A Sprawl-Buster in Mokena, Illinois, sent in the following update regarding a Home Depot defeat: “Last summer, Mokena residents were ‘manhandled’ regarding a proposal to drop a development including a 116,000 square foot Home Depot into a residential zonedparcel. Comments from the developer like, “at least someone here has some sense” were spoken publicly after the Zoning Commission’s vote to rezone the property from residential to commercial. Even after hundreds of nearby residents said they bought their homes and property with the understanding that the community’s long term development plan called for homes, not a big box store. I think ultimately, the elected officials realized that they had made a promise to the people that they were about to break. After a handful of public meetings which saw hundreds of anti-development protestors (vs. a handful of supporters, which probably lived in portions of the town not geographically close to the proposed sight and likely swayed by the promises of millions in tax revenue). Home Depot and developer Harlem-Irving hired “experts” who happily voiced their opinion that home values would not be negatively affected and that Mokena would see only benefit from this development, the Mokena Zoning Commission approved a rezoning. Thankfully the Village Board, who had the final say, realized that they could never go back if Home Depot moved in.” Last spring, the Mokena Zoning Commission voted 6 to 3 to approve a shopping center at Route 30 and Wolf Road proposed by Harlem-Irving Company of Chicago. Residents implored the board to keep a Home Depot from locating near their homes. The Commission members forwarded their recommendation to the village board to rezone 20 acres of residential land that would create 32 acres zoned for the development. Commissioner Kathy Schlegel, who voted against the rezoning, said the village’s comprehensive plan showed that the site should be developed residentially, and that homeowners expected that plan to be followed. Community Development Director Alan Zordan agreed that the concept did not match the village’s land use plan. However, Harlem-Irving representatives suggested the evaluation was too subjective to be of consequence and dismissed the value of the village’s effort. The developer’s lawyer asked the Board members: “Is the community willing to let (the mall) go a couple of blocks or miles down the road? What will your community look like and what will surrounding villages look like if you pass on this type of development?” According to the Sun newspaper, the developer’s lawyer suggested that “cutesy” stores may be what people say they want, “but when they reach for their credit cards, they go where they get the best buy.” “The market is there and this (shopping center) is going to go some place,” Harlem-Irving architect Steve Lenet added. “So either you reap the benefits of the impact or you just get the impact.” One resident referred to the developer’s statements as “veiled threats.” Another resident told the developer, “It’s my home and my life! Which one of you esteemed gentlemen live next to a Home Depot?” In late June of 2001, Mokena officials decided the controversial Home Depot-anchored shopping center was too much to impose on nearby residents. The Trustees unanimously rejected the rezoning. “This is a time to take a stand for community character and against corporate commercialization,” said Trustee Ronda Pawelski, who was involved with the grassroots Concerned Citizens of Mokena to fight the project before she was elected in April. “I think the change is too great, too drastic and has not proven to be a benefit to the community,” Mayor Robert Chiszar said. “You just don’t change the rules on people,” Trustee Robert Stillman said of the developer’s requested zoning change. “This is a very unique little town and I want to keep it unique.”
Keep shopping at “cutesy” stores, and avoid stores with orange stripes
