| Update from Mike Huck on Local Migrant/Refugee Initiative
Here is an update of this week's Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on the proposed Heartland Alliance home for unaccompanied immigrant children in Lisle Township. (If you wish to be taken off the message for this topic, please let me know!)
- The Board did not vote at the 1/4/07 meeting. Instead they conducted a second public hearing on the matter. The room was pretty full, with about 10 people speaking in support of the home, and all others against. The statements were emotional but mostly civil.
- Heartland Alliance was able to provide more information, including testimony from a representative from the federal agency which will provide the grant for the home. She provided a lot of helpful information about the program and about the issues that relate to zoning. It sounds like a well-run program with lots of state and federal oversight.
- Many of the speakers who were opposed did not focus on local zoning issues, instead they focused on the merits of the program and federal funding. I believe statements that focused on the appropriate use of the land and the impact of the home locally meant more to the Board, at least the chairperson.
- One item of note: The property is sounded by 2 fields and a horse frame
NEXT STEPS: (I'll let Susan Trudeau from Heartland Alliance correct anything or add information here in a "reply to all.")
- The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet the first week of February and vote. There will be no public testimony at that meeting. The various lawyers have 14 days from this weeks meeting to submit more information. It was unclear to me if letters from the public would still be accepted. If you wish to give it a try, send them to this person so he receives them by 1/18/07.
Mr. Paul Hoss
Zoning Director
Regulatory Services- DuPage County
421 N. County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187
Fax: (630) 407-6702
- If the Zoning Board approves the petition, then it moves to the County Development Committee, which should take up the matter on 2/6/07. I don't know the time or who to direct letters to on that. Board Member Ms. Kyle A. Gilgis is supportive of this issue and I think she is on this committee. I'll let Susan Trudeau chime in on those details.
- If it passes the County Development Board, then it might go to the full DuPage County Board on 2/13/07.
My assessment is that once it gets past the Zoning Board, the decision may be more political rather than limited to zoning issues because we'll be getting at the level of elected officials. (I may have that wrong.)
If it gets past the Zoning Board, our voice will be crucial to helping these children and this worthwhile agency!
Thanks for listening!
Mike
630-421-0295
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