Please take a minute to read about the Blue Ribbons, which began on the 500-700 blocks of Franklin. We would like to share the facts, and then ask for your support as neighbors.
620 Franklin, built in 1896, sits on a 100 x 201.41 lot (20,141 sq. ft.), and is “under contract” to a developer, for teardown/replacement by two McMansions.
1) The trustees have directed the appeal of neighbors Mark Kleinkopf and Tom Gibbs (624 & 612 Franklin), re: 12/2005 village letter to the seller, stating that the seller had two 50-foot buildable lots subject to certain conditions, be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Seller and developer appear to be relying on this letter.
2) Our appeal is based upon the River Forest Zoning Ordinance requirement that development of 20,000 square feet of land area or more (unless for one new home only), “shall only be permitted if authorized by the Trustees as a Planned Development” (See www.ci.river-forest.il.us, River Forest Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 19 “Planned Developments,” Section 10-19-1(A) and 10-19-2(A)).
3) Our appeal also questions the “min. lot width” necessary. Last year, the village changed the Zoning Code, for most of single-family River Forest, subject to interpretation, addressing density increasing “tear down one home, build two home” scenarios. As developers have no shortage of teardown opportunities, it surely could not have been the intent of the village to potentially encourage the demolition of large historic homes on large lots, (10 such homes on the 500-700 blocks of Franklin). How many such homes, on large lots, are on your block?
4) So what do the blue ribbons represent?
a. Our zoning code should apply equally to everyone, not just to those without enough influence, or to no one at all. Our zoning code includes processes which include Resident Variance Requests, Resident Appeals of Village Zoning Rulings, and Planned Developments. Trust is either built when the system is applied fairly to everyone, or destroyed when it is not.
b. Replacing large lot historic homes with two McMansions is a bad idea. Historic preservation and new development are certainly both important. However, if in the future, River Forest is wall-to-wall McMansions shoehorned into 50-foot lots, then the River Forest we all know and love will be gone, and Hinsdale or Elmhurst will have apparently expanded east.
5) So, if you agree:
a. Tie a big blue ribbon to your tree. (Need one? Stop by 723 Franklin)
b. Call our village president, trustees, zoning board chairman and members, and join us, at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Thursday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m., at village hall, 400 Park Ave., and if necessary, again at the next trustee meeting.
Mark Kleinkopf and Tom Gibbs
River Forest
“Blue Ribbon” neighbors are asking the right questions (Patrick Deady, Letters, Aug. 9)
Franklin neighbors aren’t telling whole story (Patrick Roche, Viewpoints, One View, Aug. 9)
Ribbon ban stifles freedom of expression (Warren Garlick, Letters, Aug. 9)
ZBA to discuss 620 Franklin appeal (News, Aug. 9)
Riled up about ribbons (Viewpoints, Our Views, Aug. 9)
