The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab rehabilitation center in Burr Ridge will get more parking — but not exactly where they’d like — after an hourlong debate at the village meeting Monday.
The trustees — aside from Anita Mital, who was absent — agreed to allow the center to do away with some green islands in the parking lot to increase parking but declined to offer five spaces in the front of the facility, a variance the board felt would make the property appear more industrial.
Members of the public who showed up, as well as the plan commission, seemed to agree with the limitations. The plan commission had already approved the move aside from the five extra spaces.
Even so, neighbors near the facility, located at 7600 County Line Road, expressed frustration that the business is already allegedly looking more commercial and they were critical of the nature of the offices, which leave lights on late at night and invite dozens of visitors into the existing parking lot. Neighbors said the building simply doesn’t fit the mostly residential neighborhood, though the police station and village hall are also next door.
But a spokesperson for the rehab center said owners simply want to make the place more inviting for their clients, especially after a bus service ended its run at the beginning of COVID-19, as many patients are at-risk of infection.
“We’re not seeking to change anything with the building itself were just seeking to fix some parking problems,” said Caitlyn Culbertson, a lawyer with Elrod Friedman, a Chicago law group representing Shirley Ryan.
She noted that the parking expansion itself shouldn’t have any impact on neighbors.
“It’s a very popular facility,” she said. “It’s a sought-after facility in the area. There used to be a bus program that brought people from assisted living facilities to the site, but that program has been eliminated.”
Trustees did agree the green islands in the parking lot led to tight turns and an overall frustrating experience.
“I have been in the lot and I agree the islands seem excessive. It’s like bumper cars going through there,” said Russ Smith, a trustee.
In total the new spaces would have removed the green spaces for a 40 % increase in parking availability or about 30 more new spots in total, though that also includes the five spaces that ultimately were not approved. Mayor Gary Grasso said it would not be an insignificant increase, but he also noted he appreciated getting permission for everything all at once, rather than returning to the board piecemeal or as needed.
But neighbors still expressed concerns, especially given allegations that the business isn’t a good neighbor already.
One man, who lives behind the building, said Shirley Ryan leaves its lights on all night and its shades up and the fencing doesn’t contain the light.
“The problem is, even now, they don’t use the shades,” he said. “At 10 at night the windows are lit up and they don’t use the shades.”
Grasso agreed.
“We should also have them turn the lights down. I think it’s way overlit at night,” he said.
But Grasso offered a solution — a fine.
“I believe we’ll make them do that and if they don’t do that, we’ll cite them,” he said.
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The language made it in to the final resolution.
Culbertson said the Shirley Ryan operators would be willing to meet that criterion.
In addition, a landscape architect for the rehab facility will add evergreens as a buffer between the lab and the neighbors to further buffer noise and lights.
Other residents seemed concern that more asphalt might mean more flooding for residents, but village engineer David Pressig said he doubted there would be too much impact — so long as storm drains remained free and clear of debris. He added that anyone could call the village to clean storm drains to ensure they were clear. Alternatively, he said anyone could clear away debris if the storm drain was on private property.
“Either the homeowner has the right or the property owner has the right,” he said.
The project will begin development in April and take two or three months to complete.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.