THE TRUTH ABOUT TIF AND OUR SCHOOLS

Once again, the Village Board will try to decide, Tuesday,  whether builders' impact fees should apply to properties at the Base.  Most of the money which might have gone to our schools and parks has already been lost.  Because Glenview continued to value its land at $40,000 an acre, deals with the James Company and Kimball Hill brought measly payments to District 225.

Now, as the Board prepares to up the value of land for the purpose of calculating impact fees,  we're squabbling over less than a million dollars, but the fight is worth winning as a matter of principle.  If we can't give our high school district $887,000 to help cover the costs of new kids then our financial situation is dire indeed, and those who were paid to plan redevelopment of the Base should answer for their fiscal errors.

Village Manager Paul McCarthy, John Patton, Jr. and Kent Fuller have argued that District 225 should not have the money since it is receiving "make-whole payments."  The fact is that those payments would  cover a very small percentage of the actual costs to finance and build a school or addition.  The rest of the money would have to come from taxpayers.

McCarthy likes to tell people that when the TIF ends, the schools will be rolling in dough, and that charging higher impact fees at the Base would delay the retirement of the TIF. So what?  Our kids are going to school NOW.  Your home values are linked to the quality of education NOW.  What happens in 10-20 years should not be the main concern of our current Board.   Shame on the Board if its members intend to balance the costs of development at the Base on the backs of our students, teachers and administrators for a decade or more.

Art Wulf provides an excellent summary of the issues in a letter to the Glenview Announcements.  If you haven't read it,  grab a copy of the latest issue.  And one more note for those who feel the Village has failed to adequately inform the public on this subject: Developer Warren James has been getting copies of all information relative to the impact fee ordinance at no charge.  If you – a citizen – wanted those documents, you would have to file a freedom of information act request,  wait a week and pay 10 cents a page!

RETURN OF THE KILLER DENSITY: COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU

Look for the Board to discuss the so-called Mixed Use Retail Center or MURC at Tuesday night's meeting.  That area, adjacent to Hangar One, may be sold to a developer contingent on his ability to re-sell much of the land.  The California-based buyer would hold on to the Hangar – making it part of a multi-screen theatre complex.  He reportedly plans to create a small "museum" at the site by hanging airplanes from the ceiling.

Meanwhile, the Village would permit residential development with 36 units per acre.  That's double the density originally proposed in official design guidelines for the Glen.

NATURAL AREA ATTRACTS REGIONAL ATTENTION

Sierra Club officials will meet with State Representative Beth Coulson today – hoping to secure funds for acquisition of more open space.  They have their eyes on a parcel along the Chicago River in Glenview  – a 9.5 acre site that provides habitat for a wide variety of herons, ducks and shore birds.

Also on the case,  Cook County's Forest Preserve.  Commissioner Cal Sutker has expressed interest and will approach county officials.   If your time permits, call our Commissioner – Greg Goslin – and find-out why he's not helping with this cause.   He'll tell you the Forest Preserve is only acquiring land adjacent to existing properties.  Tell him it's time to change that rule and start grabbing the best land, wherever it is, before it's too late.  His number: 998-5696.

WE'RE STILL BUILDING

Don't forget to ask your friends and neighbors if they'd like to get Glenview Watch.  Our mailing list is now at about 70.  We'd like to hit 700! 

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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