Cullather Thanks HP Council for Changing Liquor License Rule

This evening, the Highland Park City Council did the right thing. By adopting changes to the City Code allowing councilmembers to be granted liquor licenses, they put their differences aside and put this issues behind us.

They listened to their constituents, who elected them, and reversed course by repealing a prohibition-era provision of the City’s code. In November 2024, 82% of the voters in Highland Park stated that they wanted the city to make this change. Now, that it has been made, a small fraction is complaining about the timing of this action. It is time to move forward. I am glad the Council took the action it did tonight. It places this issue behind us, and allows the citizens and other elected officials to focus on more pressing issues.

While I support tonight’s action, it was not the reason that I entered the race to be your councilmember. As the former chair of Highland Park’s Zoning Board of Appeals, I believe it is critical for the city to update its out-of-date, 25-year-old comprehensive plan. Much has changed since the plan was adopted at the end of the last century. The old theater on Central was torn down and replaced with a vacant building. The Saks building and the old firehouse were replaced by the Albion apartment buildings. A public golf course was transformed into a nature preserve. New multifamily buildings now surround the central business districts. A new mixed-use building has been built in the Ravinia Business District. None of these bad, but they are a sign of development and change. Now the Lincoln School has been torn down, and we know that North Shore School District 112 plans to sell Green Bay School and Elm Place. What will be built in their place? In addition, on the West side of Highland Park, the former ToysRUs and Petco building sits nearly empty and the old Solo Cup parcel is ripe for development. We have one opportunity to get this right. The City Council’s decisions regarding these properties will set the city’s future in cement. Now is the time for City Council to engage the residents in updating its comprehensive plan, so that there is a road map for development and Highland Park’s future.

This new comprehensive plan must address residential and commercial zoning districts, integrate the City’s Bike Walk Plan, and update the Code to make it more attractive to business owners wanting to set up shop in Highland Park. For example, we have seen success on a case-by-case basis with allowing medical facilities on street level, because they increase foot traffic. Are there other service businesses that do not sell retail merchandise but would create regular foot traffic in our business districts? More importantly, the process needs to actively engage residents and business owners who feel our elected officials do not listen to them.

Another issue that the new Council should address is neighborhood representation on both the Council and on the City’s advisory groups, commissions, and boards. Currently, on City Council 6 of the 7 members live east of St. John’s Avenue. When issues affecting the western and northerns areas of city arise, they’re lucky to get a drive-by from councilmembers. We have witnessed this when the Council addressed issues affecting Fort Sheridan, University Avenue, Park Avenue West, and the old Solo Cup site. I will actively advocate for the adoption of council districts, so that all residents and all neighborhoods feel represented.

Finally, I am committed to being the voice of the residents. I commit to establishing regular “office hours” to meet with residents and businesses owners, listening to their concerns or ideas, and taking that input back to the other members of City Council.

For more information, please visit www.Kevin4HP.com