Hi All!
WE LOST !!
.... our fight to keep the property at 1000 Plainfield/Naperville Rd either as
open space, park land, or the retain the current zoning - R1A Single Family Houses.
On Tuesday December 5th, 2006 the City Council voted to approve Crestview's request
to change the zoning to R3A - Multi- Family houses, and the plan for 22 Townhouses.
I have waited a day to write this because the motions were flying hot and heavy
and who voted for what is unclear in my mind, and others in the audience. Was
it 6-3 or 5-4? I will wait until the City Clerk issues the official minutes before
announcing the actual vote and who voted which way.
After reviewing the staff report which reviewed the potential funding sources
and concluded that obtaining funding was questionable the Council voted not to
purchase the land. Although the Conservation Foundation's Buy and Hold program
was mentioned.
Why the Park District would not acquire a parcel of land between two of their
parks to make a 14-15 acre complete park is hard to understand, particularly when
they appear to have $35 million to build something that has never been voted on.
During the last two council meetings on this subject virtually every council member
made glowing statements about how they thought it would be best to keep it as
green space. Then to move on to the petitioner's request and with virtually no
discussion take a vote is very frustrating.
The current zoning of single family house would be the next best thing, if for
no other reason the density of 2.5 units per acre or less. However, a few of the
council who supported the idea of green space, then without a word of explanation
or justification, voted to not retain the current zoning of single family houses
but to give the developer the zoning change that he requested.
I do not understand the logic of being in favor of green space and then turning
around and voting for townhouses which be less green space than single family.
The Council did accept the developer's offer of a 6 month moratorium on any development
while the search for another buyer is continued.
Doug Dallmer