Officials, Residents at Odds Over Maintenance Facility

The Vernon Hills Park District’s plans to construct a new maintenance facility are moving forward, despite opposition from the Planning and Zoning Commission and a handful of nearby residents.

The proposed, nearly 13,000-square-foot building would be constructed at the north end of Century Park. It would be used to store park district vehicles, which will also be worked on inside the building. A material storage yard would house dirt, sand and gravel as well as outdoor equipment such as benches and tables.

Village officials voted 5-1 in favor of the building during a committee of the whole meeting last week, with Thom Koch dissenting. Before construction can begin, trustees must approve an ordinance that will rezone the property, grant a special use permit and outline landscaping, architectural and signage plans.

The vote came after nearby residents expressed opposition to the building during the meeting, citing concerns about parking, views from their homes and the loss of open space.

“The building is fine, but the location is terrible,” said resident Jim Schmidt. “There are about 60 condos facing this. It’s going to have an economic impact on my property.”

“It doesn’t seem like this in an appropriate place for this building to be,” said resident Bruce Elrod.

A majority of Planning and Zoning commissioners expressed similar thoughts before rejecting motions to change the property’s zoning and allow construction of the facility. The commission serves as an advisory group to the Village Board, which can accept or reject its recommendations.

The new building would be used in place of the one on Phillip Road, Assistant Village Manager John Kalmar said. The existing building is about half the size of the proposed facility. It will be built on village-owned land that is leased by the park district.

The park district plans to add 23 parking spaces to the property. The spots, along with the 30 existing ones, would be available to Century Park users after business hours, Park District Director Jeff Fougerousse said.

Vernon Hills Park District Commissioner Cindy Kessler said the park district considered about 11 sites in the village before settling on this one. In response to residents who complained that the park district has cleared what was previously a natural, wooded area, Kessler said buckthorn and other invasive vegetation was removed from the area.

A landscaping plan calls for screening between the south side of the building to provide a better view to park-goers who enter from Indianwood Drive as well as to residents whose homes face the site.

“Change is always difficult, but I think the park district is trying hard to mitigate that change,” said Trustee James Schultz.

“While I understand where you’re coming from, you’re not a groundswell here,” he told a small group of concerned residents who spoke out against the plans.

Schultz, along with Trustee Mike Marquardt, agreed to represent the village on a subcommittee that will include residents near Century Park.

“This is a building that they’ve needed for years and years and years,” said Village President Roger Byrne, who voiced support for the project. “In essence, I think this is a structure that they can make aesthetically pleasing.”