CITY HALL — The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has cleared one of its final hurdles.
The City Council's Zoning Committee approved the museum's location on the lakefront between Soldier Field and McCormick Place Tuesday. Only Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) voted against.
Many of the arguments were repeated from last week's approval from the Plan Commission for the museum backed by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas.
"We strongly oppose the zoning change," said Melanie Moore, policy director for Friends of the Parks, which is suing to prevent the museum from being located east of Lake Shore Drive.
The group says it is motivated by preserving open space on the lakefront.
In a statement issued after the vote, the group said of the approval: "Did anyone really think that these votes would turn out otherwise" given that "mayoral appointees and aldermen under [Mayor Rahm Emanuel's] thumb are going to vote as they are told."
"The real, significant hurdle in this matter remains: our lawsuit," Lauren Moltz, chair of the Friends of the Parks said in a statement.
A city Law Department official said he was confident the city would win that suit.
Ald. George Cardenas (12th) took issue with a so-called event prairie area off to the side of the proposed museum. Yet museum officials said that, with special turf and enhanced drainage, it would serve to park 560 cars and provide tailgating to Bears fans on game days.
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