The June 18 online edition of this publication reported on the June 17 meeting of the River Forest Board of Trustees wherein the board affirmed the findings of the ZBA re: proposed text amendments.
“The surprise action supports vocal opposition by residents.”
The surprise is rooted in the flawed so-called “process” and the dysfunction of a board that rewrites methodology at the drop of a pin and hides the ball from its peers.
The Process: The village hired and paid serial village planner John Houseal to draft amendments to current zoning to permit high and dense residential housing in commercial districts.
The village president described this proposal variably as a “clarification” and “simplification” of existing zoning.
In her Letter to the Editor in support of rezoning, “Nothing to fear from zoning updates” (Wednesday Journal, April 10), the village president wrote:
“What we are doing is reviewing codes that have not been changed for three decades. We are doing the work to diligently review the way our codes are written, to ensure that River Forest is a place people want to live, raise a family, work and play.”
The Hiding: On June 17, the president and several board members suddenly characterized the zoning amendment process as merely an “exploration and discussion,” causing Trustee Brennan to state that she had “whiplash.”
River Forest citizens were never informed at any time that the proposed rezoning was merely an exploration and discussion of ideas. The board’s position was to recodify River Forest zoning, as it was communicated time and again at every meeting and hearing and in village publications.
Surprise is further rooted in the blatant appearance at the board table on June 17 that at least two trustees were well aware of the flipped position, while other board members were unaware. Certain trustees echoed the village president word-for-word, almost as though they rehearsed the night before in someone’s basement.
Revisionist History: The June 20 River Forest Village Newsletter Commercial Zoning Update stated:
“On November 17, 2023, the board unanimously voted to direct village staff to explore and discuss potential changes with the zoning board.”
This “explore and discuss” narrative is false. The village board never once “explored” or “discussed” the proposed zoning amendments — not even at the board table on June 17, when the narrative was radically redirected.
While we are relieved the board rejected the proposed rezoning, we are dismayed at the abuse of the process.
What remains hidden behind “the drawing board?”
What can River Forest constituents expect next when the entire zoning and potentially subsequent development process is neither accurately communicated nor followed and constantly in flux?
We are the neighbors of South River Forest. We are joined and united by neighbors across and along the entire village, from Madison to North Avenue, from Thatcher to Harlem.
As Trustee Brennan observed, we worked endlessly for years to be heard and to communicate the village activities to the vast majority of constituents unaware of the proposed rezoning. We were held hostage by never-ending gaslighting, pulled away from our jobs, our families, our homes, and our sleep, sacrificing our hard-earned money, our weekends, and our vacations.
In return, we are rewarded with a Trojan Horse of revisionist history as we approach the next election season.
Deborah Borman is a resident of River Forest.