Tempers flared during a recent town hall meeting in Deer Park as more than 65 residents accused their village government of failing to inform them about a developer’s bid to build a nearly 500,000-square-foot shopping center and cinema multiplex in the far northwest suburban rural community.
Deer Park Village President Richard Karl and Trustee Henry Werch were the only Village Board members to attend the meeting organized by residents and held under the blazing sun at the Dover Pond Park tennis courts.
A few members of the Plan Commission were also present, including John Lahr, who offered residents his resignation after being accused of not taking into account residents’ objections to the project.
“I’m very willing to submit my resignation,” said Lahr, who told residents that during numerous public meetings held to discuss the village’s comprehensive plan over the years, there was never any objection to the land being zoned for commercial use.
“Now we’re being attacked for not performing to the satisfaction of residents and I believe we have all performed with due diligence,” he said.
The Plan Commission and Village Board recently gave preliminary approval to the huge project intended for 75 acres of forested land at the southwest corner of Long Grove Road and U.S. Highway 12. The project is being proposed by Memphis-based developers Poag and McEwen. For the community of about 3,000 residents, the project would be its largest commercial development.
Residents have always known that the land in question would be commercially developed, but they said they are concerned about the project’s size. Many opponents complain that village trustees have not had the experience to handle the legal wrangling required to ensure that the community’s rural charm is not put in jeopardy.
“I think our village trustees are way in over their heads,” said Ron Ezsak, a nine-year resident.
“It’s not the development per se that I’m opposed to, it’s the process,” he said.
Trustee Werch said the project still may be nixed if certain issues, such as a reduction in the height of light fixtures, adequate landscaping and an agreement on the movie theater, can’t be negotiated to everyone’s satisfaction.
“Contrary to the prevailing feeling that we are selling out . . . we’ve said `no’ way more than `yes,’ ” said Werch, adding that other businesses, such as Home Depot, decided to locate their stores elsewhere because of “too many restrictions.”
But for the residents who stood on the tennis courts for more than two hours, the consensus was that the proposed project was a done deal.
“We just want something we all can live with,” said resident Irene Dundon.
If the village were to go ahead with the project, officials said it would generate $1.7 million in sales tax revenue.
