LIBRARY TO POLL THE PUBLIC

Members of Glenview's Library Board met Wednesday to discuss the future.  They plan a public poll to see if this community prefers to stay downtown or move its massive book collection to the Glen.   The new post office is expected to open by the end of next year, making it possible for the library to expand onto the old post office lot near Prairie and Lehigh.  If Glenview okays a library referendum, construction could begin in the spring of 2002.  Board members said they might use the Rugen Center as their temporary home.

While the downtown and Glen locations are considered the most likely sites for a new library,  officials will also consider other locations in Glenview.  Should Village officials decide to build at the Glen, for example, our library could take the space at 1225 Waukegan Road.

TRADER JOE BLOWN OFF COURSE – NORTHBROOK MAY BE FIRST

Trader Joe's  won a liquor license from the Village Board, Tuesday, clearing another hurdle as the "fashion food retailer" moves to open its first Illinois outlet at the corner of Waukegan and Lake.

Bob Langone, Vice President of Operations for Trader Joe's, touted the unique grocery store that has 139 locations in 10 states.  "Pick-up the phone, and call your friends in California," he told the Board.  "We have a cult-like following."

At Trader Joe's, the staff wears Hawaiian shirts.  The Manager is called  "Captain," and a bell sounds to announce specials.  The store offers a variety of gourmet and health food, grocery items, beer and wine with no chemicals, no preservatives – and no coupons.  Management claims it will not offer products unless it can do so at the lowest price in the marketplace.   

The firm had hoped to begin work on the interior by September with a grand opening before Thanksgiving, but "landlord problems" are causing a delay.   While demolition at the Glen Oak shopping center took place more than two months ago, construction has not yet begun.  Former Village President Jim Smirles, whose family owns the property, says work should be underway next week.  If that happens, Langone says Trader Joe's could open by year's end.

Glenview had hoped to have the first Trader Joe's in the Midwest, but Northbrook may beat us to it.  The company is on schedule to open a store in November at the shopping center south of Deerbrook Mall and east of Waukegan Road.  Already doing business at that strip mall – Max & Benny's, a hugely popular delicatessen that used to operate in Glenview before it was driven away by "landlord problems" at the Plaza del Prado.

THE TIF TALLY

Glenview held its annual TIF update this week, telling schools, parks and the library how much money they can expect to get from tax dollars at the Glen.  Since Glenview declared the area a Tax Increment Financing zone, tax dollars that would normally fund public education go to the Village to pay for roads, sewers and other improvements at the Glen.  The Village will reimburse schools for each student they get from the Glen, but they won't get additional money from companies or stores, empty-nesters or families sending students to private school.

At least one member of the District 34 school board thinks that could be a problem since early surveys show about half of the families moving to the Glen have kids in private or parochial school.  If those folks are coming from other parts of  Glenview, they are currently contributing to the financial health of Districts 34 and 225.  When they move to the Glen, the people who buy their houses will pay their taxes – but they may also send kids to the public schools, adding costs and creating a net loss for the district.  In other words, the TIF's so-called "make whole" payments may not fully compensate the schools for a larger student population.

Fifty  to 100 families are expected to occupy homes at the Glen by the end of this year, and  District 34 can expect to get $698,000 from the TIF fund.  The high schools will get about $428,000, and District 30 – which is not getting students – will get no money.  The Village estimates a $134,000 payment to the parks and will send about $104,000 to the library.

The formula for calculating payments was adjusted after Trustee Donna Pappo pointed out flaws in the original method of calculation.  Her catch will net an additional $38,000 for schools, parks and the library this year and could translate into more than a million dollars annually by 2010.  

THE DON AND PHONY SHOW

Glen Redeveopment Chief  Don Owen began the meeting by crowing about land sales that have now exceeded $180 million.  The original projection was just $76 million, and our Chicago consultant – Mesirow Stein – was contractually rewarded for selling "above expectation," collecting a total of $11 million for the Glenview job.  Owen made no comment on cost overruns of more than $100 million but predicted the TIF may last until the year 2012.

Ironically,  District 34's finance expert reviewed the numbers and caught a substantial error.  While the Village claimed the schools would get nearly $1.2 million for 1998, 1999 and 2000, Finance Director Pat Siegel said the actual payment would be just under $700,000.

Mesirow's Stein's Karen Butler congratulated Glenview on its first project as a developer.  "The achievement is stunning," she said.  "Hats off!"

PUBLIC GETS NO RESPECT

While the TIF meeting was open to the public, it was not publicized and only a few chairs had been set up in the back of the room for citizens who might attend. 

Officials at the meeting got folders with an agenda, letters and financial charts, but Village bureaucrats had no packets for the public.  About a dozen people asked for the information, but Owen refused to make copies,  suggesting that folks "come in tomorrow morning and  file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request."

Editor's Notes:  Village bureaucrats must think FOIA stands for the Freedom FROM Information Act.  People are made to fill-out forms and wait seven business days for any document or detail. Adding insult to injury, the public must pay 25 cents per page for copying costs. The irony –  it is we the people who pay the taxes to pay the officials who make it so difficult for us to find out what is going on atVillage Hall.
   
Trustees John Crawford, Donna Pappo and Rachel Cook, who campaigned on a platform of open, respectful government, sat silently during Owen's rebuff to the public. 

CRUNCHING THE CLASSROOM NUMBERS

District 34's School Board will hold a special public meeting at 7 p.m. August 2  to discuss details of a proposed referendum in the fall.  The Board won't know, at that time, how much money is needed.  That's because projected costs for a new school at the Glen are not yet confirmed, and the district is still waiting to hear whether $3.6 million in matching money will come from the state.  Officials hope, however, to retire some of their existing debt to minimize demands on Glenview taxpayers.

A RACE TO THE FINISH LEAVES CITIZENS IN THE DUST

Filling-in for President Nancy Firfer at Tuesday night's meeting,  Trustee John Patton, Jr. showed a gift for efficiency – guiding the Glenview Village Board swiftly through 25 agenda items before adjourning at 11:30 p.m.
Unfortunately , in his race to the finish line Patton ran over the public.  Prairie advocates were not permitted to speak when the Board proposed delayed enforcement of Glenview's Environmentally Significant Areas Ordinance or ESA ,  and only one citizen was allowed to address the Trustees for just three and a half  minutes on the unscheduled  topic of teardowns.   When Richard Feit finished his plea for a moratorium on behalf of dozens of citizens, Patton moved on to the next topic without action or comment.

Citizens were stunned. The Trustees were speechless, but when Patton moved to adjourn the meeting, Trustee Rachel Cook came to her senses.  "Mr. Chairman, there are two issues I believe still outstanding.  One is the issue of teardowns and how we proceed, and the other is the ESA recommendation."

THE INSIDE STORY ON THE ESA

The Environmental Review Committee, the industrial park developer (Catellus), the Glen Redevelopment Committee and the Village agree that a 31-acre prairie preserve should receive legal protection under Glenview's "Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA) Ordinance," but some wildlife advocates think surrounding grasslands should also be included since they provide habitat for rare birds.

Trustee Kent Fuller, a water and plant expert, used that as an excuse to delay any protection for a month.  A strong advocate of the free market and private property rights,  Fuller thought additional protection might come through covenants –  side agreements with Catellus  – rather than enforcement of local environmental law.   "In future years, Fuller said, "the Village always has the opportunity to revisit the regulatory path." 

While Catellus would surely be more comfortable with a covenant than with on-going regulation, Fuller's suggestion begs important questions.   "In future years," buildings will be built and landscaping finished.  Shouldn't we be getting advice from the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) now?   Nature is a mysterious and complex thing.  Would covenants afford enough flexibility to accommodate changing circumstances?  And if Glenview relies on covenants for environmental protection, who will make sure that Catellus is living-up to them?  Not the ERC.  Perhaps some of Fuller's consultant friends would be hired to do the job, or maybe Glenview will create a post for Fuller who recently retired from the EPA.

Acting Chairman Patton also argued for a delay in order to permit the developer's participation in future debate.  Someone had apparently called Catellus and promised not to proceed. "My preference is – since there's no prejudice or harm that's going to occur by continuing this for two weeks – that we resume the discussion with all the parties present for a good dialogue about it."

Cook noted that the delay would actually be four weeks, and "during construction that is going on around there, the prairie does not have the protection of the ESA."  Patton assured her that "If the construction around the prairie would be presenting a problem necessitating the ESA, I think Trustee Fuller would be at the front of the pack to get that resolved."

Cook kept trying.  She called for a vote to designate the 31 acres "environmentally significant," and Trustee Pappo pointed out that Catellus had already said that was okay, but  with Fuller, Patton and Carlson voting against it, Cook's motion to provide local legal protection for the prairie failed.

Editor's Note: Fuller admits he is no expert on wildlife, and until recently he expressed no concern for the well-being of rare grassland birds that nest at the Base.  There is a bird expert on the Environmental Review Committee, but he is not being consulted as development proceeds.

Fuller told the Glenview Announcements this week that a citizens' lawsuit to protect the prairie nearly scared the developer away.  In fact, it's the wildlife that's being scared away by developers – and those birds and animals may never return.
                       
THE TEARDOWN TALLY

Cook and Pappo also made a team effort to stop tear downs while the Village tries to come-up with effective regulations.  Glenview averages four to six requests to tear down and replace homes each month during construction season, and there have been 55 teardowns since April of last year.  The Village Board had told the Plan Commission to come up with new rules to prevent construction of enormous replacement homes by July 18, but the Commission's Chairman, Tim Doron, bristled at the order – vowing to take his time on such a complex matter.

Faced with the prospect of more teardowns and more unhappy neighbors, Cook asked the Board to consider a moratorium.  When Patton tried to adjourn the meeting before a discussion could take place,  Pappo stepped in to insist. 

"We've requested an ordinance by this date," she explained.  "It's today, and it's not ready, and I'm not sure it will be ready by August 1 or August 15.  In the meantime, permits are made, buildings are torn down.  New ones are going up."

Patton argued that since no public notice had been given, the Board could not legally impose a moratorium that night.  Cook agreed and served notice for the next meeting.  If a permanent law is not approved on August 1, she will call for a temporary halt to tear downs.

AS TEARDOWN TOPIC HEATS UP, VILLAGE MANAGER LEAVES TOWN

The Plan Commission is expected to offer its suggestions on teardowns at a meeting on July 25 in Village Hall.  One week later, the Village Board will take up that topic, and you can bet there will be phone calls from developers and citizens crying foul.  What a great time to take flight! Village Manager Paul McCarthy has left Glenview for a 3-week vacation. 

THE NEWS FROM NAPERVILLE

Two weeks after citizens in Glenview formed a group to fight oversized homes that replace modest teardowns, a group in Naperville is making news.  Saturday's Tribune (New Homes section) reports that Residents for Responsible Redevelopment or "R3" will urge city officials to adopt new regulations.  "We don't have a problem with people tearing down, but there is a way of doing that without dwarfing all the neighbors' homes and standing out like a sore thumb on the street," said R3 leader Robin Spicher. As in Glenview, the group faces opposition from developers and homeowners planning large additions.

DEFEATS FOR "D-1"

To attract more customers for a thriving downtown business district, consultants have said we need more folks living downtown, and Village planners proposed a special set of guidelines for the area known as "D-1."  Here, high-density housing is a good thing, and parking behind retail storefronts is required.

That's why the Plan Commission refused to allow a property owner on Waukegan Road to tear down the old Thybony building to create parking for a future business at the old Jeep site.   The Commissioners wanted continuous storefronts, and argued that a parking lot would create an ugly hole in the streetscape – a gap in Glenview's public smile.   When the developer said there really was no room for parking behind buildings on those shallow lots, Chairman Doron suggested costly underground parking.

The denial was overturned, however, when the Village Board ignored D-1 guidelines and okayed demolition of the old paint store – clearing the way for development of the former Jeep site.  "I'd rather have one missing tooth than a mouth full of rotten teeth," said Trustee Donna Pappo. 

The Board also sent a condo developer packing when he proposed removal of eight trees and demolition of a home that could be historic in order to build seven townhouses and 14 parking spaces at 1771 Dewes.  The Trustees said plans for the site were "too dense" and did not include visitor parking.  The builder offered to sacrifice green space to make more parking, but his ploy failed when the Trustees told him to provide additional green space too if he wants to proceed.

Editor's note: Some observers believe that the "D-1" plan is crumbling as Glenview comes to grips with reality.  There is too much traffic and too little parking for dense development downtown.  We also note another instance where the Village Board has rejected the advice of the Plan Commission – and no wonder.  The Trustees are elected and must answer to an unhappy public.  The Commissioners are appointed and spend most of their time talking to developers.

OPTIMA IS NOT TOO TALL BUT IT MAY BE TOO TACKY

An official inspection of the Optima site lead Village officials to conclude that the building is not too tall, but plastic had been used for a doorway that was supposed to be built with brick or limestone.  The developer also failed to provide protection for two mature trees on the site – a problem that was remedied after resident Grant Ireland placed a call to Trustee  Fuller.

"When they get caught, we go out there and make them re-do it," said Village President Nancy Firfer.  "You have to watch."

To its credit, the Village also shut down several construction sites including the new Dominick's at the Glen on Friday,  noting excessive standing water and other violations.   The Watch suggests a trip back to the Optima site where construction crews are building without a silt fence.  That means mud and rubble are flowing freely into the Chicago River behind the project.

SAVE THE DATES

A river clean-up is set for August 5.  Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of Kohl's on Willow Road to help pick-up litter until 11 a.m.    Bring work gloves, a hat and water.  For more information, call Karen at 657-9220 or Gary at 724-7418.   And don't forget free tours of the Air Station Prairie on July 29 at 9, 10 and 11 a.m.  The rain date is Sunday, July 30 at 1 and 2 p.m.  Take Willow west to Lehigh, turn right and follow the road under the underpass to the northeast tip of the Glen.  For details, contact Rob at 729-3487.

READERS WRITE ABOUT ... TEARDOWNS

"I live next to one of the biggest teardowns on Henley St. and it is truly awful," says MV.  "We are slated for teardown number 7 on our block alone.  I really hate being branded as an old fogey just because I don't like what is happening to our street.  The house next to us was truly a teardown, but what was put up in it's place is a true eyesore.  The 3 car garage alone is the size of the ranch house it replaced!  I have gone to numerous meetings at the Village, written lots of letters and we have made some progress since the beginning but more needs to be done. The Village is afraid of doing things too quickly,  but I think they are way too slow on this front."

DISTRICT 34 SCHOOLS:

LM takes strong issue with our suggestion that 300-500 kids arriving from the Glen over the next five years might put a strain on our schools.  He cites the Kasarda Report, a study of enrollment patterns commissioned by District 225:

"If School District 34 enrolls 300-500 students from the Glen, that may not translate into a net increase of 300-500.  Projections in the 1999 Kasarda Report are based, in part, on the difference between the number of children entering kindergarten and graduating from the eighth grade." 

In Districts 30 and 31, kindergarten enrollments have fallen short of eighth grade graduates by as much as two classrooms for many years.  In District 34, kindergarten enrollments have also fallen short of eighth grade graduates since 1997.

The underlying pattern is one of stabilizing and declining enrollment.  While there will certainly be new kids from the Glen, their arrival will be offset in part by reductions in existing resident enrollments.

RELATIONS WITH GLENVIEW'S KOREAN COMMUNITY

" I was disappointed to hear of the opposition that the Canaan Presbyterian
Church is facing," writes RB. "It sounds similar to what's happening in Palos Park where there was local opposition to a new Mosque.  I wonder if there would be opposition to a ‘mainstream' church looking to expand on Greenwood."                                              

The Watch replies: The jury's still out on whether this is really a case of discrimination, RB.  We heard ample testimony suggesting that overdevelopment of the neighborhood is really what's bugging the neighbors.
The Rev. Sam Rhee, Canaan's pastor,  raised the possibility that opposition was rooted in discrimination, but Inchul Choi, Executive Director of Korean American Community Services in Chicago, says that may be too strong a word.  He thinks there may be "misunderstandings" between Koreans and non-Koreans in Glenview.

Such misunderstandings are bound to arise when people of different cultures live together.  In Chicago, for example, one park district official recalls finding a Korean family wading into a public pond to harvest wetland plants for dinner.

In Glenview, Choi said, good things are being done to minimize misunderstandings.  The principal of Glenbrook South High School had school rules translated into Korean for parents.  Choi says our police department  is looking for a Korean officer to serve as  liaison to the community, and our public library has an impressive collection of Korean books.  About 15% of Glenview's population is of Asian descent, and most are Korean.

ZCLOSER FIGHTS BACK

Space or "agenda" prevented Glenview Watch from printing my entire comments concerning Mr. Feit's position on tear downs.  Otherwise you could have evaluated them in context.  I am not a developer, architect, nor tear down client, but I welcome all into my neighborhood, as long as they adhere to the zoning laws currently on the books.

"Aopener’s words of "Show-Off-At-Any-Cost", "If you've got it, flaunt it", along with "...lacking in good judgment" further validate my use of the "Class Envy" analogy.  Who are you to pass judgment?  Maybe Glenview Watch's next quote should be, "Do not judge, lest ye be judged".

I have visited, attended school with, and have friends from and living in Lake Forest.  Not being a developer nor architect, I can not comment on their scale controls, but if that works for them, so be it.  I prefer that Glenview residents decide, as a majority, how our Village addresses construction, versus those with "Class Envy" pushing their "extremists" agenda.  If I wanted to live by Lake Forest's rules and regulations, I would have moved there.  Come to think of it, if Aopener prefers those regulations, maybe he/she should consider such a move."


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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