, or including them as part of Lincoln Yards.

The 600 affordable units built as part of Lincoln Yards would be earmarked for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans making no more than 60 percent of the area’s median income, or $47,400 for a family of four, according to city data.

Ald. Walter Burnett (27) and Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) praised Hopkins for increasing the number of on-site affordable homes.

“This is a great development,” Burnett said.

With more ballots cast in the Feb. 26 election set to be counted Tuesday, early voting will start March 15 in the Loop and on March 18 in all 50 wards.

A suit brought by a group of producers, suppliers and contractors that challenged Cook County’s compliance with the so-called Illinois lockbox amendment has been tossed out of court.

Aldermen will consider Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s pick to lead the Office of Emergency Management and Communications at the meeting of the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A former prosecutor, investigator and former inspector general often called upon by city and state officials in the wake of scandal will monitor the effort to reform the Chicago Police Department, a federal judge decided Friday.