Western Springs OKs Controversial Townhomes

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs trustees this week approved zoning changes that pave the way for a controversial townhouse development.

But the board's votes were not unanimous, which is rare. Trustee Philip Nawrocki, who lives next to the proposed complex in question, rejected all eight zoning changes.

Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development proposed 29 townhouse units at 5600 Wolf Road, replacing a largely vacant office complex.

Residents in the neighboring Ridgewood subdivision opposed the plan.

They contended it would worsen flooding in a neighborhood that already suffers some of the village's worst. However, Western Springs' engineer said the development would be a "net positive" in the effort to improve drainage.

Neighbors also said the complex was too dense in a neighborhood of single-family houses.

Philip Nawrocki, who lives on Park Place across from the proposed development, said all residents who commented on the project opposed it.

"At the end of the day, we work for our constituents, and that's what we should be listening to," he said.

Nawrocki also said the townhomes were not a good fit for the neighborhood.

"We're going to fundamentally change Western Springs with this type of development coming in. We don't have anything like this townhouse-wise that is this large," he said. "We are a home-based community. We are not a townhouse-based community."

Trustee Nicole Chen said the debate resembles the one years ago over the Foxford Station downtown building, which includes businesses and condos. It was a vacant storefront before that.

"I remember all the concerns before Foxford that it was going to change the nature of our community, etc., etc.," said Chen, who served on the village's Plan Commission at the time. "I don't know if anyone would agree (now) that that's true."

Trustee James Tyrrell supported the development. He said the developer made concessions in response to concerns – among them, more storage for stormwater than originally planned.

"I find the project may have a benefit to the stormwater issue that's presently there now and will not increase the stormwater," he said.

Trustee Amy Avakian said she could see both sides of the argument. She disagreed with the developer's contention that the townhomes would mainly attract empty nesters, not young families.

As a real estate agent, Avakian said she has seen such homes draw both groups. Neighbors feared that a development with families would mean more people, adding to traffic.

Village President Heidi Rudolph said it wasn't for the trustees to figure out which type of residents would move in, calling it speculation.

"My speculation is that the people who would move into these townhomes are going to be people who are good neighbors and would care about the community," she said. "I don't know why we would think any differently than that."

The board then took eight votes on zoning changes. Nawrocki voted against all of them, while Avakian dissented once.

In some cases, changes required the support of five of six trustees. Had Avakian joined Nawrocki in opposition in those instances, that would have stopped the development as proposed.

Voting for all the changes were Tyrrell, Chen, Scott Lewis and Al Fink.

The Plan Commission recommended the townhome proposal in November.