After six hours of questions from citizens and expert testimonies, the Richmond Zoning Board decided to recommend the annexation of a 47 acre parcel near the Richmond Grade School off Broadway St. to the village board. The meeting ended at 1:20 am on July 16, 2002.. Just after midnight when Sam Diamond, an attorney for the developer Robert May, stood up to present his summation speech, he said, “Good morning!” Many in the audience laughed at this levity on a night permeated with very serious and often combative discussion.

An overflow crowd stood along the walls, sat on chairs and on the floor. Approximately 40 citizens who came to protest the annexation were present along with expert witnesses and attorneys in addition to the board members.

The 47 acres in question is one of the last large farms located east of the IDOT right of way formerly called "Trees on Broadway" located southeast of Route 173 on Broadway Road.. It is zoned agricultural and is governed by Richmond Township and McHenry County. The property was bought by real estate developer, Bob May, through his real estate company (Northeastern Illinois Land Management), It is adjacent to the 1,145 acre Tamarack development just to the south owned Tamarack Farms LLC.

Developer Robert May presented his revised annexation proposal. The new proposal showed that the parcel would be tied to the Tamarack development. A proposed senior citizen complex was moved further away from the residence of John Drummond and Rommy Lopat of 6119 Broadway. Their property is adjacent to the new proposed development. May also offered to plant 70 trees along a 700 foot section between the properties to help separate them. “We want to try to be a good neighbor,” said May. “The only reason to move the senior citizen complex is to meet the needs of the neighbors.”

However, attorney Alan Stefaniak, who represented Drummond and Lopat, strongly objected to May’s new proposal saying, “With the exception of the changed location of the senior housing and the donation of 70 trees, your revised annexation agreement is nearly the same as the original. You are not showing a plan, no specifics regarding the property. I see no preliminary engineering, no detention, no taxation impact. Your plan is contrary to the Village of Richmond Comprehensive Plan.”  May answered, “A plan is forthcoming.”

Charles Schultz lives near the Lopat’s. “How many cars per day will go on Broadway?” he asked. “How many tax dollars will be spent? How many new students will your development bring into the town? You will force up everyone’s taxes and fixed income people, especially, will be affected. This is not beneficial to the people who live in Richmond.” May said, “Good common sense will be applied.”

Bruce Young said, “Richmond is up for sale.” May responded, “The community will be ecstatic about it. There has been stagnation in Richmond.”  Susie Wilson said, “How are you going to handle our additional tax burden? There is no plan here, nothing good for the citizens.” Another citizen said, “What’s the hurry to annex? Shouldn’t we wait until the bypass is built?” May said, “I see the bypass being built within 5 years.” Groans and raised eyebrows followed that statement. Carol Hansen, a farm owner in Richmond said, “I don’t understand how after hearing all the evidence and ideas that were presented at this meeting, the ZBA could just ignore it all and still vote yes.” 

Regarding the possibility of a serious problem with auto traffic on Route 173 and Broadway St., John Drummond said, “Everyone in the development will have to leave through the north end. I see this whole thing as a cartoon!” May responded that the majority of traffic will be generated from the south part of Comdisco.

When questioned by a board member about where the house construction would start, May said, “There are too many unknowns.” This comment elicited laughter and head nodding from the crowd.

Eric Mayer, who has been a member of the Planning Commission for 20 years said, “Shouldn’t you have a definite plan? This should be part of what goes into the annexation negotiations.”  May said, “We’ve presented this on the same basis as the 1,145 acres in Tamarack.” Mayer replied, “Then why make the same mistake again like Tamarack, which still has no plan? Why don’t you make a good plan and then submit it to the board? Is there a plan to donate additional acreage to the schools?” May answered, “No.” Mayer continued, “Shouldn’t you be planning this with us? You should  talk to us first. The Planning Commission has never been consulted about this property.”

Rommy Lopat commented, “The density on Comdisco is too high.” May replied that it is the same density as on the Comdisco property, 2.5 houses per acre. 1600 units are approved for the Tamarack development. Lopat challenged May’s figures saying that the annexation agreement for the Comdisco development with the Village states that there would be 1.784 dwelling units per acre. Lopat continued, “Is there a 60% open area in the 47 acres?” May replied, “There is no plan for a village park there.” Lopat then asked May if there was a water tower planned for the property. May said that the need for a tower was not yet determined adding that he would like to see more business parks in the Richmond area.

Tamarack witness, Robert Teska, an experienced urban planner from Wilmette, testified that May’s plan is beneficial to Richmond and consistent with the village’s comprehensive plan. “A more detailed plan at this point could become obsolete,” he said. He was asked if growth can pay for itself. After a considerable pause for thought, Teska answered affirmatively.

Mark Cunningham of the Richmond Village Board, asked Teska about whether he thought the village Planning Commission can have much influence on the style of homes, mailboxes and street lights in the development. Teska said that the commission can have a lot of influence.

However, in an interview with Eric Mayer of the Planning Commission after the meeting he said, In an interview after the meeting Mayer said, “The Planing Commission has the ability to help control growth prior to rezoning and approval of the annexation agreement. If  that same rezoning and approval is done prior to the planning process our hands are tied behind our backs and we are virtually at the whim of the developer. If they really want something, they can sue the village to get it. Before rezoning occurs, proper planning helps ensure that the proposed growth will be beneficial to both sides. Otherwise the unchecked growth becomes a Trojan Horse, over which future generations will never forgive us. When will the village stand up for itself and finally say that the buck stops here? This rezoning changes the character of the village forever”

Earlier in the week Middle School District 2 Superintendent, George Zimmer sent a newsletter to many citizens stating that tax increases would possibly reach $89 million to build more schools for the increased population. “How will we ever pay this amount?” someone asked. Eric Mayer commented, “Easy, Mayer joked- $45 million for Spring Grove and $45 million for Richmond.”

Former mayor of Richmond, Bruce Hunter, commented, “High density housing has caused serious problems in McHenry and other communities.” Another person said, “Shouldn’t we wait until the bypass is written in stone before we rush to approve the annexation?”

Larry Okrent, an urban planning specialist representing Drummond and Lopat, presented an arial map of Tamarack and the proposed area to be annexed. Pointing to the 47 acre space he said, “Why do they want this relatively small parcel? Because Tamarack does not work without it,” he stated. “There is no other feasible entrance and exit otherwise.”

In his closing statement, attorney Stefaniak said that the evening was simply a replay of the last hearing. “When do we get our questions answered,” he said. “We have no plan; what is the effect on the town. There are serious consequences to quick action. The developer has vested rights if the proposal is approved. There is no substantive information, no vision, no details. The traffic situation must be studied and we must address the school financing issue. 73% of our tax bill is for the schools. We’ve had no advice from the school authorities. Without the 47 acre addition, Tamarack doesn’t work. The residents need a way to come in and leave.”

In her closing statement, Rommy Lopat produced copies of personal interviews she made with many nearby towns about their procedures for annexation. They included Antioch, Fox Lake, Genoa City, Hebron, McHenry, Ringwood, Spring Grove and Twin Lakes. According to Lopat’s written report, these towns have much stricter requirements placed on developers than does Richmond. Antioch, for example, requires 28 days in advance and filed in the library for public review. Fox Lake shows that one project has taken 3 years because of its controversy. The city of McHenry, limits the number of houses that can be built per year and the developers pay for off-property roadway improvements as per traffic studies. Ringwood offers “no blank checks” to developers demanding that annexation proposals would go to both Commissions before rezoning and have one acre lot minimums. Spring Grove always submits a concept plan to Zoning. “It might be a good idea if the village circumvented the process of making mistakes by revising village ordinances to be the most up to date ordinances in the region,” said Lopat.

After the meeting, Lopat said, “Despite the vote we are very optimistic that the individual members of the Village Board are truly listening to the public that has been there time after time and who have demonstrated their commitment to the future of this village. You can never go wrong as a board member when you truly listen to the input of residents.”

Some of the discussion this evening involved the proposed 66 unit senior citizen complex.  Robert Teska testified that senior citizens own fewer cars and thus do not create as much traffic as younger, growing families. “Not the ones I know,” exclaimed one participant. May made a statement that the population is growing older as a group and we will need much more senior housing in the future. Charlie Eldredge, the Zoning Board Chairman, said, “I may have to live in one of those units myself.”

Carolyn Whiting, a senior citizen whose exact age was not mentioned, arrived too late to grab one of the 18 chairs provided for the audience. So she stood next to one wall. “Will I be able to pay my increased taxes? I know a lot of seniors who have already sold due to high taxes. We want answers. Where do we get the answers? The people want to know.”

Apparently concern for senior citizens did not extend to her this evening. She stood by the wall for the entire meeting, all six hours of it.