NEW CITIZENS' GROUP TALKS ABOUT TEARDOWNS

A new interest group appeared before the Plan Commission Tuesday night.  Sixty-five members of Citizens' Action for Proportionality or CAP came to share opinions and proposals on how best to regulate the size of  new homes that replace teardowns.  The most comprehensive remarks came from resident Richard Feit (appropriately pronounced "fight") who explained two options.  The first, which he dubbed "proportionality," involves averaging the square footage of 10 homes on either side of a teardown – then permitting a replacement that is no more than a third larger.

"Such houses are in proportion with the existing neighborhood and represent gradual change," Feit explained.  "Larger houses that blend in increase everybody's property values, so we willingly accept 10, 12, even 14 months of construction, disruption and inconvenience."

By contrast, Feit argued that "monster homes" destroy the character and charm of existing neighborhoods and cause property values to plateau or fall.  "Nobody wants to buy a house to live in that's next door, across from or down the street from a monster size house.  So the only buyers are the teardown hunters who will pay for land value, not the house value," he said.

Feit also liked a regulatory formula used in Lake Forest where strict limits on square footage have been set relative to lot size. He pointed out that in Lake Forest you can build a 4,800 square-foot home on half an acre, while Glenview's zoning permits a house of up to 13,000 square feet on that same sized lot.

Plan Commission Chief Tim Doron reminded the audience that, "there are two sides to this story."  Referring to large homes that have replaced teardowns, he said, "There are people who have moved into those homes who feel positive about them.  There are developers and architects who feel positive about them, so we want to hear from both sides."

Architect Tom Lindsay accepted the invitation, branding Feit's proposals complex and unworkable.  "Quite frankly, I didn't go to architecture school to crank statistics all day long in order to figure out whether you can put a one-room addition on or put a second floor on."

Instead, he proposed a modification to the current zoning rules.  If we were to allow wider homes, he said, then new houses that fill the back yards of deep lots along Henley, Dewes and Central Streets would not be necessary.  Specifically, Lindsay thought we should lower the "side yard setback" – the distance between a house and its property line –  from seven and a half to four feet – leaving just eight feet between houses.

The suggestion prompted a sarcastic quip from long-time Village resident Norma Morrison:  "You mean I could lean out the window and borrow a cup of sugar?" she said.

Lindsay said current side yard restrictions force construction of "two-story boxes that are uglier than heck." 

"Excuse me," said Chairman Doron.  "I live in one."

The meeting ended at 1:30 am, in part because the Commission heard first from a series of developers and individuals planning teardowns, construction of homes, additions or buildings.  In fact, the public hearing that was supposed to start at 9 p.m. actually began at 10. 

Debate will continue July 25 when the Plan Commission tries, again, to rewrite regulations.   The Village Board had threatened to impose a moratorium on teardowns if no decision was reached by its July 18 meeting, but the subject does not appear on the agenda for Tuesday.  The Board will, however, vote on five teardowns or additions.

ARE YOU NOW, OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ... A TOWNHOME OWNER?

Earlier in the evening, developer Bernie Schmidt outlined plans for a 9-unit condo on Grove Street in downtown Glenview.  He plans to demolish two single family homes and remove 16 trees before building the 2-bedroom townhomes that will sell for more than $300,000. 

Several members of the Plan Commission objected to the development, arguing that it was too dense for the site and suggesting that one unit be eliminated.

Schmidt said he was within the letter of the law and suggested the Commission was being "arbitrary," – a term often used when developers fight government regulation in court.  He argued that people who live in townhomes don't mind density. "There's sort of a communistic thing going on there that doesn't apply to the red, white and blue single family thing."

It took a moment for Chairman Doron to figure out what Schmidt meant to say and to offer a more suitable term – "communal."

"Communal," said Schmidt – the consummate capitalist.  "That's the word we used to use when we were hippies – yeah."

One member of the audience later suggested Comrade Schmidt change the name of his proposed development from "Savannah Square" to "Red Square."

GLENVIEW STATE BANK GOES "FEDERAL"

Glenview State Bank was back before the Commission with plans for its new building at the western entrance to the Glen, and Chairman Doron made an effort to introduce the case again:

"Let's see if I can clarify where this whole thing is.  The Village Board received a recommendation from us on zoning -- no on a comprehensive, on a plan amendment and a text amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.  No, not a text amendment, just a Comprehensive Plan Amendment.  Is that correct?  It was – no, we did not do site plan review. It was then referred back to us because we had approved a use for the fronting of Chestnut for all of those sites to B-2.  The Village Board then recommended B-1.  It came back to us.  We re-motioned and sent off to the Village Board for B-1 for your site, and at that time we had made some preliminary discussions – there was discussion at the Village Board level about the site plan – that they would prefer to see the building, because of its size, moved back from its suggested-by-staff [location] and guidelines in the Glen, you were attempting to conform with the appearance standards in the Glen Development Commission Appearance Guidelines, of a 15-foot setback.  The Village Board had indicated that maybe they would like to see something other than that, and you are before us tonight with a plan that shows a 30-foot setback, a reduction in building size and a modified pedestrian area."

An attorney for the bank then stepped forward and spent four minutes correcting Doron's account.  The bottom line: the first architectural drawings featured a pitched roof that made the building too tall for Glenview's zoning ordinance and too close to the road for the trustees' liking.  The bank then drew a shorter building, 30-feet from the road with a flat roof in an architectural style called "federal."

The Commission was surprised by the change, and Joseph DiMattina didn't like the new look.  He argued that the building now appeared even more massive than before.  Planning Director Mary Bak told the bank's lawyer that Glenview State could simply ask for a variance to build the taller building, to which the attorney replied, "I'm almost at a loss for words at this point.  I'm looking for direction."

After much debate,  Commissioner Jack Bevington said what could have saved the Commission a good deal of time.  "It's the Trustees that are dictating in this issue.  They've said that they want a smaller building.  I'll go along with your federal."  The building won approval by a vote of 4-1.  Commissioner Linda Witt was absent and Chairman Doron does not vote except in the event of a tie.

OPTIMA RISING

Neighbors of the new Optima building on the southeast corner of Glenview and Waukegan Roads say the company is not constructing what it promised.  They note, for example, that the concrete foundation rises six feet above grade on the east side of the property, raising fears that the brick building will surpass established height limits by six  feet.  They also say parking that was supposed to be underground is, in fact, raised. 

Approval of Optima's engineering plans was delayed when the federal government declared their land in a "flood way," more serious than location in a flood plain.   An appeal through their congressman brought a modified ruling for Optima, but the Watch wonders whether concerns about flooding led to changes in building plans.

GLENVIEW WEATHERS FIRST SUMMER OUTAGE

About 800 homes and downtown businesses lost power July 9 – the hottest day of the year -- when a transformer went down in Des Plaines.  Service was restored in two hours, and the utility hopes there will be no further problems here.  It sites extensive tree trimming efforts around town and installation of new lines in Swainwood.  ComEd workers are also walking our neighborhoods – visually inspecting their hardware to try and head off additional outages.  Should someone appear in your yard claiming to be an inspector, he or she should be carrying official company identification.

TROLLING THE TRIB (AND OTHER CHICAGO MEDIA)

When Glenview's Canaan Presbyterian Church asked the Plan Commission for approval to build a new convocation center on Greenwood Road, residents raised fears of increased traffic, noise and flooding.  Plan Commission Chairman Doron argued that the church had scaled back from plans for a larger facility proposed two years ago. 

Sunday's Tribune (7/9/00) reported that "Des Plaines Alderman Dick Sayad tried to calm some of the 15 people attending a recent meeting about a proposed addition to Faith Alliance Bible Church," by discussing "how the church recently agreed to shrink its plans for expansion." The Des Plaines Council had rejected original plans because of concerns raised by neighbors about flooding, parking and traffic.

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Residents of Glen Oak Acres are still pondering a Village proposal that they kick in up to $1,200 a year for 10 years to create a storm water drainage system in that neighborhood.  Glenview has offered to pay 25 percent of the cost.

The Trib says residents of Bensenville's Crestbrook subdivision will fight a $680,000 plan to replace private wells and septic tanks with Village water and sewer services.  Bensenville has offered to pay 70 percent of the tab.

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As Glenview prepares for more development along Willow Road, including construction of a large industrial park, Crain's Chicago Business reports the down side.  In south suburban Lisle, "business development along Warrenville Road has created traffic problems and placed extra demands on Lisle's municipal services."

"Lisle's downtown commercial district remains stagnant and has failed to attract the coffee houses and upscale shops found in neighboring communities.  And despite growing tax revenues, one of Lisle's two school districts, which doesn't include many new businesses within its boundaries, is operating with a budget deficit.  "We can't keep our infrastructure in pace with growth," says Lisle Trustee Edward Young.  "We lost a sense of balance.  We have to give more consideration to the residents' quality of life and not attract business for business' sake."

THE LIBRARY'S LISTENING

Glenview Public Library's Listening Post program is back.  Executive Librarian John Blegen and Library Board Trustees will be available in the lobby from 9-11 a.m. every third Saturday of the month to talk with patrons.

A CLARIFICATION

Blegen also writes to say that while the board may discuss a future location for the library on July 19 at 7:30 p.m. during its regularly scheduled meeting, it will not make any decisions until the future of the post office, located behind the library on Prairie Street, is decided.  As the Watch has reported, talks between the U.S. Postal Service and the Village about construction of a new post office at the Glen have been stalled over the amount of land to be given and the route that mail trucks will take to reach their new facility near Dominick's.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If the people lead, the leaders will follow."   – President Dwight D. Eisenhower

VILLAGE BOARD PREVIEW

The Trustees will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 to discuss a long list of concerns.  Prepare for another late meeting as the Village Board considers: lights for streets and parks at the Glen, opening of Johns Drive to connect Chestnut with Willow, landscaping for the Lake Avenue Triangle,  a new shopping center at the corner of Sanders and Milwaukee, protection for the 31-acre prairie preserve and extending the moratorium on cutting of trees with trunks over 10 inches in diameter.  Public comment on these topics is invited.

READERS WRITE  –  IN PRAISE OF LARRY CARLSON

Biff Thiele observes: "Over the last couple of months, Trustee Carlson has stepped up to the plate and come out swinging. He has been very outspoken on a number of issues and voted his own conscience, in spite of the positions taken by others. In fact, in a recent vote, he was completely alone, 5-1. But, he stood his ground.

Perhaps he was just getting his feet wet in the beginning.  He is definitely knee deep in it now, and I applaud his renewed vigor.

TEARDOWNS AND CHARGES OF "CLASS ENVY"

"Aopener" responds to an e-mail from "Zcloser," accusing Richard Feit of class envy when he calls for limits on the homes that replace teardowns:

"Zcloser distorts the proportionality plan of Richard Feit by setting up a straw man called "Class Envy" but never recognizes the real problem: conspicuous consumption and a "Show-Off-At-Any-Cost" attitude of those who squeeze houses double or triple the size of existing homes into neighborhoods where  they do not belong. The "If you've got it, flaunt it" and "Me, not we" set, is seriously lacking in good judgment, good taste and common sense. Zcloser's doomsday prediction for a Glenview with bulk and scale controls is clearly a fear-mongering tactic that one would expect from a teardown builder, a teardown architect, a teardown project manager or a teardown client.

Zcloser would do well to visit Lake Forest, which has had years of bulk and  scale controls that properly apportion the square footage of houses to their lot size.

SAFEGUARDING NATURE IN GLENVIEW:

A lover of wildlife writes:  I am fully in support of the prairie, but how about also making it usable.  What I mean is create a walking path through the prairie so bird watchers and walkers can enjoy the beauty of nature.

As for limiting trees in the area so hawks don't prey on the grassland birds, I have very mixed feelings.  Nature has its own way of balancing the population of animals. Let it do its own thing. 

In the area I live I would love to see hawks or any predatory species (owls, falcons, etc.).  We have a problem with rabbits, squirrels and other small animals.  I would like to see these predators keep the smaller animals in check.  How I can make my area more environmentally friendly to these animals.  I would also like to know what I can do about the skunk, opossum and raccoon populations in my area?

The Watch replies:  The Village does plan to make a nature trail through the prairie, but it probably won't happen until they get the road situation sorted out.  Right now they're building all around the site, so there's no good way for residents to get there and no place to park.  Eventually, Glenview plans to build a nature center, and the Village Board has already announced plans to name it after Ev Tyner -- a long-time resident of Glenview who fought to preserve the Woodworth Prairie (next to McDonald's on Milwaukee Road).  That prairie is open to the public this summer:  Sundays 12-5, Mondays 7 - noon, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12:30-3:00, Thursday 3-8, Fridays 1-6, Saturdays 10-3. 

There will be an official tour of the Air Station Prairie on July 29th at 9 and 10 a..m. or July 30th (rain date) at 1 and 2 p.m..  

As for the issue of wildlife management, you're quite right -- nature has a way of creating balance.  The problem, of course, is that man has inserted himself into the equation and that throws everything off.  We have destroyed 98 percent of the habitat once available to grassland birds in Illinois, and their populations have fallen dramatically as a result.  If we now create ideal habitat for their natural enemies -- the birds of prey -- we may contribute to their further decline.

We have planted lots of trees at Gallery Park  at the Glen, and we hope the developer will save the woods behind Home Depot where owls have been seen.  In the mean time, these birds are hunting in some neighborhoods.  Experts say red-tailed hawks are actually doing quite well.  They are, apparently, more adaptable than grassland birds.  If you're interested in making your yard wildlife friendly, contact the National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org).

If you have a problem with skunks, racoons or possums, you can call the non-emergency number for Glenview Police: 729-5000, extension 3005.  Animal Control Officer Judi Roseman says simple changes around your house – like covering trash cans tightly or feeding pets inside – might end visits from unwanted wildlife.  If, however, you're dealing with a skunk who roams the neighborhood, you may want to take up a collection.  Professional trapping of those animals can be expensive, and they are a potential problem for everyone in the area.

GLEN OAK ACRES

SR says: We are 26-year residents of Glen Oak Acres.  The Village of Glenview has chosen not to provide us with adequate road repairs for the last 30 years but certainly wasn't shy about raising our taxes.  Perhaps the Village should be made to refund tax monies to us that should have been spent on upgrading our neighborhood.  By the way, what did the Village do with our money?

The Watch replies: We don't know where your money went, but some of it is probably being spent to replace or repair sewers in other parts of theVillage.  This year alone, the Village will spend at least $90,000 for inspection and relining of sewers.

IT'S BAD ALL OVER

WS claims he's not a complainer, but these days, he doesn't know where to start: "My family has lived in Glenview since 1957.  Fifteen years ago,  I was proud of how the Village had managed the fantastic task of keeping that wide open rural feel while our neighbors grew up around us.  It was quite an accomplishment considering we were so close to the city.  Now, I feel much differently.

There are several broad issues that concern me.  One is the implied need to redevelop the entire Village in the most random way possible – whether it be Optima, Walgreen's, that ridiculous shopping center on Willow Road or the need to replace teardowns with 10 pounds of dog stuff on a 2 pound lot.

Second, I'm concerned about downtown.  Who wants a GAP store and other major chains?  Do we want Glenview to look like Anytown, USA?  Look what Wilmette did with its downtown – lots of gift and specialty stores.  The same is true in Evanston, Geneva, St. Charles, Highland Park – the list goes on and on.

I have never known so many people in our Village that are so unhappy with government.  I have never voted in a local election before, but I will this time, and I know lots of people who feel the same. 


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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