THE NEXT BOARD MEETING: A MATTER OF MYSTERY AND MATH

Board President Nancy Firfer is reportedly ready to try again – nominating someone to replace retired Trustee Joyce Schmit, but her choice remains a closely guarded secret.  Despite calls for some consultation, members of the Board say they haven't heard from Her Honor, and this week's "packet" – background information about the up-coming Board Meeting – does not contain a name or resume for public consideration.  (The packet can be reviewed by any citizen at Glenview's Public Library.  Just ask at the business desk the weekend before meetings.)

Also on this week's agenda, a complex question: Should Glenview revise its formula for calculating the impact fees paid by developers to our schools and park district.  The Village currently values land at $40,000 an acre for this purpose, while Northbrook values its land at $500,000 an acre.   The Trustees are expected to increase land value, but controversy surrounds a related question – should property at the Glen be included?   Residential developers who have already signed contracts (Kimball Hill and the James Company) would not pay the increase, and District 34 would see no benefit, having agreed to waive payment of impact fees in exchange for free land.  District 225 would probably get less than $1 million in extra revenue.  These numbers may not matter in the end.   Trustees Patton and Fuller have already stated their opposition, and one of their votes would be needed to extend higher fees to the Glen.

DETAILS, DETAILS 

While small matters like school funding and environmental protection appear to have slipped by Village officials in planning at the Base,  the Glen Redevelopment Commission is keeping a close watch on what's really important.  When developer Kimball Hill presented a series of home designs to the panel, Commissioner Igleski noted 2 arches rendered in brick, one with a keystone over the windows and the gable element framed with keystone.  "Now that's bizarre," he remarked.  The builder replied that his own home has that feature, and "my wife likes it."
    Not to be outdone in this concern for detail, a member of the village staff reviewed landscaping plans and proposed that Autumn Purple White Oak replace Ohio Buckeyes because of the mess from the fruit of that tree and the "foul odor" which it sometimes emits.  Your tax dollars at work ...

AT HOME ON SPIKERUSH ROAD

The time has come to choose names for streets and parks at the Glen.  Bowing to a public survey showing strong support for the prairie flower theme, Michael Stanard, the Evanston consultant hired to do this difficult job has proposed "Dogwood Drive, Sweetclover Lane, Fireweed Street and Spikerush Road" among others.   Two respected prairie experts were surprised by those choices.  Sweetclover is not native to Illinois – a "terrible weed," said one. "Dogwood can be invasive – pushing out other plants.  Spikerush is more often found in wetlands, and I don't really associate Fireweed with a healthy, diverse prairie.  There are hundreds of prairie flowers which would be more suitable."

Stanard also recommends that the Great Park be named for Admiral Dan Gallery – a choice which may prove controversial.  While Gallery had a reputation for heroism in times of war, he was hardly a hero during his days as commander of GNAS.  Area residents say Gallery attempted a major land-grab here – trying to extend the southern boundary of the Base to Glenview Road.  Local residents were forced to lobby Congress to stop the military expansion. 

TRUSTEE FULLER PLANS HIS FUTURE

The talk is that Trustee Kent Fuller plans to retire from his EPA job in a matter of months and will not run for re-election to  the Village Board.  Don't be too surprised if 2001  finds Fuller with a contract from the Village to manage the Great Park and the Techny lands (natural open space near the Heatherfield development).
                   
NATURE CALLS

After more than two years of public requests for designation of our prairie as an "environmentally significant area," the Village Board is poised to consider it.  A private consultant – Conservation Design Forum – will make recommendations on prairie boundaries at a meeting on February 29.   "ESA" status would mean important protection from the damaging deeds of developers.   At issue, whether grasslands surrounding the official prairie can be included within the ESA because they provide habitat for rare and endangered birds.  Mark your calendar.  We'll let you know when and where the meeting will be held. 

YOUR TURN

What's on your mind? Drop us a line by e-mail at GlenviewWatch@aol.com or the old-fashioned way. We're at 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. Thanks for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors of The Watch.

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