Allowing Tall Buildings Concerns La Grange Officials
LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange officials expressed concern Monday over a recommendation to allow five-story buildings in certain areas.
The suggestion is part of a long-term growth plan that the village’s Plan Commission recently approved.
“It’s the No. 1 thing I’m getting feedback on,” Village President Mark Kuchler said at a Village Board meeting.
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Now, the policy is to limit buildings to three stories. But for years, La Grange has made exceptions. Since 2005, the majority of new commercial buildings have been four or five stories high, the village said. They have been near the train.
In June, the board approved a four-story apartment building on Hillgrove Avenue, despite neighbors’ opposition.
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At Monday’s meeting, Kuchler said developers know La Grange has five-story buildings. But he said the code allows the village to address neighboring homeowners’ concerns about buildings’ height.
Trustee Beth Augustine said if the village allows five-story buildings, they should be along the BNSF railroad corridor. And Trustee Glenn Thompson said certain areas proposed for five-story buildings make no sense.
“We need to refine that much better,” he said.
Michael Blue, a Teska Associates consultant who helped draft the long-term plan, said the five-story proposal would still require a review. Such buildings are known in developers’ jargon as “transit-oriented development” – in this case, apartments and condos near the railroad.
Such development supports more height and density downtown, Blue said.
“There is an opportunity for those people to be on the train,” Blue said. “There’s opportunity for those people to walk to dining and entertainment downtown.”
During public comments, trustees heard the messages of two residents who were against allowing five-story buildings.
Resident John Pluto said he opposed some of the proposed areas for such structures.
“Nobody seems to be thrilled about having a five-story building in their backyard, and I don’t think you’d like one in your backyard either,” Pluto told the trustees. “We have to do planning on fixing our infrastructure before we go hog wild with increasing densities in the village.”
Resident Alan Foreman’s letter to the village was read into the record. He called the five-story proposal “very troubling.”
“I welcome development, but am opposed to granting the right to start negotiations at five stories, especially in the historic district,” Foreman said. “I think I can speak for most, if not all, property owners, especially those on Seventh Avenue, by stating we chose to live and thrive in a historic district for a variety of reasons. I’m positive the thought of a neighboring five-story building was inconceivable.”
The Village Board plans to revisit the proposal for five-story buildings at its Oct. 14 meeting.
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