Elmhurst Alderwoman Likely Being 'Worked' By Mayor: Attorney

Elmhurst IL

22 September, 2021

5:28 PM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — An attorney for residents who oppose a local restaurant's request for parking lots said last week that the mayor has likely "worked" an alderwoman to back the project. In emails to Patch, Mark Daniel, who represents Elmhurst Neighbors United, said he believes his clients can still persuade the City Council to vote against Roberto's Ristorante's request. But he said Mayor Scott Levin is working to prevent that from happening. Levin said last week he was not taking sides. Now, Daniel is questioning the role of Ward 3 Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky. "Dannee has lost a lot of respect with her disregard of the record, and this also comes from someone in town who really liked her (me)," Daniel said in an email. "She lacks knowledge of the record and speaks manufactured talking points until she's left to discuss the other side, and she has no ability to indicate she has knowledge of the plan shift, the traffic report flaws, the serious gaps in the case or of the residents' input." He noted Polomsky's statements in a council committee meeting that she would not want a parking lot next to her house, as Roberto's is proposing in its area. Daniel encouraged aldermen to go to the Ward 5 neighborhood and speak with the neighbors of Roberto's, 483 Spring Road. "Maybe Dannee will turn around on this," he said. "We will see." Last month, the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee voted 2-1 against Roberto's request. Polomsky was the dissenting vote. She is preparing a minority report for the Oct. 4 council meeting, when the Roberto's issue is set to be on the agenda. Asked for a response to Daniel's statements, Polomsky said she has read and reviewed the record in the case. "I don't know how the Council will come down on this, but my report will recommend a use intended by our code and comprehensive plan, in a manner compatible with a residential area," Polomsky said in an email. Recently, Daniel said Levin was "actively" pushing the parking lot project. He also said Levin told residents the parking lots were a good project. In an interview with Patch last week, Levin said he wished Daniel would stop saying things about him that are "absolutely not true." Roberto's is in Ward 5, which Levin represented for years until he was elected mayor in April. 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.