The addition of mixed-use developments that would bring multi-unit residential properties to the village’s commercial areas has some Oak Brook residents and officials concerned about the financial impact of such a move and how it could change the character of the village.
Those concerns were expressed Tuesday at a 2 ½-hour Village Board committee meeting to discuss an update to Oak Brook’s 2007 Commercial Areas Revitalization Plan, prepared over the past 20 months by consultant Houseal Lavigne, Inc.
“Providing mixed-used development should be a priority of the village, as it seeks to strengthen the long-term vitality of Oak Brook’s commercial areas, while also providing the changing residential needs of current and future Oak Brook populations,” a draft of the plan states.
But that’s not the way some see it.
Village Board member Ed Tiesenga warned that additional residents that would come with such development would create financial problems for Oak Brook, which would need additional personnel to provide services for the additional people.
Oak Brook does not levy a municipal property tax and has been able to fund village services mainly with sales tax revenue.
“You’re headed straight into a village tax,” Tiesenga said.
And longtime Oak Brook resident Jim Pehta, president of the Midwest Chase Private Roadway Association, said bringing multi-family residential development to the village isn’t what Oak Brook is about.
“Oak Brook, historically, has been a rural community with business and commerce,” he said. “It’s large estates, without apartments or other multi-unit housing around them.”
“Why should we change the character of the village to accommodate developers?”
Former Village President Karen Bushy brought up Oak Brook founder Paul Butler in her comments against the multi-use development recommended in the plan.
“Mr. Butler warned us of those here to develop,” she said. “They make a lot of money and leave.”
John Houseal of Houseal Lavigne said the challenge is to keep the commercial aspects of the village vital, while preserving the heart of residential areas.
“Change is difficult, and change is scary,” he said.
Resident Jeff Kennedy, chairman of the village’s Community Enhancement Committee, said residential considerations represent only about 2 percent of the plan, and he doesn’t believe development recommended in it would leave Oak Brook overrun with condominiums.
“This isn’t going to happen,” he said. “There’s something about the free market that will self-correct. And this plan doesn’t touch any of the 27 residential subdivisions in Oak Brook.”
A letter from former Village President Kevin Quinlan read during the meeting stated, “Clinging to the 1970s is not going to get us where we need to go.”
Village Board member Philip Cuevas had a more middle-ground take.
“I’m all for development, but it’s got to be done with innovation, class and leadership,” he said.
The recent move of McDonald’s corporate offices to Chicago from Oak Brook prompted village officials in 2016 to decide it was time to update the Commercial Areas Revitalization Plan.
The study was designed to find ways to improve the aesthetics and visibility of commercial corridors, which primarily run along 22nd Street and Butterfield Road.
Village President Gopal Lalmalani said the discussion was a first step in the process.
“This is about general revitalization right now and is simply a working draft we will forward to the Plan Commission,” he said. “We wanted to get input from our residents before sending it to the Plan Commission, but people will be able to be heard during that meeting, too, before it comes back to the board for approval.”
