When the Wagner Farm steering committee voted to ban Bart the Bull because some members feared his amorous antics with the cows might corrupt little kids, the news went national and protests were heard from coast to coast. The public outcry prompted another meeting of the steering committee, and a new vote was taken, allowing Bart to stay. It was agreed that the farm’s only bull would have his own pen – a sturdy affair that would separate him from the cows and the public, but time waits for no bull, and it now appears Bart will leave after all.

Director Todd Price says that at 7 years, Bart is well past his prime for breeding. His hooves are in bad shape, he’s grown so big that he might injure the cows, and besides, he fathered about half the herd, raising the risk of in-breeding. So Bart and four cows will be culled – replaced by younger animals.

And what does that mean? "I don’t know if there’s a good way to put this," said Park District Executive Director Tom Richardson – suggesting Bart and the others may be hamburger once replacements are purchased. "The Wagners had been culling their herd since the 1860's. That’s what happens, and people are going to have to understand that," he said.

WARTS AT THE GLEN

When planners drew their colorful sketches of Glenview’s newest neighborhoods, they appealed to many buyers who saw rows of tidy new houses with neatly landscaped lawns – the face of suburban serenity. Now that families are moving into those houses, warts have emerged, and some buyers are annoyed.

At Kimball Hill’s development planners thought they could create a neighborly spirit common in older communities by including front porches and walkways leading to the street. Garages were placed in the back, and alleys run behind the fairly dense rows of homes across from Park Center. Plan Commission Chairman Howard Silver says those alleys make the back yards look a lot like front yards, and the swing sets installed by some families look odd. Some neighbors have apparently called Village Hall to complain about their appearance, and while play sets in back yards are perfectly legal, the village says two of them are too close to the lot lines.

The Hagedorn family had purchased a large wooden unit from Dehne in Northbrook and had two off-duty firemen install it. Now, the village says they must move the 1,200-pound unit two feet and two inches from the alley to comply with the required zoning setback. The Hagedorns asked for a variance – permission to leave the set in place, but the commission saw no hardship that would warrant waiving the rules.

Down the street, the Busiel family has a similar problem. They had moved their kids’ beloved play set from their old house and put it six feet from the alley that runs behind the new house. Because it’s tall, the unit should have been 14 feet from the back lot line, but the family said that would put the swing set too close to their patio. The kids would be swinging over concrete.

Plan Commissioner Jack Bevington proposed a compromise – that the Busiels be allowed to move the set just four feet, but Silver didn’t think that would make any visual difference.

"What would you accomplish by moving it eight feet?" asked Bevington. "Nothing," Silver conceded, noting that the real problem might be the brightly colored canvas awning and flags atop the play set.

Uncertain what else could be done, the commissioners concluded the law was the law, and they insisted the hapless family rearrange their backyard to comply with Glenview’s code.

The panel did agree to let a third family build their sidewalk from the house to the driveway despite Glen design guidelines that encourage sidewalks from the entrance to the curb. The decision came after Commissioner and architect Bruce Burch argued forcefully against the guideline. "I’ve designed hundreds of homes," he said. "The shortest distance between the front door and the car is the path that people will always travel, and sooner or later that grass will be worn out."

Editor’s note: It is telling that one of the most expensive and elaborate playgrounds on the North Shore, Little Bear Park, is just down the street at the corner of Chestnut and Patriot, yet families want fancy swing sets in the back yard, and in a community designed to be pedestrian friendly, families insist on a walkway from the driveway to their front door. The idea of high-density housing near mass transit with shops and playgrounds just a walk away may appeal to planners who have dubbed this "new urbanism," but folks who moved to The Glen apparently thought they were buying in the suburbs.

SHELL’S GURU OF GAS

When its consultants last appeared before Glenview’s Plan Commission, Shell Oil was told the community didn’t want a flashy new gas station and mini-mart at the corner of Shermer and Willow roads. The neighbors demanded a lower canopy, smaller, more tasteful signs and dimmer lights, but company representative Laura Sawicki came back with bad news.

"We now have an executive vice president from London. . .He is our image guru. He is one of the men who created this image, and [your proposed changes] did not make it past his desk. . .This is the minimum brand image that they need to make this type of investment."

Commissioner Joe DiMattina didn’t mince words as he described Shell’s look and the appearance of BP’s new service stations being advertised on tv. "They’ve shown the public what their new stations are going to look like, and I’m going to say this to British Petroleum, and I’m going to say this to Shell – your marketing people. You guys have run amok!" He described the new design as "Jetson-like" and added, "We are charged with protecting the image of the village, and we take that charge very seriously."

Sawicki said Shell’s plan complied with local ordinances, the company had met with the neighbors and made several concessions. She said the canopy had to be 14 feet high to prevent collisions with tall trucks, and the lights had to be bright. "Our customers need to feel safe on site," Sawicki explained. The company would plant 27 pine trees to provide screening but would not agree to more since, "we meet or exceed your code."

LAWYER SNAPS AT PLAN COMMISSION CHIEF

Committee Chairman Howard Silver had complained about the financial impact statements submitted by Sawicki, and he scolded her again at Tuesday’s meeting. Silver said the latest report was "very minimal," and he accused Sawicki of "copping out" on revenue figures, saying she did not know what Shell would charge for gas. "Shell is a multi-billion dollar corporation," he said. "I’m sure that they do a lot of good projections before they go anywhere. . .You didn’t really give us a study," he concluded. "It’s not professional as a fiscal impact study, nor has there been anything in regard to [what services to the new station will] cost the village. You didn’t really give us a study. You gave us a couple of paragraphs as to why you’re not going to give us a study."

That’s when politically-connected attorney Mike Downing shocked the commission and the crowd. "You know, Mr. Chairman, I think that’s really out of order," he began. Silver tried to respond, but Downing barreled ahead. "Do I get a chance to talk or do you just lecture?" he demanded loudly. "What’s the story here?"

"You can talk. Let’s see what you have to say," said Silver.

Downing said estimates were not provided by Shell because a village staffer had made some projections. "If you’d gone back and read the very first fiscal impact study that was provided, it quoted the village finance director as to what the cost of the services to the village were in his professional opinion," said the lawyer, punching each word. "How are we gonna’ do any better than our own hired professional as to what the cost of the services are to this village?"

Silver started to explain that the information should have been included in Sawicki’s latest report along with revenue projections, but Downing interrupted again with a torrent of angry words: "Well I’m sorry!" he said sarcastically. "It was in the first one, it was in the second one, and God bless her if she left it out of the third one!"

"We asked for a full fiscal study," said Silver. "We didn’t get it."

THE PUBLIC HAS ITS SAY

Neighbors expressed fears about bright lights and colors at the proposed station. Mitchell Weiss, who stopped the first hearing cold when he showed a photo of a very attractive Shell station in Irvine, California, was back with new research. On the web, he had found the company’s list of elements it wants in future stations:

– Bright white, yellow and red for everything from fuel dispensers to car washes.

– A unique canopy design that includes a vibrant yellow background and red, illuminated bars.

– Larger signs and brilliant lighting.

The website described this look as "a powerful and visual means of promoting the Shell brand."

Weiss also called on the plan commission to restrict the number of pumps installed. By eliminating one fueling station, he felt more open space could be created, and traffic would circulate more efficiently. Studying sales patterns at another station and Shell’s own projections for Glenview, Weiss concluded, "There is absolutely no need for 10 dispensers at that site."

MR. PATTERSON’S MOTION

Apparently excited by the debate and ready to act, Plan Commissioner Jim Patterson called for a vote, but the matter was complicated. He and the other commissioners wanted more than a dozen conditions attached to approval. "I would make a motion to approve case P-0108," he said haltingly, "to include a brick, an all-brick sign."

"Monument sign," prompted Commissioner Linda Witt. It could be argued that Witt’s greatest contribution to the commission is her ability to take notes and provide precise wording for an ordinance when the time comes. This instance was no exception. As Patterson faltered, Witt offered to read the list of things Shell would have to do for approval.

When Witt finished, Chairman Silver suggested that Witt had made the motion. "I thought I made the motion," said Patterson. "I thought it was mine." After a short, quiet discussion, the panel agreed to call it Patterson’s motion.

Commissioner Gary Wendt tried to rally support for just eight dispensers at the site, but Patterson reasoned that Shell wouldn’t be putting in 10 if the company didn’t think it would work, and Commissioner DiMattina said he "didn’t have a problem with 10 dispensers. I think that’s an economic issue that [Shell has] to decide, and if it fits on the site, it fits on the site."

All of the commissioners, except Wendt, voted to let Shell go forward if the company would make certain cosmetic improvements – mostly minor matters unlikely to break the deal. Shell goes to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday, December 17.

DR. HECKLE AND MR. JIVE

During the course of the hearing, it was clear that local attorney Downing was being paid by Shell. In explaining why the company would not comply with certain plan commission requests, for example, Downing said: "Much of what was being asked of us would have to be decided not only by our corporate headquarters in Houston, but also by the fact that we are now owned by the Royal Dutch."

Later, he referred to the designer of Shell’s future building as "my architect," but when the public hearing was about to close, Downing bellied up to the podium for another chance to speak -- this time identifying himself as a "citizen, resident and business owner – thank you very much." Dr. Heckle quickly became Mr. Jive again as Downing told the panel, "I’d just like to reinforce what we said previously. A reduction in the number of dispensers is unacceptable. A reduction in the height, size or coloring of the canopy is unacceptable. . .We will not add any additional trees to the western property line!"

DENSITY REDUX

After allowing the James Company, Kimball Hill, Cambridge and Concord Homes to build high- density housing at The Glen and in Heatherfield, Glenview appears to have done an about face. A local developer and architect, James Metropulos, has been trying for more than a year to build town homes on Harlem Avenue just south of Dewes. He’s presented different options to the plan commission six times, and twice that panel has approved his four-unit design. The developer’s latest plan met all building requirements, and the neighborhood is zoned for multi-family housing, but the village board said no.

"I appreciate the hard work you’ve put into this. I appreciate the fact that you’re not some big, out-of-town developer. You’re a local guy, just like all of us," said President Carlson, "but you have an 80-foot wide lot. If this was a 100-foot wide lot, this would work just fine."

"We do have four town houses. The code allows almost five," Metropulos replied. "We had revised it to three, but the plan commission said four was more ideal."

Trustee Mike Guinane praised the Metropulos design but also thought it was "too dense. . .We have to think about the future of this community and the impact on parks, schools and libraries," he explained. Metropulos said he was more than willing to pay impact fees to those jurisdictions and the neighborhood around his lot already had many townhomes.

"Currently, Mr. Metropulos, we are going through the Comprehensive Planning [Process]," Guinane replied. "We are looking at this thing to reduce the density. I, for one, would not favor keeping the density at its current state. I want to see that area down zoned."

Trustee Mary Beth Denefe echoed Guinane and Carlson in complimenting the Metropulos design. "I only wish that the lot were 20 feet wider. . .I simply can’t approve this," she said.

Trustee Donna Pappo expressed concern for the safety of any children who might move into the new development. "If they’re playing in this court yard, and cars are trying to come out – how’s that going to work?"

"It would work the same way as anybody backing out from their house into a public sidewalk or street – carefully," said the developer.

"Well, there’s not much room for error here," Pappo replied before joining with the others in voting the project down.

After the board’s action, Plan Commission Chairman Silver ran into several other members of his commission at The Glen Club where a holiday dinner for citizens on government panels was held. "Everybody was flabbergasted and disgusted," Silver said. "I feel sorry for Mr. Metropulos. He’s really tried to accommodate us, and he did come to us with a three-unit design, but the four-unit plan was better. It created a little community – a small neighborhood within the neighborhood, and we thought it would be nice."

This week, Metropulos goes back before the village board to propose three larger units that would sell for about $550,000. Had he been allowed to build four units, the developer says he could have charged $400,000 – making the homes more affordable for working couples.

MORE TOWN HOMES PLANNED FOR MONROE

If a Skokie-based developer has his way, 21 town homes would be built on less than two acres in a quiet, wooded neighborhood north of Chestnut and east of Waukegan. Plan Commission Chairman Silver described that block of Monroe Street between Jefferson and Rogers as a "quaint, nice, quiet area."

Metropolitan Development Enterprises wants the village to change the zoning, which now permits four houses per acre, to one that would allow 18 units per acre, but Silver suggested the developer might not be sincere. "You are a contract purchaser [of the land]?" he asked.

"Yes," said the developer.

"A contract purchase is subject to getting the approval that you want?" said the chairman.

"Yes, that’s correct," the developer replied.

"So if, for example, this commission were to say we believe it’s too dense, you could then go back to the seller and say, ‘Your land isn’t worth that much because the village isn’t going to give us what we want,’ so presumably you can negotiate a lower price and still keep your return fairly level."

"That’s correct," said the developer.

Metropolitan said it would charge "$525,000 up" for the town homes. The neighbors expressed fears about flooding and parking problems. The plan commission suggested the density was too high but delayed any further discussion until January 8.

DOWNTOWN HEARING DRAWS CROWD BUT NO CONSENSUS

The Milwaukee-based consultant hired to help Glenview plan its future held a public hearing, and residents jammed the board room at Village Hall to offer their ideas. Planning and Design Institute has already gathered about 3,000 surveys from households around town, and the public gave PDI an earful at the hearing.

Viewpoints ran the gamut: One man proposed bulldozing downtown and building an exciting new retail area. Others thought a simple facelift might suffice. Many argued that D-1, the zoning that requires retail on the first floor of commercial buildings, should be changed to permit office uses, and several existing businesses complained about Village President Carlson’s published proposal to tear down their buildings on Glenview Road and sell the property to a developer.

Jack Ryan, a florist in the block Carlson identified, took grave offense at reading about his future in the Glenview Announcements. "It was like a two-by-four right over our face," he said. "We have lost business because of this. We have business several years out for brides who want a commitment for their wedding. We’ve had a number of people say, `We don’t know if you’re going to be there.’"

Lana Gernady, co-owner of the Cat’s Meow, begged for a better idea of what might happen and when. Should she order spring merchandise? The consultant had no ready answer, insisting he had only come to hear from the public. Comprehensive Plan Commissioner Joe DiMattina advised the merchants to go about their business – that nothing would happen in the short-term, and finally, President Carlson agreed to speak.

"The reason I brought this up in the Announcements," he said "was to make sure that the people in this community knew what was going on – what ideas were being proffered. I believe in open government. I believe in people knowing what’s going on."

Sighing deeply, he continued: "I could have hired a consultant or a planning firm and said, `Go and value that lot, but I don’t want anything getting out because we don’t want anybody to know about it,’ and what would everybody have thought if something like that happened? You’d say, ‘Uh oh. The government’s doing something behind our back.’. . .I spent many a sleepless night before I decided to do it this way, because I knew that it would be like a bucket of ice water in somebody’s face, but I didn’t know any other way to do it."

Editor’s note: Maybe the next time President Carlson has a brainstorm, he could visit or call the businesses that would be involved and talk it over with them before calling the Pioneer Press. One resident excused Carlson’s behavior on the grounds that he is not a "big-city politician but a small-town politician." Given Glenview’s decision to undertake a multi-million dollar redevelopment at The Glen and Carlson’s plan to acquire land for redevelopment downtown, we think some big city savvy in public relations would invaluable.

ODDS AND ENDS

Other ideas from residents included:

-- Formation of a citizens committee to advise the comprehensive planners on downtown. Long-time resident Liz Dinsmore argued that Carlson and his colleagues from the Village Board and plan commission are too busy to give this important subject their full attention.

– Leasing of downtown office space to relieve crowding at Glenview Village Hall.

– Hiring an economic development director to assist existing businesses and attract new ones.

– Acquiring homes across the street from the library, tearing them down, putting a new parking lot there and building a pedestrian overpass to a newly-enlarged building

The size of the new library was also an issue with Glenview resident Dick Feit repeating his charge that the library board is "hell bent" on building something that will be far too big.

Library board member Dick Clark said a 110,000-square-foot building would not be too large. He argued that a formula of population times square footage is too simplistic – ignoring the need for meeting rooms, study areas and larger public areas required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Addressing the claim that Glenview will build a facility as large as Evanston’s library to serve a much smaller population, Clark pointed out that Evanston has two branch libraries as well. He added that Glenview’s circulation of library books, tapes and CD’s is not far behind Evanston’s. "We have a very heavily used library," he concluded.

NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS

Wilmette residents are scrambling to keep Loyola University from selling its Mallinckrodt Campus to a developer. A group calling itself the Citizens Action League for Mallinckrodt has persuaded the Park District to buy that wooded, 17-acre parcel if voters approve a referendum this spring, but residents must get 6,000 signatures by the end of this month in order to put that question on the ballot. Loyola could also sell to a Glenview-based developer called Coda. That company wants to build 306 townhomes for seniors including assisted living or skilled care units, and homes designated for low-income residents.

Northbrook is bracing for one big home improvement bill – preparing to replace the slate roof installed twelve years ago on its village hall. At the time, trustees were assured the work came with a 50-year guarantee. Due to a combination of poor workmanship and extreme winter weather, the roof has deteriorated badly, but a check of the contract finds no mention of a guarantee, and in any event the contractor has gone bankrupt. The bill for a high quality replacement roof – $900,000.

READERS WRITE

CWW can’t believe cows will be making field trips to Glenview public schools: "Whatever the Wagner Farm Committee (Park Commissioners Chris Warren and Catherine Crowley) has been drinking, it most certainly isn’t milk! Have these people ever been on a farm? Do they think 1,500 pound dairy cows come housebroken and potty-trained? Do they know about lactation? Do they know what constitutes animal abuse? These park district members are the very people who told us in the referendum they would preserve the Wagner Farm as is and keep it as a working dairy farm. They also offered public demonstrations on farming and milking as attractions to come to the farm. The purpose of the vote was to get Glenview people out to Wagner Farm not take the farm out to the people. The Wagner Farm Committee people had best concentrate on maintaining the cows at Wagner Farm where they belong and forget about joyriding them around Glenview schoolyards."

The Watch replies: The farm’s director, Todd Price, said Jersey cows are pretty calm and could probably be transported to schools in trailers without too much stress. In fact, if it were a matter of routine he thought the cows could get comfortable with field trips to schools.

About Paul McCarthy’s car – a Chevy suburban– CWW adds: ""Is the Glenview Village Manager running a livery service on the side? A nine-seater just for the village manager and his spouse? A new Ford Taurus sounds generous."

AH asks, "Why doesn't he drive a Honda Civic? What load is he pulling that he needs such a large gas guzzling car?"

SG sends the following entry from the System Logic catalog: "KBKids -- Aluminum Scooter for $9.95. Save $5 off a $40 + order by using code: XMASETOYS."

And EB wonders, "Is it true that the village manager uses his Suburban to tow a large boat to Northern areas?

FM checks in with a thought on the location for Glenview’s new library: "I was very interested in the suggestion of a reader last week that the library be situated in the new park where Rugen School was. However, I would like to suggest that the library should be in Flick Park. Instead of two small seasonal buildings --  the little clubhouse and the swimming pool building -- there should be one large fieldhouse building that combines all of these features. It could have a library, meeting rooms, party rooms, the swimming pool area, etc., all in one building. Because it would have employees on hand most of the day, it could even have operating washrooms that could be maintained and useable. This would help limit vandalism, as there would be people on sight more regularly. It would also provide a pleasant reading area for library customers."

FS laments the loss of more wooded land in Glenview – property owned by a generous east Glenview couple who loved animals: "It is interesting to read the article in the Chicago Tribune about the former nun who runs an animal shelter in the city. Apparently Dr. and Mrs. Barry underwrote her mission. Now, as the story is told, the mortgage is due on the shelter, and the Barrys did not leave any provision in their will. Their children seem more than reluctant to pay off the mortgage on this house. To be fair, nothing was ever put in writing and I do not know if they knew of their parents' intent. These are, however, the same children who sold off their parents' homestead (on Hunter Rd.)to a developer. It is a large property which was heavily wooded. Now, with the help of the Glenview Tree Ordinance, the land is practically barren. So if Dr. and Mrs. Barry are not rolling over in their graves because of the animal welfare situation, they certainly are because of the loss of their beloved retreat."

YOUR TURN: Give us your thoughts on the issues, your questions about life in Glenview and your ideas for The Watch. Our computer guru, Robert Klarman, has offered to give us a whole new look. Shall we keep our grumpy bear or go with something new? We accept e-mail (glenviewwatch@aol.com) or snail mail (3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025). We also welcome financial contributions payable to Glenview Watch. These contributions are not tax deductible, but they do help us pay for duplication and mailing to readers who lack computers, and they fund our website. So thanks for giving. Thanks for reading and for writing. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors of The Watch.

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