NEW SHOPPING CENTER PLANNED FOR WILLOW AND WAUKEGAN

Glenview's mixed use retail center at The Glen may be in for some competition as the Divine Word Mission prepares to ink a deal which would lead to retail development at the corner of Willow and Waukegan roads. Crain's Chicago Business reports the 48-acre site may sprout a 500,000-square-foot shopping center next year. To be called North Shore Village, it would feature high-end stores like Ann Taylor, Talbots and Williams-Sonoma.  A team of developers also hopes to attract a significant number of restaurants to the center. 

Northbrook's village manager has expressed some skepticism, saying that community had heard proposals from a dozen other developers for the site, but John Novinson added that the lifestyle center being considered would be consistent with what Northbrook has envisioned at that corner.

ANGRY TRUSTEES BICKER IN BOARD ROOM

Glenview's trustees did battle Tuesday in a manner not seen since Nancy Firfer presided over the village board.  The spark came when President Larry Carlson decided that vacancies on the Appearance Commission, Zoning Board and other local government panels should be filled at once.  Many had been open for months and some for years, but Carlson now saw "a certain urgency to this.  The commissions are now meeting without being fully staffed.  This has forced, in some instances, the cancellation of meetings," he said, adding that the work load then increased for the next meeting and people with business before the boards were getting short shrift.

Carlson said the Canaan Presbyterian Church parking lot on Greenwood could not get a hearing with the Appearance Commission until September. "This is a parking lot.  This is not the Taj Mahal," he complained. "It shouldn't take eight weeks for a case like that to get heard."

Carlson then asked representatives from the zoning and appearance boards to say a few words about the situation, but before they could testify Trustee John Crawford spoke.  Noting that the law requires advice and consent from board members and that Trustee Pappo was away, he proposed a delay until the next board meeting

Ignoring the suggestion, Trustee Mary Beth Denefe charged forward. "Mr. President, without further ado, I would simply cut to the chase here and make a motion to appoint Justice Gino DiVito as commissioner on the fire and police commission," she said.

Carlson had yet to mention the nominee, but Trustee Jeff Lerner was ready. "I'll second it," he said. "Government doesn't stop because one of us can't be here.  If Trustee Crawford is saying that we need Trustee Pappo to conduct business, does that mean that everything else on the agenda is going to be continued tonight?  When you look at the people who are on this list to be nominated, we are never going to find more qualified people to volunteer their time to do these jobs."

"I disagree," said Crawford.  "There are hundreds of people in Glenview as qualified."

"There may be hundreds," said Denefe, "but there are four very qualified people whose names hopefully will be put into nomination this evening."

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY

Lerner then demanded that debate stop and a vote be taken. Trustee Mike Guinane fell in behind his Unite Glenview running mates, agreeing to cut off discussion and approve the nominee.  Crawford abstained from voting.  Trustee Rachel Cook cast her vote against DiVito, feeling all nominations should be delayed until the board reviews and reforms its long-standing system of boards and commissions.

The next nomination went to Linda Hammond, a business woman who has lived in Glenview for more than 23 years.  She had served on the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) from 1993-1997, been a library trustee and president of her homeowners' association.  Carlson said family and business duties had forced Hammond to resign from the ZBA, but she now wanted to participate again.

Denefe quickly called for a vote and Lerner seconded the motion.  Crawford said he would again abstain in protest over President Carlson's failure to seek the advice of the trustees. He charged all of the appointees were members of Carlson's Unite Glenview party and added, "I think we need diversity on our boards and commissions."

"That was a very interesting speech," said Carlson.  "I have never asked anyone I've interviewed what party they belonged to, how they voted, if they voted or where their sympathies lie.  What I cared about was qualifications and good judgment."

Lerner interrupted to point out that by state law judges are prohibited from participating in political activity, so Judge DiVito – who has served on the bench for more than 20 years – could not have belonged to the Unite Glenview party. Crawford said he was not attacking that particular nominee, and the debate dissolved into a shouting match with Carlson pounding his gavel, demanding an end to the war of words.

Carlson reminded Crawford that one of his first appointments as village president went to Grant Ireland, an opposition party candidate who now sits on the historic preservation commission.  "He wanted to be part of village government.  I thought he deserved a chance, and I let him."

The village president defended his choice of  Steve Bucklin to serve on the plan commission. Bucklin contributed $1,250 to Carlson's campaign, but Carlson said the selection was not political.  Citing Bucklin's experience on the appearance commission, he said,  "I trusted his ability to think logically and his judgment and concern for this town."  The village president said Crawford had known about the planned appointments since late June.  "Nobody ever called me.  Nobody had an objection," he said.  "These people aren't political.  They're good people."

PLAYING POLITICS AND HARDBALL

Crawford pressed on, complaining that the board had become politicized and members of the minority party were not receiving due credit for their contributions.  He accused Carlson of taking orders from "people who are not on this board.  Somebody is asking you to remember there's an election in 2003."
 
"I don't know where you're coming up with this," said Carlson.  "I haven't changed in probably the last 20 years.  I do manage to do a little bit of thinking on my own. I don't need someone to hold my hand."  He said Cook's proposal for reform would be considered at some point. "I don't want to jump into the pond.  I'd like to put my toe in, get a little wet and see what's going on in there," he said.

Denefe argued it was too soon to proceed with reform although she asserted progress had been made. "I would remind the trustees, and particularly Trustee Crawford, that the boards and commissions were the subject of an executive session three weeks ago.  The subject matter of that executive session is privileged, but I would comment that I thought we made good progress at that meeting – that staff had been requested to move forward on several items, and my understanding is that they are moving forward."

Lerner again attacked Crawford, dismissing his claim that Carlson and his allies were playing politics in failing to adopt reforms.  "Did it ever occur to you it's just a bad idea?" he said.  He lectured Crawford for another minute before concluding, "If you want to refer to trustees with a political opinion, it's not those from Unite Glenview."  Then, turning to President Carlson he said, "Could you make the next nomination please."

Carlson seemed a bit flustered by the order from one of his generals and was not ready to nominate anyone.  He promised, again, that reform would be considered.

"I would join Trustee Lerner's request in you moving forward with the next nomination," said Denefe. 

"Okay," said Carlson sounding resigned.  "Let's move forward then."  He proposed the selection of Michael McPeak, first vice president of LaSalle Bank, to fill another vacancy on the zoning board, citing his experience with real estate and nominated Tony Owens to serve on the appearance commission. Carlson listed Owens' experience coaching soccer and baseball, serving as a scout master and member of the school caucus. "A good volunteer," he concluded, adding that Owens has "an amateur interest in architecture and has worked as a landscape designer."

In both cases, Trustee Denefe placed the names in nomination, Lerner provided a second – a pattern that prompted smiles during the latter part of the meeting when Lerner began a motion.  In mid-sentence, he was interrupted by Denefe.  "Second," she cried. "I'm not finished!" said Lerner.

Editor's note: Larry Carlson may not have cast his net wide in searching for appointees to village boards and commissions, but that was to be expected.  He is a man of limited vision who behaves like many politicians – appointing friends to significant jobs and disregarding the importance of diversity on village boards and commissions.  It's a shame that so few new people get the chance to serve in local government – to bring new perspectives to the table, and it is that problem which the call for commission reform is partly designed to address.  The suggestion also speaks to the growing needs of a community that is only a village in name – a large and diverse suburb of more than 40,000 people. Glenview urgently needs new advisory boards. Traffic and pedestrian safety are huge concerns for many residents, but there is no panel appointed to recommend improvements on that front.  The village website is marginal, and while plenty of Glenview residents are savvy about IT, there is no technology commission to counsel the board.  Our park district is building a parking lot that will pollute the Chicago River, and no wonder. There is no citizens' advisory commission on the environment – no panel committed to the study of how we can best protect our natural treasures. 

Trustee Denefe suggests reforms may have been discussed in executive session – a clear violation of Illinois' Open Meetings Act.  Members of the minority party should have raised a fierce objection to such private talks.  At every meeting between now and election day, we urge them to demand that reform be discussed publicly so the voters may know where their elected representatives stand on this important subject and what they are willing to do. 

COULSON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION SURPRISE

Incumbent State Representative Beth Coulson has three times more money than her Democratic opponent in her campaign for re-election with nearly $150,000 in the bank at the end of June.  Pat Hughes, an attorney and trustee from Wilmette, had $55,400 after a primary fight that cost more than $80,000. 

The largest individual donations to Hughes' campaign came from Evanston investor J.B. Pritzker ($3,000) and Cook County Board candidate Larry Suffredin ($1,400).  Coulson collected $5,000 from Pittway Corporation's Irving Harris, Highland Park doctor Satish Dhanda ($2,000), Glen Ellyn State Rep. Roger Marquardt ($2,000) and Trident Capital executive Stephen Beitler ($1,500).

The Glenview Announcements notes that Coulson received $1,000 from the law firm Mayer Brown and Platt where Hughes is employed.  Coulson says it's a law firm of more than 200 people, and that she and her husband have a number of personal friends who work there.

Some of the money is being used to operate a campaign office at the old Renneckar's site on Glenview Road.

PARKER ALSO WINS CASH CONTEST

Incumbent Kathy Parker also claims about three times as much campaign money as her opponent for the new 29th District State Senate Seat.  She had $206,000 at the end of June while Susan Garrett had $67,860.  Garrett raised and spent nearly $150,000 on a primary, while Parker ran uncontested.

Garrett's big donations came from the Illinois Council on Long Term Care ($10,000), from a group called Women's Voices – Women's Votes ($5,000) and from the Chicago Teachers Union ($2,500).  Parker's large contributors include Trident Capital of Lake Forest ($3,500), Arlington International Racecourse ($2,000), Warren Nugent of Kenilworth ($3,000), the law firm Altheimer & Gray of Chicago ($1,500) and W. Clement Stone of Lake Forest ($1,000).

IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS ...

– Some park commissioners and members of Citizens Organized for Wagner's are proposing a new plan for the sidewalk along Lake Avenue – a design that would reduce the loss of pasture land at Wagner Farm from one-third to one-fifth of an acre.  The park district would get less money from the county which has agreed to purchase the property, but officials say they'll try to negotiate a better deal.  They were supposed to get an amount equal to what they paid for the property several years ago, but COWS member Henry Hill chided the park board for failing to recognize that real estate values have risen considerably since the original purchase was made.

– When road work is done next year, village planners are proposing turn lanes on Shermer Road at Lake and at Glenview Road.  They say that over a three-year period, 73 percent of accidents on Shermer occurred in the area between Lake and Glenview – most involving rear-end collisions.

– The trustees have agreed not to build a bike path along that stretch of Shermer to connect The Glen to other parts of the village.  Planners felt the road was too narrow to accommodate a path.  Instead, cyclists will be routed from Patriot Boulevard to Swainwood and Roosevelt roads, past Roosevelt Park to Glenview Road, then west to Shermer where they could continue south. While federal standards dictate a path 10 feet wide, village manager Paul McCarthy urged planners to forgo money from Washington and construct a path five feet wide to be shared by cyclists and pedestrians.

– The village board gave unanimous approval to plans for a new building to house Jennings Volkswagen on Waukegan Road – a building that will be roughly four times larger than the current facility.  The politically savvy Trustee Mike Guinane added a postscript to the vote, telling Mr. Jennings, "It's good to see business leaders stay in Glenview and not leave town.  I'm glad to see that you're sticking around, and I hope you're here for the next 50 years too."  Jennings Chevrolet gave $2,000 to Guinane's party during the last local election.

– The village plans to put off painting a water tank on Central Road until spring.  Bids were higher than expected, and Public Works Director Bill Porter is concerned about taking the facility out of use during the current drought.

– It's not too late to apply for the vacant seat on Glenview's library board left by the resignation of Donna Berndt.  That term runs through April 2003.  You can get an application from the library's business office. It's due August 15. If you have questions about this position, call Jane Berry, acting director, at 847-729-7500 ext. 116. 

IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

Plans are proceeding for a closed military base in Orange County, California with the Pentagon selling off much of the land for homes, retail and office development, a convention center, college campus and golf course.  About 350 acres of the 4,700-acre El Toro site is being set aside for a great park.  One thousand acres will be retained as natural habitat for wildlife, and county officials are demanding that developers contribute money for additional parks in other parts of Orange County.  Land sales there are expected to generate $1 billion, and private money is expected to finance the entire redevelopment. By contrast, the Glenview Naval Air Station – less than one-fourth the size of El Toro – yielded a 150-acre park and about 30 acres of natural habitat and could.  What's more, if the TIF runs as long as legally allowed we could see the diversion of more than $600 million in tax dollars.

RESTAURANT ROW

A health-conscious fast food restaurant doing business in the Southwest has opened its first Illinois location near the Jewel at Heatherfield on Waukegan Road.  Pick Up Sticks features fresh, stir-fried Chinese food prepared to order while you watch.  House specials include chicken or beef caramelized with white wine, soy, green onion and garlic. 

Carry-out normally provides 70 percent of the restaurant's business, but the operators neglected to get the right permit and must restrict service to tables seating about 35 people until further notice. Future outlets are planned in Naperville and South Elgin.  There are already 64 Pick Up Sticks owned by the same firm that operates TGI Friday's. The chain began in Southern California's famed Orange County. Readers of the local newspaper there have selected Pick Up Sticks as the best Chinese food in town for five years running.  A spokesman says Glenview was selected because our demographics – education level, income and culture – are strikingly similar to those of Orange County.

Meanwhile, the new Carson's – an Asian restaurant that replaced an old-style diner on Waukegan Road – has closed.  A Japanese eatery is set to open there in September.

A residential developer has sealed the deal to buy Willow on Wagner.

An employee of Viccino's Pizza says its opening at the Plaza del Prado, which was supposed to take place last spring, will occur in October. 

SAVE THE DATE

The park district hosts its annual gold fish day at Roosevelt Pool from 3-4 p.m. Sunday, August 18.   The stress of the hunt often kills fish, so have a bowl ready at home with some plants and rocks lining the bottom to your fish a place to recover.

Aviation buffs should mark their calendars for August 24 from 9 A.M. - 2 P.M.. That's when  Palwaukee Airport holds its annual open house. Glenview Hangar One Foundation will have a booth in the big tent, and historic helicopters from GNAS will be on display.    

READERS WRITE:

RCK is concerned about traffic at Willow and Waukegan in light of Kraft's latest plan: "The Tribune reports that Kraft intends to expand its Northfield property by 33 percent, adding 200,000 square feet with two four-story wings. This will consolidate 600 more employees now located in Northbrook, Skokie and Rolling Meadows. Traffic is already bad on Waukegan Road. Add this plus the new stuff on the southeast and southwest corners of Waukegan and Willow plus whatever will go on northwest corner, and driving will be quite a challenge."

NN comments on the park district's public meeting regarding the widening of Lake and Wagner:  " I fear the meeting on the Lake Avenue widening and its impact on Wagner Farm was another exercise in futility.  Cook County Highway Chief Wally Kos said he could get by without taking any land from the farm, but it was clear the park board planned to sell the footage quietly, hoping no one would notice until it was too late.  Because the majority of the speakers were members of Citizens Organized for Wagner's (C.O.W.S) whom the board regards as meddlers anyway, it was also clear that it was another case of ‘you can bring your program, but we are going by ours.' Wagner Farm is small enough as it is.  Every square foot is needed.  Don't our wonderful commissioners understand that taking away even a small portion is like extinction – gone forever? When the taxpayers bought the farm, it was with the tacit understanding that it would stay the way it is, and some protections should be established, just as for the Grove.  Now, to add to the contempt for public opinion, Village Development Director Mary Bak says that if the park board doesn't sell to the county, then the village can condemn that strip and give it to them.  The park board should rethink this whole thing with their constituency's opinions in mind.  I, for one, shall take Judy Beck's suggestion and express my displeasure at election time."

In late June, C.R. wrote to ask about installation of storm sewers in East Glenview: "Several times after the storm sewer pipe was placed in the trench and back fill was completed, the contractor came back and dug large, deep holes – perhaps to replace old village water pipes that had deteriorated or were not up to standard.  Who is paying for this extra work?  If this is water system maintenance, then the village should pay for it, and the costs should not be added to a very expensive storm sewer construction bill for residents.

"I also note that the new pavement alignment on Queens and Pleasant lanes seems to be rather erratic as far as sight line and pavement width.  This gives the two lanes a rustic, ‘Tobacco Road' look, and in places (near Wagner Road) the pavement narrows, making it difficult or impossible for two vehicles to pass.  In the past, some homeowners had tire tracks on their lawns and broken edge pavement.  They tried to combat the problem by installing fences, bushes or large rocks.  These additions could be dangerous to traffic and pedestrians and make snow removal more difficult.

"Finally, it appears that some residents got the paving contractor to add asphalt adjacent to their homes, providing them with additional parking.  Did these homeowners go through the permit review process normally required for such construction, and were they subject to regulations involving impervious surface? Who is being billed for these exclusive and expensive parking areas?"

The Watch replies: Public Works Director Bill Porter says he doesn't usually reply to anonymous letters but will make an exception to set the record straight.  He writes: "Any work on the village water system will be paid for by the village and will not be part of the costs borne by residents.  Concerning the complaints over pavement alignment, I drove the area several times, and frankly have just the opposite reaction to C.R.  In areas where the alignment changes, there are usually obvious reasons, such as going around an existing tree.  The streets narrow before the project, and they are narrow after the project.  The majority of residents have no desire to see a standard village street replace what is there.  The village has been plowing these streets for more than 20 years, and plowing will not be any more difficult now than before the project began. There were existing areas where some residents had installed gravel parking areas.  The owners approached the contractor and paid any additional costs associated with the change to asphalt."

O. Reinisch writes about housing prices at The Glen: "During the frenzied weeks when Glenview received title to the Naval Air Station land, there were promises made about the construction of low-income housing at The Glen.  Can someone tell me where this housing is located?  Every year hundreds of low-income, working Glenview families receive subsidized lunches for their children and quietly benefit from the generosity of others through our public schools' Holiday Helper programs.  There is a tremendous need for quality, safe, affordable housing in our community today for these families.  I pray that low-income housing was neither overlooked nor sacrificed during The Glen's development."

Ron complains that a local ordinance against overnight parking of pick-up trucks in residential areas is not being enforced: "I talked to a police dispatcher Sunday and questioned him about overnight parking of pick-up trucks on local streets.  I was told that since some were getting passes to do so they are not currently enforcing that law.  I guess we can just add one more to that list."

The Watch replies:  Assistant Village Manager Joe Wade explains that pick up trucks "used to be viewed as more of a business or commercial vehicle.  Now everybody has them."  That's why (about two years ago) the village board asked the police department to stop enforcing the prohibition.  

And Robert Druzinsky writes about West Nile virus: "Several months ago we found a dead crow in the back yard of our house on Glenview Road.  I called the Glenview Police Department because I assumed (incorrectly) that some agency would like to test the animal for the West
Nile virus.  A very nice officer came to our house and offered to remove the bird.  I asked if he would send the bird off for testing, and he said that he would not do that.  He said that I should not be concerned because the virus had never been found in Glenview.  I asked him if perhaps the reason that the virus had never been found in Glenview was because no one was testing
the dead crows in Glenview. I finally contacted a Cook County Public Health official who was very happy that I called but said that it was too early in the spring to begin testing. He asked that I call again if I found any birds later in the spring.  Two weeks later I read that two birds from northern Illinois tested positive for West Nile."

The Watch replies: Village Manager Paul McCarthy has confirmed that public health officials are no longer interested in testing for West Nile because they know it's here.  No human cases have been reported in Cook County, but there was a serious case downstate and a mild one in DuPage County.  In any event, experts advise you to wear insect repellant if you're outside around dawn or dusk and to keep your yard free of standing water where mosquitoes may breed.

Tom Andricopulos wonders: "Can you please tell me where the new Home Depot will be located and when is it scheduled to be built?"

The Watch replies: The new Home Depot will be located in the same shopping center as Costco – on the north side of Willow Road across from The Glen.  Ground should be broken soon with plans to open in spring 2003.

YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

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