Residents from both Rosemont and Des Plaines spoke out against a proposed billion-dollar development in Des Plaines’ sixth ward, citing the potential negative effects it could have on their property values and quality of life.
The city’s aldermen voted last month to create a new zoning district which would allow for the development of several office buildings, two hotels, residential buildings and retail space on a 48-acre parcel of land currently known as the O’Hare Lake office complex, which is located across the street from Rivers Casino and north of Devon Avenue.
The issue came up for a final vote at a city council meeting Monday night, but after much back and forth between residents and the aldermen, the council ultimately decided to table the matter until their second meeting in May.
Monday’s night’s meeting included the third public hearing on the proposed zoning changes. Des Plaines’ director of community and economic development, George Sakas, said that the city had already hosted the required two public hearings but had not previously notified property owners outside city limits. The proposed development is adjacent to Rosemont.
William Ryan, an attorney for the Executive Estates Condominium Association, located just south of the proposed development in Rosemont, said he had 79 letters from condominium owners objecting to the proposed rezoning of the O’Hare Lake property.
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Ryan said the condominium owners believed the proposed development would increase traffic, burden area school districts with new students and lower their property values as a result.
“For all those reasons, the association and owners of the 79 units request this specific property not be rezoned,” he said.
When asked by sixth ward Alderman Mark Walsten if he was the village attorney for Rosemont, Ryan said, “I do represent them on their real estate matters.” When pressed further, Ryan added that he also represents Rosemont Park District.
President of the condominium association, Luis Hernandez, said he was directed to Ryan after calling the village of Rosemont in regards to the proposed zoning changes.
“I understand the village (of Rosemont) may not like the idea of some competition,” Walsten said.
“The entertainment district they have, I don’t believe Des Plaines ever tried to do anything to stop it,” he added. “I think we always tried to encourage our neighbor to the south to be successful. I’m a little surprised. It seems like the village is getting involved in this project, trying to kill it.”
But Rosemont residents weren’t the only meeting attendees in opposition to the proposed zoning changes.
Speaking on behalf of his Des Plaines neighbors, Rich Einecker, who lives next to the proposed development, said area residents were concerned about the maximum 165-foot building height allowed under the new zoning district.
Einecker also said residents were concerned that the zoning changes were “written only for the benefit of the developer.” He also cited “poor communication” with Walsten as a concern.
After letters notifying area residents of the proposed zoning changes were sent out, “I did not receive one phone call from any of you,” Walsten said.
But Walsten did assent to one request from the residents, that the final vote be deferred until the issue had been further vetted and residents’ concerns were addressed.
Following a flurry of defeated and withdrawn motions, the council voted 7-0 to defer a final vote on the zoning changes until May 18.
May 4 is Walsten’s last day in office; he will be forced to vacate his seat on the council due to term limits. But Walsten said he has involved his successor, Malcolm Chester, who was elected the city’s sixth ward alderman on April 7, in discussions about the issue.
“I think (Chester) gets it,” Walsten said.
Seventh ward Alderman Don Smith was absent from the meeting.