A resident-led measure to limit parking in a neighborhood enclave passed muster at the Northbrook board Feb. 8.
Trustees approved restricting most on-street parking for a cluster of 33 homes off Pfingsten Road after the head of the Wilshire Terrace homeowners’ association, Greg Bruner, petitioned the village to address persistent concerns about space on the narrow road.
Residents, Bruner said, often struggled to navigate the neighborhood’s one road, Wilshire Lane when cars parked on both sides of the street, particularly during winter snowfall. (On-street parking is already illegal in that situation, village staff added, but residents often do not comply.) Snowplows also have issue entering the neighborhood.
“My concern is to make everything good for the residents to drive into the community and drive out,” Bruner told trustees.
The new parking restrictions limit vehicles to a southern stretch of Wilshire Lane that bridges two cul-de-sacs; residents also may not park along either cul-de-sac. Village staff clarified there were no fire hydrants or other restrictions to parking on the southern stretch of Wilshire, which will remain available for parking.
Residents who wish to have additional guests park on the street will still be allowed to do so but will have to call the village ahead and inform Northbrook police.
Trustees who opposed the ordinance asked whether enough residents had been consulted on the plan _ little more than half of residents responded positively to the idea, village documents showed. Thirteen homeowners did not respond at all. The trustees expressed concern about placing further parking restrictions in an area with already limited road space, and questioned whether Northbrook police should be sent to enforce restrictions on a small residential area.
“You’re going to have things like graduation parties, like shivas, and I’m very concerned about taking away a large portion of parking on the street,” said Trustee Johannah Hebl. “I don’t really want to set a precedent where you get half or more than just half (of residents) and you get rid of parking here.”
On the other side of the panel, Trustee Robert Israel expressed support for the ordinance, noting it followed protocol and was within the homeowners’ association’s prerogative.
“If this is what the HOA wants to do to police itself, that’s fine by me,” Israel said.
The trustees ultimately split 3-3 on the matter, leading Village President Kathryn Ciesla to the tiebreaking vote.
Joshua Irvine is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.