Developer of Addison Project is Granted More Time to Prepare for Hearing on Building Height
ARCO Murray asked for more time to prepare a response to myriad concerns about its proposed six-story project. Residents sounded off last month not only about building height, but the city's Open Meetings Act violations and other issues.
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Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission on Thursday granted a continuance of a public hearing to discuss building height in the downtown district.
ARCO Murray/Addison Corridor LLC asked that the continued discussion of its request to build a six-story buiding and the associated setback variances at 135-149 N. Addison St., originally scheduled for Thursday, be pushed back to April 11.
The development is slated to include retail and office space, as well as parking.
"In order to appropriately address the concerns conveyed during the Zoning and Planning Commission meeting on Feb. 28, 2013, we request a continuance until April 11, 2013," Bradley Dannegger of ARCO Murray National Construction Co. said in a letter to Planning and Zoning Administrator Than Werner last week.
The Feb. 28 hearing on the Addison development lasted more than three hours, with a number of residents not only speaking out against the building height issue, but also bringing up questions about the city's violation of the Open Meetings Act and other accusations of impropriety by city officials.
Read about the Feb. 28 commission meeting here.
Commissioners approved the continuance unanimously Thursday; the petitioner was not present at the meeting.
Commissioner Daniel Corrado said he hoped "this was not the type of case that tends to get pushed off further and further into the future."
Werner said the developer had only recently received the more than 250 pages of transcripts from the Feb. 28 meeting. The Zoning Commission was scheduled to meet next on March 28, Werner said, but because there would not be a quorum that day, the hearing was pushed to the following meeting on April 11.
RELATED:
- Hear Discussions from Closed Session Meetings on Addison Avenue Development Project
- Minutes and Tapes of Closed Sessions Regarding Addison Avenue Project Made Public
- Residents Speak of Broken Rules, Sweetheart Deals and Conspiracy at Zoning Meeting
- Attorney General's Office: Aldermen Violated Open Meetings Act with Closed Talks About Addison Project
- Details on Addison Project Soon Will Be Made Public, Mayor Says
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Henry
10:41 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Why is so much extra time needed? This deal has been in the works for 4 years. The new date is of particular interest- after election day. Chairman of zoning Morley wants this out if his way. If you heard tapes, he is most vocal to get this insider deal done. Maybe he will change his last name again like his mom did when we were kids.
Elm Forest
8:45 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Morely's name was changed from what and why? Why the talk on this post and others and what does it matter? If you're going to make accusations, just spell it out please.
Jim Court
10:58 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Henry,
Are you suggesting that Morley is not honorable or is he just wanting to take action with no personal benefit. Stories get spun in many different directions. Which one are you professing?
Marty
2:04 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Jim - it's very noble of you to ask questions of a political assasin, but whatever answer "Henry" gives you will only be more anti-Morley rhetoric. Perhaps he/she can also answer why Gutenkauf made the motion to go into the closed session, a session she believed to be illegal? The real reason "Henry", or any other of his/her aliases, keeps beating this dead horse is because Gutenkauf is trying to hang her hat on it. She's hoping to ride that wave into the Mayor's chair. It won't work, her CAVE record isn't so easily forgotten by the public, but when it's all you have, you ride it.
Steve
7:13 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Marty - please stop trying your own political spin in favor of your preferred candidate and attacking another candidate.
I normally don't respond to the comments on the Patch but I am tired of reading falsities or spin like you mention above.
It is any elected officials duty to attend a meeting (open or closed session). The agendas for a closed session is very general. The fact of the matter the closed session ONLY violated the Open Meetings Act, in the Attorney Generals opinion, when a few elected officials spoke on topics that they should not have in closed session.
So, listen to the tapes and stop the spin but speak to the facts.
Shareabit
4:21 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
There is a personal benefit to Morely In this delay and continuance. f this matter is not brought to his committee during election season. That benefit is Morely does not have to hear public comment at committee expressing their concerns about how his committee and its members have been involved in dealings outside the public hearing process with Arrco Murray. That adverse news is unwanted by him as voters are deciding. That benefits Morely so he is not scrutinized in the next month while voters are deciding on mayoral voting.
Jim Court
6:27 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I say vote for me. Wait a minute. I changed my mind. I could never stand the stench of politics.