On Friday, May 17, the village of River Forest circulated an email newsletter with the following statement:
“On May 9, the Zoning Board of Appeals met to formally adopt their recommendation on commercial zoning districts from the April 11 public hearing. The recommendation, or findings of fact document, summarizes the Zoning Board’s discussion to help inform the village board. The proposed text amendment ordinance will be considered by the village board at its next scheduled meeting on June 17. More details regarding that meeting will be shared in the coming newsletters.”
This statement is misleading.
On Dec. 20, 2023, the village published a small “Notice of Public Hearing” in the Wednesday Journal Classified section.
The notice said:
“Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. to consider amendment(s) to the Village’s Zoning Ordinance, including:
“1. A Text Amendment to create a new Chapter 12 to replace Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Zoning Ordinance. The new Chapter 12 will designate bulk and dimensional standards for C-1, C-2, C-3, and ORIC districts.
“2. A Text Amendment to Section 10-21 (Land Use Chart) to designate multiple-family dwellings as allowed by planned development in C1, C2, C3, and ORIC districts.
“The petitioner for the Text Amendments is the Village President and Board of Trustees. This public hearing is being held pursuant to direction given by the Village Board of Trustees.”
Beginning Jan. 11, The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) held a hearing on the village’s petition to alter zoning in all commercial districts, disguised as text amendments. The hearing was continued over four months, and in three sessions. The ZBA heard from dozens of residents opposing the amendments, only a few in favor. After the third hearing, attended by 160+ residents in person and 50+ remotely, the ZBA voted 6-1 against adopting the proposed text amendments.
The ZBA entered its official Findings of Fact on its denial on May 9, which included the statement: “[ZBA] finds that the Proposed Amendments are not in the best interests of the village and its residents and property owners.”
The ZBA’s Findings of Fact is not merely a “summary” for information purposes. The village president and trustees petitioned the ZBA to hold public hearings to consider the amendments. The village board is hereby informed by the ZBA, the independent body responsible for granting and denying zoning changes, and by its official Findings of Fact that the body opposes the proposed alteration of the zoning ordinance as applied to all of the River Forest commercial districts.
Any decision by the village board that reverses the ZBA’s vote and Findings of Fact, disregarding the views of most River Forest residents, undermines good governance.
Deborah L. Borman is a resident of River Forest.