CHICAGO (CBS) — The City Council Zoning Committee has approved a measure that would allow more small businesses owners to cut their commuting time down to just about nothing.

As WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, co-sponsor Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno (1st) says the proposed zoning change would allow more businesspeople to live in the same place where they work – within limits.

“We have currently in the Zoning Ordinance, we have the ability for our artists in our city to live and work in their abode, if you will,” Moreno said. “But that is only limited to artists. And I think that’s great that we have artists – we have many artists in the Wicker Park neighborhood and other neighborhoods in my ward. This ordinance expands it. The ordinance expands it to designers, accountants, lawyers.”

Under the ordinance, both the living quarters and the retail area would have to be located on the ground floor.

The ordinance now goes before the full City Council.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports