Foes Of Roberto's Plan Lobby Elmhurst Aldermen

Elmhurst IL

09 September, 2021

8:55 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — Some Elmhurst aldermen have apparently met with neighbors who are against Roberto's Ristorante's proposal for two parking lots, which would be close to nearby houses. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Grant Dungan, one of the neighbors, thanked aldermen who had visited Eggleston Avenue and "saw our side of things." "A lot of you have come out," Dungan said during the public comment session. "For those of you who have not come out, I'd really appreciate it if you could. I'll be reaching out to some of you that I haven't already. It's an important issue to hundreds of people who have signed our petition all over the city, not just within our little neighborhood that we feel is being affected. We believe it will change Elmhurst forever. It will open up a Pandora's box to do things you don't want to happen." By a 2-1 vote, the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee last month recommended the full council vote against the project, which would need an exemption from zoning rules. However, in May, the Zoning and Planning Commission approved the restaurant's proposal 5-2 after holding 15 hours of public hearings over several meetings. Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky, chairwoman of the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, was the lone dissenter on her panel. She said she would not want a parking lot next to her house. But she said she would pursue opportunities where the restaurant could get the parking lots with conditions that would recognize the neighbors' concerns. In an email to Patch on Thursday, Polomsky said she expected the council to consider the restaurant's proposal at its regular meeting on Sept. 20. The neighbors contend the parking lots would result in more flooding, noise and traffic. The lots would be within a few feet of some houses. Roberto's, however, says the lots would alleviate parking issues in the Spring Road business district.