Land use commission recommends Amazon mini‑fulfillment center at 2308 Main Street, conditions a traffic study

The City of Evanston Land Use Commission voted 6–1 on May 27 to recommend that City Council approve a special‑use permit for an Amazon “mini fulfillment” center at 2308 Main Street, but the commission attached conditions requiring further study and mitigations for traffic and parking.

Amazon economic‑development representative Nathan Edy told the commission the small, delivery‑only facility — part of the company’s “Amazon Now” program — will stock roughly 3,500 commonly ordered items, about 65–70% grocery and consumable goods, and operate 24/7 with overnight deliveries. “Anything that you order from Amazon … we can deliver it in 30 minutes or less,” Edy said, outlining a model that relies on small local inventory, short on‑site pick times and independent “flex” drivers who use personal vehicles to complete deliveries.

Why it matters: Commissioners pressed the applicant on traffic and curb‑management details after Edy acknowledged a clerical error in the application. The packet listed about 240 daily vehicle trips; Edy said mature operations typically generate more activity and told the commission, “I think that’ll get closer to 750 or a thousand trips per day,” adding that Amazon will provide more data if the city requires it.

The commission’s recommendation includes three explicit conditions: submittal of a traffic‑impact analysis for staff and engineering review, a parking/flow plan for the site (including on‑site circulation), and routing or turn restrictions for Amazon’s flex drivers if needed to limit neighborhood impacts. Staff told commissioners it could require off‑site traffic infrastructure changes at the applicant’s expense before City Council review.

During the May 27 hearing, staff read the application (record 26ZMJV‑000019) and recommended forwarding a favorable recommendation. Applicant testimony included specifics on operations: minimal exterior changes, interior shelving and coolers for perishable items, overnight truck deliveries between about 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., and a storefront pickup pattern that Amazon says will minimize daytime truck conflicts. The applicant also described using badge‑access and routing software to manage flex‑driver movements.

Public comment included one in‑person speaker, Albert Ferguson, a leaseholder in part of the affected building, who asked staff to confirm the correct suite addresses and said the site currently has underused parking in back.

The motion to recommend approval was moved by Commissioner Berlin and seconded by Commissioner Aravalo. The roll‑call vote was: Aravalo — yes; Berlin — yes; Harris Frey — no; Johnson — yes; Lynwell — recused; Magnum — yes; Marchev — yes; Chair Ptel — yes. The commission’s recommendation will now go to City Council for final action; staff said the traffic study and any resulting infrastructure recommendations will be processed before that council hearing.

What’s next: City staff advised that, if the commission or Council desires more robust review, the applicant can be required to submit a full traffic impact analysis and engineering review before final approval. The applicant indicated willingness to provide that study. The Council will set the final hearing date and consider the commission’s conditional recommendation.