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Date: Monday, March 28, 2011
To: Board of Trustees
Village of Barrington Hills
From: Jonathan J. Knight, Chairman
Zoning Board of Appeals
Village of Barrington Hills
Subject: Interference of ZBA Hearing Process by current Village
President
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board:
Never in my ten years of serving on the ZBA would I have
anticipated that our ZBA Attorney
could be fired for his legal opinions given in open hearings of
the ZBA, because his legal
opinions differed from the personal opinions of the Village
President. Never did I anticipate that
I would be giving of my time to a Village where a Village
President has assumed the authority to
make unilateral personnel decisions without the concurrence of
the Board of Trustees. Never did
I anticipate that a Village Attorney would support the wishes of
the Village President by
covering for the Village President as if the decision to remove
the ZBA Attorney was his own.
I have been proven wrong in all cases.
Given the open and obvious bias demonstrated by our Village
attorney, I can no longer trust
Counsel to render objective opinions. Must I seek legal advice
outside of the Village to review
the assertions made by the Village President in his letter of
March, 1, 2011 to Attorney Joseph
von Meier demanding his removal from Village Service? After
review of the transcript of the
ZBA hearing of February 28, 2011 referenced in the letter, I
concluded that the assertions were
completely without merit, that Mr. von Meier had done nothing
wrong, and there were no
misrepresentations by me as alleged by the Village President.
Mr. Wambach inexplicably sided
with the Village President agreeing that Mr. von Meier should no
longer serve as Counsel to the
ZBA. This failure by the Board to act to preserve the integrity
of the ZBA allowed the Burke
firm to put its pecuniary interests ahead of the interests of
the Village.
My greatest concern, other than lack of comment by any other of
our ZBA members on the
removal of Mr. von Meier, is the failure of this Board to act. I
was told that only Trustee Mallen
and Trustee Smithe found the matter worthy of Board discussion.
This was no surprise to me, as
there has been a pattern of improper interference in ZBA
hearings on the part of the Village
President since he assumed office in 2005, without action by
this Board.
Interference in the Cell Tower hearings, when the Village
President demanded to address the
audience minutes prior to the ZBA opening of one of the hearings
in the spring of 2007 on the
matter before a full house of residents at Countryside
School.
Interference in the Lighting issue, when the Village President
circulated an email on the day
prior to the first public hearing in October, 2009 on the matter
lambasting a proposed text
amendment which he and his Board had approved for consideration
by the ZBA. His email is
part of the public record. The day following the hearing, I
questioned Mr. Wambach as to the
advisability of me continuing hearings given the President’s
unsolicited comments and in light
of the fact that the Plan Commission Chairman asked if the Plan
Commission could withdraw the
Petition. Mr. Wambach advised that the ZBA should proceed, and
that only the Board of
Trustees could recall the Petition, as the Board was the
petitioner.
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Interference in the matter of the Hardy Variance Petition in the
fall of 2010 when, after three
days of unsuccessfully trying to contact me, the Village
President enlisted Trustee Messer to
request of me that I participate in a three-way telephone call
with the Village President on the
matter. Before I agreed, I asked Attorney von Meier if this was
acceptable, and he advised it
was, so long as I only listened and did not engage in discussion
on the matter. During the call,
the Village President lobbied for the cause of Mr. Hardy, saying
that if the ZBA did not find for
Mr. Hardy, Hardy would appeal in court and would prevail, and
that this would cost the Village a
lot of money. Immediately following the call, I advised Mr. von
Meier of what was said in the
conservation. Telephone logs will support this, as will Trustee
Messer, who was in on the call.
During the public hearing, the President referenced the Village
providing Engineering and
Survey Services at Village expense in an attempt to resolve this
dispute between private property
owners. Mr. Hardy inexplicably withdrew his petition.
Most recently, the Commercial Horse Boarding issue has been
interfered with to the point where
Mr. Wambach stated that no “legal notice” was given for the
latest hearings, although the
transcript references Mr. Kosin’s request of a date certain
(finally established for May 19, 2010)
so that proper published notification could be given. Mr.
Kosin’s record of publication of
hearings has been flawless up to this point.
In the matter of ZBA appointments, the Village President allowed
terms to lapse for as much as
two years, and when asked about this, Mr. Kosin stated that the
Village President was attempting
to have appointments conform to a new fiscal year. This was done
in violation of express
provisions of The Village Code, which requires staggered terms
of ZBA members so that
appointments would not be made on the basis of political
favoritism. Long-lapsed terms would
allow circumvention of this requirement in the Code. More
recently, Byron Johnson’s term was
not extended, although he volunteered to remain on the ZBA
through the Commercial Boarding
hearings. Trustee Knoop, at a public Board of Trustees Meeting,
criticized Mr. Johnson for not
voting for the ZBA’s recommended text amendment for Lighting and
said that he could not
support Mr. Johnson’s continued service on the ZBA for his (Mr.
Johnson’s) position on the
issue. Should our objectivity be compromised by the whim and
fancy of Board Members?
I am requesting that you, as a Board, rescind the Village
President’s unlawful removal of Mr.
von Meier from his position as ZBA Attorney and conduct an
investigation into this and the
other instances of the Village President’s interference in ZBA
matters referenced herein above.
I implore the Village Board to perform the duties of the Office
to which they swore to residents
of our Village to uphold.
Jonathan J. Knight
Chairman
Zoning Board of Appeals
Village of Barrington Hills
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Jonathan Knight
Fwd: ZBARobert G. Abboud Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:37 AMTo:
[email protected]: Beth Mallen , Elaine Ramesh , Fritz Gohl,
Joe Messer , Steve Knoop , Walter Smithe , Dolores , "Goldblatt,
Joel", James Kelly , Michael Murphy , RobertKosin , "Selman, Karen"
, Wambach Douglas, [email protected]
Ms. and Mr. Dowling:
Thank you for your feedback and input.
I can assure you that I will not support any changes to our
residential zoning regulations that supportcommercial activities
beyond that currently provided for in the intent of the Home
Occupation Code(5-4-4(D) of the BH Village Code and the Village
Comprehensive Plan – seehttp://www.barringtonhills-il.gov/ ). There
are currently hundreds of residential scale businesses thatoperate
successfully within the Village and without notice to their
neighbors under the HOC.
Note that the ZBA has no instruction from the Village Board to
provide for ‘commercial’ activities inresidential districts. The
word ‘commercial’ is a misnomer that that has been fostered in the
localdiscussion. I have heard some pretty wild accusations of
recent regarding the ZBA’s activities.
What the ZBA (along with the support of some of our other
committees) is instructed to do is to lookat the issues associated
with equestrian boarding operations which currently exist
throughout theVillage as they pertain to the current Home
Occupation Ordinance. They are to report back to theVillage Board
with recommendations on code changes to address concerns regarding
currentequestrian boarding practices.
This effort is part of a larger effort to continually modernize
our code as technology and other factorschange within the Village.
What will not change is the rural and equestrian character of
ourcommunity, as defined in our Comprehensive Plan, and the
protection of private property rights.
I appreciate that with the election season, many statements are
being made that have no basis infact. Such as, that the Village can
spend money ‘secretly’ without a fully public vote by the board,
orthat the Village spends millions of dollars yearly on attorneys
against developers. These kinds ofthings are completely false. I
hope you will avail yourself to the Village WEB site for updates
and factchecking. see http://www.barringtonhills-il.gov/
3/9/2011 Barringtonhills-il.gov Mail - Fwd: ZBA
mail.google.com/a/barringtonhills-il.go… 1/2
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Please let me know if you have any further questions. I would be
happy to address any furtherconcerns you may have.
Best Regards.Bob A.
Robert G. AbboudPresident, Village of Barrington HillsPresident,
RGA Labs, Inc.Home: 847-381-8174Office: 847-381-1932
Cell:
[email protected]://www.barringtonhills-il.gov/
www.RGALabs.com
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 10:28To: Robert G. Abboud,; Fritz
Gohl,; Karen S. Selman,; Walter E. Smithe,; Steve Knoop,; Beth
Mallen,; Elaine M.Ramesh,; Joseph S. Messer,; Robert Kosin,Subject:
ZBA
We are VERY MUCH AGAINST permitting commercial operations
withing all R1 residential zoned properties ofBarrington Hills.
Please acknowledge receipt of this e-mail.
Jane S. Dowling E-mail: Cindowling @Comcast.net
Edward G. Dowling
3/9/2011 Barringtonhills-il.gov Mail - Fwd: ZBA
mail.google.com/a/barringtonhills-il.go… 2/2
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1-5-4: POWERS AND DUTIES OF PRESIDENT:
The President is the chief executive officer of the Village, and
shall perform all duties required of him by statute or ordinance.
He shall be responsible for the enforcement of all laws and
ordinances. He shall supervise the executive officers of the
Village, and have the power and authority to inspect all books and
records kept by any officer of the Village at any time. (1977
Code)
2-4-1: CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP:
The Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby authorized to be
established. The word "Board", when used in this Chapter, shall be
construed to mean the Zoning Board of Appeals. The said Board shall
consist of seven (7) members appointed by the President of the
Village Board and the Board of Trustees. No member of the Zoning
Board shall receive compensation for his services on the Board. The
members of the Board shall serve, respectively, for the following
terms, or until their respective successors are appointed: (Ord.
63-1, 4-1-63; amd. 1977 Code)
One for one year, one for two (2) years, one for three (3)
years, one for four (4) years, one for five (5) years, one for six
(6) years, and one for seven (7) years. The successor to each
member so appointed shall serve for a term of five (5) years.
One of the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be
designated chairman of said Board, at the time of his appointment.
The President of the Village Board and the Board of Trustees shall
have the power to remove any member of said Board for cause and
after public hearing. Vacancies upon said Board shall be filled for
the unexpired term of the member whose place has become vacant, in
the manner herein provided for the appointment of such member.
2-4-2: JURISDICTION, AUTHORITY:
The Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby vested with the following
jurisdiction and authority:
(A) To hear and decide appeals from and review any order,
requirement, decision or determination made by the Enforcing
Officer under the zoning regulations of this Code.1
(B) To hear and pass upon applications for variations from the
terms provided in the zoning regulations of this Code in the manner
prescribed by, and subject to, the standards established
therein.
(C) To hear all applications for special uses and amendments to
the zoning regulations of this Code in the manner prescribed by,
and subject to, the standards established therein, and report said
findings and recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
(D) To hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which
it is required to pass under the zoning regulations of this Code as
prescribed by statute. (Ord. 63-1, 4-1-63)
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(E) To adopt rules as determined by the Board, not inconsistent
with this Code, which are reasonable and necessary for the
implementation of any provision of the zoning regulations of this
Code.1 (Ord. 91-13, 3-25-91)
(F) To prepare and submit to the board of Trustees a report and
recommendation regarding each petition for disconnection of
territory from the Village, following public hearing and
consideration of testimony and evidence. (Ord. 91-18, 6-24-91)
(G) To the extent provided in Title 4 of this Code, to hear and
decide appeals from and review orders, requirements, decisions or
determinations made by the Village Building and Zoning Enforcement
Officer under the Building Regulations set forth in Title 4. (Ord.
92-14, 8-24-92)
1-5-12: ORDINANCE PASSAGE PROCEDURE:
(A) The procedure for the passage of an ordinance shall be as
follows: An ordinance may be introduced by any member of the board
of trustees. When first introduced, said ordinance shall be read to
the board of trustees by the clerk and a motion shall be made to
have the same engrossed by the clerk upon the records of the
proceedings of the meeting at which saidproposed ordinance is
introduced. The ordinance may then be referred to the proper
committee for consideration and report, or may be called up for
passage at the meeting at which it was introduced, or any
subsequent meeting, when it shall again be read. The voting upon
the passage of an ordinance shall be by ayes and nays, and the
village clerk shall call upon each trustee and record his or her
vote. If a majority of the trustees present constituting a quorum
to do business shall vote aye, said ordinance shall be declared
passed. If a tie vote results, the president shall cast the
deciding vote and declare the result thereof. If the president
shall approve of an ordinance, he shall sign it
5-10-6: AMENDMENTS:
(A) Authority: For the purposes of promoting the public health,
safety, morals, comfort and general welfare, conserving the values
of property throughout the Village, and lessening or avoiding
congestion in the public roads and highways, the President and the
Board of Trustees of the Village may, from time to time, in the
manner hereinafter set forth, amend the regulations imposed and the
districts created by this Title; provided, that in all amendatory
ordinances adopted under the authority of this Section, due
allowance shall be made for existing conditions, the conservation
of property values, the directions of building development to the
best advantage of the entire Village, and the uses to which
property is devoted at the time of the effective date hereof. (Ord.
63-1, 4-1-63)
(B) Initiation of Amendment: Amendments may be proposed by a
Trustee, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Enforcing Officer or by
any person owning or having an interest in the subject property.
(Ord. 77-1 7, 9-26-77)
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(C) Application for Amendment: An application for an amendment
shall be filed with the Enforcing Officer, in such form and
accompanied by such information as required by the Zoning Board of
Appeals.
(D) Hearing on Application: The Zoning Board of Appeals shall
hold a public hearing on each application for an amendment at such
time and place within the Village as shall be established by the
Zoning Board of Appeals. The hearing shall be conducted and a
record of such proceedings shall be preserved in such manner as the
Zoning Board of Appeals shall, by rule, prescribe from time to
time. (Ord. 63-1, 4-1-63)
(E) Notice of Public Hearing:
1. Notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village not
more than thirty (30) nor less than fifteen (15) days before such
hearing. Supplemental or additional notices may be published or
distributed as the Zoning Board of appeals may, by rule, prescribe
from time to time. (Ord. 63-1, 4-1-63; amd. 1977 Code)
2. Where the amendment is initiated by a Trustee, the Zoning
Board of Appeals, or the Enforcing Officer, and proposes a change
of district classification of a particular property, a true copy of
the application or of the Board's order shall be served upon the
owner or owners of record in person or by certified United States
mail within ten (10) days after the filing of the application or
the entry of the Board order initiating the proceeding. Where the
application is filed by a person having an interest in the subject
property, a notice and copy of the application shall be served in
like manner upon each of the other co-owners or those having an
interest. The foregoing notice and service requirements shall be in
addition to the publishing requirements of this subsection. (Ord.
63-1, 4-1-63; amd. Ord. 77-17, 9-26-77)
(F) Findings of Fact and Recommendations of the Zoning Board of
Appeals: Within a reasonable time after the close of the hearing on
a proposed amendment, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall make
written findings of fact and shall submit same together with its
recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the Village. Where the
purpose and effect of the proposed amendment is to change the
zoning classification of particular property, the Zoning Board of
Appeals shall make findings based upon the evidence presented to it
in each specific case with respect to the following matters:
1. Existing uses of property within the general area of the
property in question.
2. The zoning classification of property within the general area
of the property in question.
3. The suitability of the property in question for the uses
permitted under the existing zoning classification.
4. The trend of development, if any, in the general area of the
property in question, including changes, if any, which may have
taken place since the day the property in question was placed in
its present zoning classification.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall not recommend the adoption of
a proposed amendment unless it finds that the adoption of such an
amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the
interest of the applicant. The Zoning Board of Appeals may
recommend the adoption of
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an amendment changing the zoning classification of the property
in question to any higher classification than that requested by the
applicant. For the purpose of this paragraph the R1 District shall
be considered the highest classification and the Light Industrial
District shall be considered the lowest classification.
(G) Action by the Board of Trustees:
1. The Board of Trustees of the Village shall not act upon a
proposed amendment to this Title until it shall have received a
written report and recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals
on the proposed amendment.
2. In cases where the Zoning Board of Appeals recommends that a
proposed amendment not be adopted or in case of written protest
against any proposed amendment signed and acknowledged by the
owners of twenty percent (20%) of the property proposed to be
altered or by the owners of twenty percent (20%) of the property
adjacent to the property proposed to be altered, and filed with the
Clerk of the Village, such amendment shall not be passed except by
the favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all members of the Board
of Trustees.
3. If an application for a proposed amendment is not acted upon
finally by the Board of Trustees of the Village within sixty (60)
days of the time of receipt of the Zoning Board of Appeals'
recommendations, it shall be deemed to have been denied.
(H) Minimum Size of Parcel: A lot, lots or parcel of land shall
not qualify for a zoning amendment unless it possesses a minimum of
one hundred fifty feet (150') of frontage and contains a minimum of
forty thousand (40,000) square feet of area, or adjoins a lot, lots
or parcel of land which bears the same zoning district
classification as the proposed zoning amendment.
2-8-4: POWERS AND DUTIES:
The equestrian commission shall have the following powers and
duties:
(A) Provide the official repository for equestrian issues and
expertise for the village;
(B) Provide trail design and routing information for planning
and plat design;
(C) Provide expertise on equestrian activity management;
(D) Disseminate information regarding equestrian legislation in
Illinois;
(E) Monitor equestrian activity in other communities as it may
relate to the village; and
(F) Assist and make recommendations to the plan commission
regarding the location of equestrian trails within new
subdivisions. (Ord. 05-01, 6-17-2005)
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Village Board Meeting March 24, 2008 – page 6 Kosin to conduct
an analysis and report back on those breakdowns. Trustee Mallen
seconded. Roll Call. Ayes: 5 (Mallen, Schueppert, Smithe, Gohl,
Abboud) Nays: 1 (Ramesh) Absent: 1 (Knoop) Resolution 08-08
Approved Equestrian Commission Report – Trustee Mallen presented a
list of definitions regarding the boarding of horses within our
Village, the result of work completed this month by members of the
Equestrian Committee. Trustee Mallen requested that this work be
sent on to the ZBA for further work in clarifying Village
ordinances with respect to commercial boarding of horses within the
Village. She mentioned that the Equestrian Committee is concerned
about maintaining both the residential tranquility of our Village
and the existing trail system. President Abboud encouraged the ZBA
to also consider the issue of enforcement when considering all
suggestions. Village Board Meeting April 28, 2008 – page 6 Next on
the ZBA’s agenda is a review of the Village Code with respect to
the commercial boarding of horses. Trustee Schueppert met with the
owners of the three largest barns within the Village, and all have
indicated a desire to maintain high standards within the Village
and work with the ZBA to draft language for permissible horse
boarding within the Village. Public hearings will be scheduled and
the hope is that the ZBA will offer recommendations to the Board
for consideration sometime this summer. Village Board Meeting June
23, 2008 – page 7 President Abboud suggested that we need to sort
out the commercial boarding issue before we review the validity of
the new permit and revisit design issues with the LeComptes. He
reminded everyone that we owe due process to all residents. Village
Board Meeting August 25, 2008 – page 8 A draft has been proposed by
eleven members of our equestrian community who propose an amendment
to the Village ordinance limiting horse boarding in the Village to
that described in the Home Occupation Ordinance. Trustee Schueppert
also raised an issue about a complaint received for a home located
at 30 Little Bend Rd. Discussion ensued over the possibility of
building permit violations and the actual use of the property.
Chief Murphy will be checking with local concrete and gravel
companies to remind them that all overweight permits must be in
order for them to bring large trucks in on Village roads.
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Village Board Meeting September 22, 2008 – page 5 ZBA Report –
Trustee Schueppert reported that this month most of the ZBA meeting
was devoted to beginning consideration of amendments to the Village
Code for the commercial boarding of horses. Trustee Schueppert
expects a minimum of two discussion meetings and possibly a
recommendation to the Board for their consideration in December.
The ZBA voted 6-1 to uphold the cease and desist order for the
LeCompte barn. The LeComptes communicated their intent to pursue
legal action. The ZBA did ask that punitive action be deferred
until consideration was given to new ordinances regarding the
commercial boarding of horses in the Village. Village Board Meeting
October 27, 2008 – page 5 ZBA Report – Trustee Schueppert reported
that this month’s ZBA meeting was devoted to an application by
Verizon for placement of a cell tower on the existing Commonwealth
Edison tower on Algonquin Road. Due to an inadequate application
document, the matter was deferred to a future meeting. The ZBA also
decided to hold a separate special public meeting regarding the
commercial boarding of horses in the Village. The meeting is
planned for early December when all ZBA members can be present.
President Abboud requested that Trustee Ramesh encourage attendance
of the Equestrian Commission members.
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PohlmanUSA Court Reporting (877) 421-0099
Page 82
1 board. All comments are appreciated but we have to
2 kind of deal with facts and we've heard an awful lot
3 through the last couple of years but nevertheless your
4 opinion is appreciated. Thank you. Anybody else?
5 (No response.)
6 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Well, it's likely at our
7 next meeting we'll probably close public comment so
8 that we can get down to the issue. Mr. Rosene?
9 MR. ROSENE: I'm going to regret this. But
10 I think maybe the air needs to be cleared regarding
11 the boarding issue. I mean, I've seen e-mails
12 generated on the subject. The one that keeps cropping
13 up is this contention that the purpose of the ZBA is
14 to come up with a boarding ordinance that allows
15 anybody on five acres to start commercial boarding and
16 I just want to know is that your take on your
17 assignment?
18 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Actually, I have a note on
19 that subject. I'll read the e-mail that I received
20 today. It was a copy of an e-mail that was an answer
21 to Mr. and Mrs. Dowling (phonetic) that they said, "We
22 are very much against permitting commercial operations
23 within all R1 residential zoned properties of
24 Barrington Hills." That was sent to the Village
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PohlmanUSA Court Reporting (877) 421-0099
Page 83
1 clerk. She forwarded that to all trustees and the
2 chairman of the zoning board.
3 Part of that, and I'll enter it into the
4 record because I think it's appropriate, President
5 Abboud said that, "Note that the ZBA has no
6 instruction from the Village board to provide for
7 commercial activities in residential districts. The
8 word commercial is a misnomer that has been fostered
9 in the local discussion." He goes on to say, "I've
10 heard some pretty wild accusations of recent regarding
11 the ZBA's activities." I don't know what that's in
12 reference to. I'm not aware that this board has
13 engaged in any wild activities. Our discussions are
14 held in the public. Everything we do is on the
15 transcript so I don't know what that's all about.
16 It says here, "What the ZBA along with the
17 support of some of our other committees is instructed
18 to do is to look at the issues associated with
19 equestrian boarding operations which currently exist
20 throughout the Village as they pertain to the current
21 Home Occupation Ordinance. They are to report back to
22 the Village board with recommendations on code changes
23 to address concerns regarding current equestrian
24 boarding practices."
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PohlmanUSA Court Reporting (877) 421-0099
Page 84
1 Well, that may be President Abboud's
2 interpretation of what our duties are as a zoning
3 board but that's a direct conflict of what is stated
4 in the Code as to how we operate and what our duties
5 are. I'm going to read a couple of items that I
6 prepared from previous Village board meetings. This
7 is written. This is in the records of the Village. I
8 don't make this up. So let's start out, I'll go to
9 the Village board meeting March 24th, 2008: Trustee
10 Mallen requested that this work be sent on to the ZBA
11 for further work in clarifying Village ordinances with
12 respect to commercial boarding of horses within the
13 Village.
14 Let's go to the Village board meeting
15 April 28th, 2008: All have indicated a desire to
16 maintain high standards within the Village and work
17 with the ZBA to draft language for permissible horse
18 boarding within the Village.
19 I'll go to June 23rd, 2008: President
20 Abboud suggested that we need to sort out the
21 commercial boarding issue before we review the
22 validity of the new permit and revisit design issues
23 with the LeComptes. He reminded everyone that we owe
24 due process to all residents.
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1 August 25th, 2008: A draft has been
2 proposed by 11 members of our equestrian community who
3 proposed an amendment to the Village ordinance
4 limiting horse boarding in the Village to that
5 described in the Home Occupation Ordinance.
6 Village board meeting September 22nd, 2008:
7 ZBA report Trustee Schueppert reported that this month
8 most of the ZBA meeting was devoted to beginning
9 consideration of amendments to the Village Code for
10 the commercial boarding of horses. It keeps repeating
11 itself.
12 October 27th, 2008: The ZBA also decided to
13 hold a separate special public meeting regarding the
14 commercial boarding of horses in the Village.
15 Now, if we haven't been here to talk about
16 commercial boarding, then maybe I've been asleep at
17 the wheel. I will say further that this board does
18 not take direction from anyone. We do not serve -- we
19 serve for the Village. We do not serve at the
20 pleasure of the president of the Village. That's a
21 misnomer. This board is independent. I'm not even
22 going to quote the Code. I'll put it in the record.
23 Anyone can read what our duties are.
24 For President Abboud to say that we are
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1 instructed to do this and that, we don't take
2 direction from anybody. There is a process in this
3 Village. Mr. Von Meier, would you explain that
4 process when somebody wants to make a change to our
5 Code, either text amendment, map amendment, whatever,
6 hearing, explain the process please that we go
7 through. I don't want to bias. I want it from our
8 legal counsel as to what that involves.
9 MR. von MEIER: The Code section in the
10 zoning ordinance is 5-10-6 titled Amendments and under
11 subsection B, the Initiation of an Amendment,
12 amendments may be proposed by a trustee, the Zoning
13 Board of Appeals, the enforcing officer or any person
14 owning or having interest in the subject property.
15 And so what we're looking at in this
16 instance is a potential amendment to the zoning code,
17 what we call a text amendment.
18 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: How do we get that
19 permission to have that discussion?
20 MR. von MEIER: At the time that the
21 Equestrian Commission prepared their first official
22 White Paper, they asked us to send it up to the board.
23 We accepted it and sent it up to the board with a
24 request that the board allow us to hold public
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1 hearings drafting a text amendment with respect to
2 commercial boarding.
3 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Is there any other
4 obligation on the part of this board to take direction
5 from the Board of Trustees once we begin that hearing
6 process?
7 MR. von MEIER: No.
8 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Thank you. I think that
9 clears that up. The other thing to be considered too
10 is that when we have these hearings, you'll see that
11 they are all transcribed. What is the law,
12 Mr. Von Meier, regarding what the Board of Trustees
13 may consider when they are making their decision as to
14 our records or taking additional testimony, tell me
15 what's permitted please.
16 MR. von MEIER: For example, in the case of
17 a special use application, which the board has to
18 approve and which you recommend as a zoning board,
19 they are limited to the record that comes up from the
20 Zoning Board of Appeals. The purpose for that is if
21 the applicant is denied a special use permit, they
22 have redress in the courts. The courts are limited to
23 reviewing the record that's produced at this level,
24 the Zoning Board of Appeals.
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1 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: So by statute then the
2 Board of Trustees can make any decision they care to
3 but as far as reviewing material, they have to limit
4 themselves to the written transcript; is that correct?
5 Did I state that properly?
6 MR. von MEIER: Yes. It's why you are
7 considered the fact finding body. You gather the
8 facts, make a decision based on those facts and then
9 make a recommendation to the board and the written
10 record is there to back up your recommendation.
11 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: I'd like to know at any
12 point in this process I don't recall being instructed
13 to look at this issue associated with equestrian
14 operations as they pertain to the current Home
15 Occupation Ordinance. I don't believe that was part
16 of our charter, was it, as written and directed?
17 MR. von MEIER: No.
18 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Okay. That's all I need,
19 just a no. Thank you. So I suggest -- this whole
20 document I want entered into the record and I would
21 say that I've said on many occasions I really don't
22 appreciate public discussion or interruption in any
23 matter that's before this Zoning Board of Appeals. We
24 make our objectivity. As to allegations that there's
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1 some wild things going on, if there's anybody in this
2 Village that's an elected official that would like to
3 bring charges against me or this board for doing
4 something improper, I invite them to do so. And I
5 think that ends the discussion tonight. There are no
6 other questions. I'll submit this. I'll submit also
7 from the Code the powers and duties of the president,
8 the creation of the membership of the Zoning Board of
9 Appeals, our jurisdiction and authority, ordinance
10 passage procedure, amendments, the whole works right
11 there. That's for the record.
12 This e-mail is on the record that will be
13 available for the public to review and there are my
14 comments that I highlighted from past public meetings.
15 I think I made it very clear how we operate,
16 what we do without interruption, the objectivity that
17 we have to live with. So any questions on that? Does
18 anybody have anymore questions?
19 MR. KENNEDY: Point of personal privilege
20 please. My name is Bill Kennedy. I live on
21 Steeplechase Road. I'm not understanding exactly the
22 commercial boarding issue that you are talking about.
23 You are not going to open this up to additional
24 comments down the road at the next meeting on
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1 March 21st? Because if you don't, then I have some
2 questions on my thought on what's commercial boarding
3 and allowing it on our property.
4 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Have you been to any of
5 these discussions in three years?
6 MR. KENNEDY: Yes, in the three years I
7 have.
8 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: I'll keep that open. Let
9 me explain something further, too.
10 MR. KENNEDY: If you'll keep it open, then
11 there's no comment.
12 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: I may. I don't know. I
13 haven't made that decision yet. So you've asked the
14 question. I haven't made that decision yet. I'm
15 going to further state that the -- let's see --
16 something else I forgot to mention that we have said
17 publicly here many times that in considering
18 commercial boarding in this Village, it's an activity
19 that's been going on since 1947 or '57 or however many
20 years. People make the claim that, well, that's a
21 terrible illegal activity that's been going on in this
22 Village. Lots of things have been illegal until we
23 figure out a way to bring them into the Code. And for
24 somebody to make an allegation that we are making an
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1 illegal activity legal with some dark intent, I don't
2 think that's a fair presentation.
3 Let me go back to a situation with the
4 LeCompte property and I'll be specific because it's
5 here in the record. The ZBA voted six to one to
6 uphold the cease and desist order for the LeCompte
7 barn. That's when they appealed to the zoning board
8 the decision of the Village to find them not in
9 compliance. The LeComptes communicated their intent
10 to pursue legal action. This board, this ZBA, did ask
11 the punitive action be deferred until consideration
12 was given to new ordinances regarding the commercial
13 boarding of horses in the Village. It has been this
14 board's goal that's been stated many, many times that
15 because these boarding operations have been operating
16 without complaint for years and years and years and
17 they were not originally discussed relative to the
18 Home Occupation Act, that our goal as a board was to
19 try to find a way to bring them in compliance. So to
20 say that that's some deep dark secret, this is an
21 activity that's been going on in this Village for
22 quite sometime. And that's our charter when it comes
23 to commercial boarding. We are not all of a sudden
24 opening the door to something that hasn't been going
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1 on for quite sometime and we'll do it in a fair and
2 objective manner that will also recognize the rights
3 of everyone in this Village, not just special interest
4 or somebody that has something to gain. And I think
5 that's the way it is. That's the way it's going to
6 be. If anybody wants to make allegations otherwise,
7 well feel free to try to prove it.
8 So with that, I'm not going to pontificate
9 anymore but I had to clear the air on a few of those
10 items. And I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.
11 MS. MASTERSON: So moved.
12 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Member Masterson.
13 MS. ROSENE: Second.
14 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Second by Member Rosene.
15 All in favor?
16 (Chorus of ayes.)
17 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Let's back up. We have to
18 officially continue -- we have to have a motion --
19 would you withdraw your motion to adjourn please.
20 MS. MASTERSON: Okay.
21 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Thank you. I would
22 entertain a motion to continue the horse boarding
23 issue, commercial boarding to the March 21st date.
24 MS. VALIN: So moved.
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1 MR. MULLEN: Second.
2 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Member Valin made the
3 motion, Member Mullen seconded. Any discussion?
4 (No response.)
5 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: All in favor?
6 (Chorus of ayes.)
7 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: No nays. The discussion
8 on the horse boarding will be continued to March 21st.
9 All right. Motion to adjourn?
10 MS. MASTERSON: So moved.
11 MS. VALIN: Second.
12 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: Member Masterson made the
13 motion, second by Member Valin. Any discussion?
14 (No response.)
15 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: All in favor?
16 (Chorus of ayes.)
17 CHAIRMAN KNIGHT: We're adjourned.
18 (WHICH WAS AND IS ALL OF THE
19 MATTERS PRESENTED AT SAID MEETING.)
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21
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1 STATE OF ILLINOIS )
2 ) SS.
3 COUNTY OF C O O K )
4
5 I, CYNTHIA L. PEESEL, Certified
6 Shorthand Reporter and Notary Public doing business in
7 the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of
8 Illinois, state that I reported in machine shorthand
9 the matters presented at the public meeting of the
10 Barrington Hills Zoning Board of Appeals on the 28th
11 day of February, 2011, and that the foregoing is a
12 true and correct transcript of my shorthand notes so
13 taken as aforesaid, and contains all the matters
14 presented at said meeting, to the best of my knowledge
15 and ability.
16
17
18
19
20
21
_________________________22 Cynthia L. Peesel
License No. 084-00265623 March 4, 2011
24