"Highwood Needs You Now - No One Else Is Watching The Store!"
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Vince's Supporters -- The Chimps, Flying Monkeys and
Insincere Shills, Will Be There To Support This Nine Story Mistake
HIGHWOOD NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
The following is long but worth it!
HIGHWOOD TOWERS ZONING MEETING: On January 18th, 2007 at 7:00 PM the Plan Commission and Zoning Board will commence a new hearing for approval of MEGA Realty's nine story, mixed use Highwood Towers proposal. If you care about Highwood's future, you will be there.
Is This Your Idea of Highwood? Actual Rendering of the MEGA Proposal!
INFORMATION AVAILABLE: FTC has been planning a Web site to insure that information is readily available to Highwood and our surrounding communities without needing to rely solely on e-mail. The future FTC web site is being carefully planned, and promises to be a real asset to Highwood (especially since the City is in "lock down" mode has essentially abandoned any communication with the public. The City web site is out of date and the City Newsletter is an embarrassment. The last City Newsletter didn't mention Highwood Towers, the tax levy, or the City Administrator debacle).FTC Launches WEB Site
However, because of the urgency of the Highwood Towers hearing, FTC has launched a temporary web site (FTC Lite). THE ADDRESS IS: http://hwdftc.home.comcast.net/
and HERE IS THE LINK: From the Corner
You will find the Highwood Towers Zoning submittal and related materials on that web site, available for download. How sad it is that volunteers need to bring you the info that the City can't bring you, or doesn't want you to have!
In addition, these materials are available for inspection at Highwood City Hall. Further, FTC has provided the City with CD-ROMs containing the PDF materials. You can pick these up at City Hall. Of course, it is embarrassing that in over a month, the City has not updated it's own web site to make these materials available. It takes the efforts of the FTC volunteers to inform the public.
The City was not able to copy it's own CD-ROMs. FTC had to do it for them.
Apparently, the City has not requested that the Developer (that's the guy that stands to make millions) to:
Reproduce extra copies of the booklets; Make CD-ROMs;
Post the materials on the MEGA site; or Have MEGA pay for the consultant to update the City Web site.
(Even though FTC {and others} have made these suggestions to the City, in the Newsletter; in e-mails; at the zoning hearing; and at City Council meetings. The City didn't even need to think these things up, simply do what the City has done in the past, or just listen to FTC's advice. How Pathetic.
FTC Spreads The Word. Why Is the HP News & The City of Highwood MIA?
Vince's Trained Chimps and Flying monkeys have accused FTC of "bashing" the City, or "trying to make the City look bad." The truth is the City is making itself look bad! FTC is only pointing out their continuing blunders. In other words, "The City is making the score, FTC is merely keeping count and announcing the results."Before we look at the proposal and the process, you should know that since the last meeting, over a month ago, the City published for this new hearing. HOWEVER, THE DEVELOPER DID NOT SUBMIT ITS REVISED PROPOSAL UNTIL JANUARY 9th! IF THE DEVELOPER WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE PROPOSAL, THE CITY SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN SCHEDULED THE NEW HEARING UNTIL THE CITY RECEIVED THE NEW SUBMITTAL. If the Developer is unable to supply the materials on time, it is the Developer that is slowing down the process, not the City. The Developer should not be allowed to move forward, due to their lack of diligence. It is unfair to the City, and you the residents. The Board members should have been studying this important proposal for a month, not scanning it at the last minute due to the developer's failure to supply it (intentionally?) Was MEGA Late On Purpose?
The Developer has changed the proposal. It is still nine stories, but MEGA is now proposing more commercial space (31,000 square feet) and marginally fewer units (168). The development requires numerous variances/departures from the Highwood Zoning Code and the Special Use requirements. It also appears that the City will be allowing MEGA to construct its access roadway/parking spaces on City parkland!
WHY DO YOU NEED TO BE THERE? CAN'T THE CITY HANDLE THIS THEMSELVES?
Unlike the financial world, PAST PERFORMANCE IS AN INDICATION OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE. Remember, the City approved the first proposal in less than two hours to the stunned amazement of everyone, other than the Developer, and whoever wrote the scripted comments for the Plan Commission Chair, his "wing man" and the former ZBA chair and her "wing woman". It seemed like the other members of the Boards wanted to slow the process down, but were too timid, inexperienced; or lacked the knowledge to turn the tide of this staged event. See "....wool...eyes."
Remember, last time, there was absolutely no staff review of MEGA's proposal, or staff recommendations. In other words, for probably the first time in modern history, a developer's proposal was PERFECT. The ZBA and PC made no recommendations for a single change! BUT, IN ALL FAIRNESS. HOW CAN THESE VOLUNTEERS DO THEIR JOB, UNLESS THE CITY PROVIDES THEM WITH THE EXPERTISE, TOOLS, AND ADVICE THEY NEED, AND HAVE COME TO RELY ON IN THE PAST?
Highwood Staff Review of the Highwood Towers
This time, there is no staff review because the Developer didn't even bother to make its submittal until this week! How can there be any detailed review? BTW, some FTC volunteers have already done an initial review of the new submittal. It's no surprise that the submittal is riddled with more inconsistencies and holes than a slice of Swiss Cheese!
MEGA's Highwood Towers Proposal
The first proceedings were so tainted and botched that for the first time ever, the ZBA and PC had to start over! In an incredible embarrassment to Highwood; a tremendous waste of money and resources for all involved; the first inkling that the Boards recognized their error, and the public sentiment against the Towers; the City pulled the plug and just started over. Or, was it because FTC pointed out that the process was flawed, and the City and the Developer wanted to make sure the process was not successfully challenged later?
Where's the Mayor? We're Lost!
Also, it appears that there is no one at the wheel of the Highwood Ship of State. Look at this embarrassing statement from Thursday's HP News about an equally important issue, Highwood's 20% tax increase: "Neither Mayor Vincent Donofrio nor interim City Administrator Maria Lasday returned multiple telephone calls for their comments for this story." This exemplifies the Highwood Administration's recent Highwood "ostrich mentality".Highwood's Vision
That HP News article also makes a startling statement about Highwood's government. They are inexperienced beginners! Of course, this is directly attributable to Highwood's Mayor, who has crippled the City Council's resources, and the staff's ability to seek professional advice. Look at the startling comments in this week's HP News, about the tax levy:
"Highwood City Council members will reconsider their tax levy vote to seek a 20 percent property tax increase...some of them now describe as a mistake. Three people who attended Finance Committee meetings at which the decision was made said that a mistake occurred which can be undone...The opportunity to make mistakes can be a part of the process...(The City Council) erroneously used the mind-set of a non-home rule community... (Alderman) Pecaro admitted that the complexity of the process and the recent change from non-home to home rule status resulted in a decision that is now widely derided. "We were under the gun," Pecaro said. "Not having done this, we looked like beginners. We made beginner's mistakes."...As a result, many budget issues were brought up that had not been considered."
FTC's Motto - 2007
Well, FTC has an important bulletin for you readers. The tax levy and municipal finance is a snap compared to complex zoning decisions. The tax levy is formulaic, a simple budget and accounting function. And the City messed that up.
Zoning requires thought, study, prediction, and a sensitivity to community needs. It requires a knowledge of the City's history and a vision for the City's future. It also requires years of technical and legal knowledge of what the Developer and the City are permitted to do. It requires a detailed professional, independent analysis BY THE CITY of the impacts of the development. A document request to the City indicates that NONE OF THIS WAS DONE!
"Tradition, Unity Growth" - Highwood's Old Motto
Highwood's (Vince's) New Moto:
So what? You may ask. Well, the rookie mistakes that were made in the City's Tax Levy were in a piece of paper that can be fixed with another piece of paper. A mistake in a zoning decision results in nine stories and tons of concrete, steel, bricks, and glass. That rookie zoning mistake can't be undone. If such a mistake is made, it will last for decades. It will change the character of Highwood forever. Worst of all, it will set a precedent that will allow other similar developments! Is Highwood going to become a concrete canyon? Is that your vision for Highwood? Is that why you bought your home, brought your business, or visit Highwood?
Is FTC saying that the sky is falling? Three words "North Shore Estates". That erroneous decision in 1968 (while the current Mayor, Vince Donofrio was on the City Council!) resulted in a disastrous development that has been an albatross around Highwood's neck for four decades. And it continues to be a problem, draining City resources; damaging Highwood's image; and de-valuing your investment in the community. Try to imagine Highwood with no North Shore Estates!
FTC predicts that if the Towers is approved, it will result in the same disastrous results. Of course Vince won't be around to deal with it. He has already said that he won't run again. He will probably resign before he finishes. Vince is an old and bitter man. He will declare victory (see "Mission Accomplished") celebrate his "great accomplishment", and let the next 20 administrations deal with the mess of Vince's folly. Vince sees the Towers as a way to get the monkey of his failures off his back. He sees it as a monument to his deconstruction of the City of Highwood. Instead it will stand as an eternal testament to his stubbornness, ineptitude, and meanness. It will honor Highwood's most incompetent leader. But, it will also honor the incompetence of all those that let it happen. Any ZBA member that voted for it; any Plan Commission member that voted for it; any City planners that stood idly by; the City engineers that stood by; any resident silly enough to speak in favor of this proposal; the City attorneys that let this happen to Highwood (when it would never happen in any other town they represent...see "It's only Highwood!" and "I don't want to piss off the Mayor and loose my paycheck, which is double of Paul's fees for less work."). But FTC will make sure that in addition to Vince being accountable, the City Administrator, Maria Lasday, and any alderman supporting this proposal is held even more accountable! Maria may not have experience, but she is far more intelligent than Vince. Her support of this is inexplicable. And any alderman, since they live in Highwood, should be ashamed of not only the process, but even sending this proposal to the ZBA/PC.
BTW, in the slim chance that the Towers is not an utter disaster, Vince won't get the credit anyway. It will go to the real Mayor, the puppeteer, Bruno Bertucci. After all, he (as the paid director of the Highwood Chamber) is getting a fountain in the Everts Park instead of any prior Mayor! Go figure.
You know Vince, if you need a phallic symbol, get some Viagra, buy a Corvette, or get the "Adam & Eve" Catalog (they have a full assortment).
Simulation of Vince Inspecting the Highwood Towers Proposal
Go back, and look at the zoning materials for the North Shore Estates proposal. They contain the same "pretty pictures" as Highwood Towers...well dressed people strolling under tree lined canopies, in front of a beautiful building, with nice cars parked in the foreground. (BTW every proposal submitted by a developer looks like that.)
Maria's Great Negotiation - Hope The Plan Commission Steps In!
The "municipal donations" for North Shore Estates made the 'municipal donations" for Highwood Towers look like a bad tip at a greasy spoon. Did you know that (among other things) the developer of NSE donated the land, and built an indoor Olympic size pool for the City! The Highwood Towers Developers are donating only $300,000 and a traffic light (for their convenience) and that's 40 years later! What chump change! Highwood alone should get a municipal donation of at least 2 million dollars. That is not even as much as the TFSC donated to Highwood alone, for the same number of units! And that's w/o the infrastructure improvements they also donated.
So, come on Thursday. Even if you are not a resident of Highwood. Keep Highwood from making the biggest zoning mistake in North Shore history!
Remember, it won't be easy. Come to the Hearing. Bring a friend or family member. Speak up (you can bet the Mayor and the Developer will pack the audience with their trained flying monkeys, trained chimps and insincere shills). Demand accountability, investigation and diligence from the Boards.
2007 is the year that you will make Highwood City government work. If the Mayor and City Council can't run things, it's up to you, the citizens and business owners to do it for them...for yourself. PARTICIPATE, AND MAKE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
From left to right: Chimp from HP, Chimp from LF; Chimp from DFLD, commenting at Zoning Meeting
REMEMBER, DON'T FEAR THE CHIMPS, FLYING MONKEYS, and INSINCERE SHILLS! THEY ARE LOUD, RUDE, IGNORANT, AND HARMLESS! THE CITY BELONGS TO YOU, NOT VINCE'S OUT OF TOWN "CHIMP BRIGADE" THAT HE MUSTERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS, INTIMIDATE AND STIFLE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND, EVEN MILD MANNERED DOROTHY BEAT THE FLYING MONKEYS.Please advise if you would like to be removed from the service list, or if you know of anyone that would like to receive future Newsletters or information. Also, got any news, info, articles to contribute or story ideas? Let me know.Thank you for your interest.
Paul P. DiambriLaw Offices of Diambri & Caravello300 Green Bay RoadHighwood, IL 60040Phone: 847-433-2800Fax: 847-433-7270E-mail: HWDLAW@aol.com
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