Left: Ald. Michele Smith (43) speaks during a City Council committee meeting on Wednesday. Right: Tyler Quast of Blue Star Properties describes the Salt Shed proposal.

Aldermen on Wednesday steamrolled two of their colleagues to advance an ordinance (O2022-1279) opening the door for mega-event spaces to hold outdoor concerts on a permanent basis. The measure will most immediately give a boost to the “Salt Shed” concert venue that is on the verge of opening on the Chicago River — but two nearby aldermen warned that the legal change could lead to a “slippery policy path” that threatens public and natural access to the river.