PARADISE PAVED, A FEW TREES SAVED

Is Tim Doron running for the Village Board?  Does the chairman of our Plan Commission sense public dissatisfaction with all the development he's supported? 

At last week's meeting, he told the cable tv audience, "We're very sensitive.  We initiated the process of one tree for every seven spaces in a public parking lot, and we have just held developers' backs to the wall and their feet to the fire and made `em do it."

Don't you feel better knowing that as parking lots spring up all over Glenview, Tim Doron is fighting to ensure that a few trees grow amidst the asphalt?  Or would you vote to have instead seven trees for every new parking space in town?

FYI, more than 20 people appeared before the Plan Commission Tuesday to discuss the current moratorium on cutting of trees.  The  majority felt it was an unwarranted imposition on the rights of private property owners.  They told tales of old trees on the verge of collapse, of invasive buckthorn growing out of control and questioned the need for a blanket ban.

One Commissioner said he hoped for the wisdom of Solomon to help the commission decide what to do.  Still waiting for that wisdom, Chairman Doron moved to delay the discussion until April 25.

DRY CLEANERS Vs. DEMOCRACY

At last count, Glenview has 10 dry cleaners within a few blocks of downtown's  ground zero – Glenview and Waukegan roads.  It's a source of dismay for those who would love to see a book store, coffee shop, boutique or art gallery in the area.
Enter the Village Board, which wonders whether to ban new dry cleaners downtown.  Free market advocate Kent Fuller was appalled by the idea.  "It's like regulating the number of notes in music," he said.

President Nancy Firfer explained the Village wants a good mix of stores and services downtown and suggested a public hearing to discuss the matter.

"I have a real problem with that," said a frosted Fuller.  "This is an extremely complex question.  It has to do with the vitality of business in the downtown, and it takes a lot of information and a lot of thought . . . Quite frankly, I don't find it to be publicly responsible just to have a `let's get together' open house to change the zoning.  It just doesn't work for me at all."

That outburst left the other Trustees speechless.

Contrary to Fuller's statement,  no one had proposed a change based solely on what residents want.

On the other hand, public hearings are the most basic element of democracy.  The founding fathers faced complex questions, but they felt the people could make better decisions for themselves than a king.  So let's give the public a say in Glenview. 

Do we need a ban on dry cleaning?  Should we have public hearings on downtown development?  How can Glenview create a thriving business climate in the downtown D-1 district?

Click "reply," write your response and click "send."   Telling the Trustees what you want has never been so easy. 

OFFICIAL PROTECTION FOR THE PRAIRIE?

After three years of public protest, Glenview officials have finally scheduled a meeting of the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) to consider Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) status for the Air Station prairie.   Mark your calendar and come to Village Hall at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27.

To date, only the Grove has been identified as an ESA.  That means any development that might effect its natural treasures must be reviewed by the ERC.

Question: Can the ERC move quickly enough to protect the prairie given plans for a speedy start on the neighboring industrial park?  Shouldn't the ERC consider designation of the Northern Triangle with its wetlands, and can that be done before Home Depot breaks ground? 

ON THE BUILDING BEAT

Glenview State Bank has purchased a triangular piece of  land bounded by Lehigh Road on the east, Chestnut on the south and the Great Park to the west.  Here, it plans to erect a 30,000-square foot office building.  The owner of a neighboring lot wants to develop a small shopping center, but these plans require a change from the current zoning:  industrial to business.

What do you think?  Should we have commercial buildings abutting our Great Park?  Click "Reply," write and send.  (You know the drill.)

GREENWOOD KNOCK DOWN

Get ready for more residential action.  A developer wants to tear down four small homes at 1504, 1506, 1524 and 1530 Greenwood Road (just north of Glenview Rd.)  to build nine single-family homes.  Take a look and let the Plan Commission know what you think.  A public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 in the board room of Village Hall.

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

In our last edition, Glenview Watch wondered why the Village Board was taking so long to require that signs be posted on land being considered for re-zoning or unusual uses.  Nearly every community on the North Shore notifies residents in this way – telling them where and when a public hearing will be held.

At their last meeting. trustees approved the idea, but signs will be relatively small (2x2-foot).  Plan Commissioner Joseph DiMattina worried details might confuse the public and suggested that people be urged to call Village Hall with questions.  Are trained operators standing-by?

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE MOSQUITO

After our alert in the last Watch, members of the Mosquito Abatement District put a tiny notice on page 156 of the Glenview Announcements, changing the date for their next meeting. They'll assemble at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4 at  the Northfield Township compound across from the fire department. 

NATURE NOTES

Butterfly fans are invited to a special workshop in the Wilmette Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 17.  Barb Clayton, past president of the Wilmette Garden Club, will show slides and explain how to attract butterflies to your yard.

BIRDS AND PLANTS

Don't forget the birds.  Steve Packard of the National Audubon Society will speak on what shrubs, grasses and wild flowers to plant to lure birds and butterflies.   His presentation is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 in the Wilmette Public Library.

SIERRA CLUB SITE

For other news on local events and ecology, visit the Sierra Club of Lake County at www.sierraclub.org/chapters/il/w&w. 

PRAIRIE BURN

The first prairie burn of the millennium went smoothly with naturalists from the Grove setting fire to the southern part of a 31-acre preserve at the Glen.  Participants were surprised to see a fox fleeing the flames.  They noted plenty of field mice – good food for hawks – and heard frogs singing loudly from surrounding wetlands.  

A MOOVING MEETING

Support for community acquisition of Wagner Farm remains strong if the annual meeting of COWS is any indication.  Seventy-one persons came out for an update along with about 20 kids who may be grown by the time this matter is resolved.

Actually, observers say there could a  decision this summer.  At issue, the value of the land.  A private developer once offered to pay $8 million, the Park District is offering $6 million, and the Glenview State Bank – guardian of the estate – is asking for the higher amount.  OLPH, the ultimate beneficiary of the sale, is said to be taking a hands-off approach, just waiting for the windfall – whatever it may be.

MYSTERY SOLVED

The Jim Smirles mailing for Mark Damisch was apparently paid for by the Damisch for Congress campaign using its bulk mailing permit.

HOSPITAL PLANS MAKE HIGH SCHOOL ILL

The village board has approved a major expansion of Glenbrook Hospital, drawing new attention to an old controversy.  In August 1999,  the hospital announced traffic from Glenbrook South High School (GBS) was making elderly patients nervous.

Without consulting school officials, they banned parents and students from using Hospital Drive – cutting-off an important exit from the school's parking lot and creating huge traffic jams on Pfingsten Road.

After urgent negotiations, the hospital backed down, but GBS was forced to hire civilian traffic cops to keep cars moving each morning and afternoon.  Now the hospital is building on – expanding its parking capacity and perhaps forcing the high school to realign its parking lots.

At their last meeting, the trustees insisted that a sidewalk be built, and hospital officials reluctantly agreed to put one in –  when their work is done – in about two years.

Maybe the village and the high school board should have gotten more in exchange for permission to build.  Right now the hospital remains in full control of Hospital Drive and could decide, for example, to ban fire engines from the thoroughfare because they make noise and disturb patients.

IS GLENVIEW NEXT?

The Cook County State's Attorney sent an 11-page letter to Evanston Aldermen Friday, scolding them for meeting behind closed doors to discuss real estate matters.  The City Council held dozens of closed-door meetings last year to talk about development and how to negotiate with Northbrook-based Arthur Hill & Co., developer of the $100 million Church Street Plaza. 

ONE READER CHEERS NORTHBROOK'S VICTORY

"Glenview should congratulate our neighbor village," writes David Carr.  "Anets is truly a wonderful space and golf course too!  I actually played Anets after work the last warm day we had.  It was great – not because of the fact I was playing a round of golf but because I was watching spring emerge in this isolated sanctuary.  I could see and hear woodpeckers everywhere, undoubtedly drawn by the abundance of big old trees that harbor the needed insects the birds depend on."    
   
ANOTHER LONGS FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS IN GLENVIEW

Virginia writes to say she misses the frogs and tadpoles that used to be found all over Glenview, and she enjoys the old-fashioned feel of Renneckar's pharmacy.   She worries about children riding their bikes to Flick Park – noting they could be squashed as flat at the frogs when crossing Walgreen's driveway.


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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