quote:

Welcome to the GEBB, 40Something. But I must point out that I am the king of innuendo and half-thruths. Try not to step on my toes and we'll all get along just fine.

I resolve to give you a run for your money! Thanks for the welcome. You gotta love an informed community.

Short notice on this one.

There will be special remembrance service Sunday (1/27) at 4PM at the church. The current congregation is having to pack up it's bags due to the upcoming sale of the property by the owners. Many of you are apparently aware that this church has been the "starter home" for several Glen Ellyn churches since it's inception in 1949.

See the attached for details on the service as well as the remarkable story of Pastor Saul Ebema. Saul has seen horror in his life that is hard to imagine. Please take the time to learn how Saul found his way to Glen Ellyn from a war-torn region of Southern Sudan. His story is very inspirational. The neighborhood is hoping to keep Saul at his current home but if the sale goes through and he get's sent packing, we'll be doing our best to find a new home for his congregation.

pastor_saul_ebema.jpg (15 Kb, 28 downloads) Pastor Saul

Hey folks!

Here is a nice follow up article for this topic:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=121923&src=40

I walked by the church today at 4:30. Cars were parked around th area for a couple blocks. Must have been quite a turnout. I hope the small congregation can stay there through some miracle.

Anything new with regard to this situation? Just asking.

http://glenellyngoodneighbors.org/


came across this if you are interested

Yes, we have been busy. You should be seeing some signs at the site and in yards in the next few days. We have several hundred signatures and are aiming for at least 2000.

Closing on sale has been pushed back to March 7. Traffic study was done last week - or at least some guy was sitting in a car at the corner of Park & Hillside with a clipboard.

The buyer said he hopes we all just understand this is business transaction. I'm not sure what you call evicting a church but I would think "business transaction" doesn't quite do it.

I've got no problem with this private property owner transacting business by selling his property to whomever he wishes.
I WOULD have a problem, however, with the village simply rubber-stamping this special use request. In the light of what appears to be substantial community opposition, what what impress me as not insignificant common sense concerns, I surely hope this gets a full, fair, and public hearing.

After reading Chapter 10, please explain how the Montessori doesn't fit within the following guidelines. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want those free-thinking little *******s in my neighborhood, either...nor their granola-eating parents. Yes, I have too much time on my hands...but this doesn't seem to indicate that a school of this nature would not be allowed:

CHAPTER 10 - Administration and Enforcement

(E) The Plan Commission shall not recommend that a Special Use be granted nor shall the Village Board grant a Special Use, unless it shall find, based upon the evidence presented to the Plan Commission in each specific case, that the Special Use:

1. Will be harmonious with and in accordance with the general objectives, or within specific objective of the Comprehensive Plan and/or this Zoning Code;
2. Will be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained so as to be harmonious and appropriate in appearance with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity and that such use will not change the essential character of the same area;
3. Will not be hazardous or disturbing to existing or future neighborhood uses;
4. Will be served adequately by essential public facilities and services such as highways, streets, police and fire protection, drainage structures, refuse disposal, water, sewers and schools, or that the persons or agencies responsible for the establishment of the proposed use shall be able to provide adequately any such services;
5. Will not create excessive additional requirements at public cost for public facilities and services, and will not be detrimental to the economic welfare of the Village;
6. Will not involve uses, activities, porcesses, materials, equipment and/or conditions of operation that will be detrimental to any persons, propoerty or the general welfare by reason of excessive production of traffic, noise, smoke fumes, glare or odors;
7. Will have vehicular approaches to the property, which shall be so designed as not to create an undue interference with traffic on surrounding public streets or roads;
8. Will not increase the potential for flood damage to adjacent property or require additional public expense for flood protection, resuce or relief; and
9. Will not result in destruction, loss or damage of natural, scenic or historic features of major importance to the community;

Am I missing something? BTW...a lot of typos in the above.

Take a drive down Park @ Hillside.
Someone isn't too thrilled about the proposal.
If the neighbors most affected by this are so unanimously opposed, I hope it takes a pretty strong public interest to decide otherwise.

There was a flyer taped to our mailbox the other day. The following was the content printed on that flyer. I am in no way connected with this organization and am not endorsing any viewpoint. I am only posting it because it seems relevent to this discussion.

>>>>>>>>>>>
GlenEllynGoodNeighbors.org
A Community United to Preserve the Essential Character of our Neighborhood
Did you know...?
Private Pre-school
Proposed for
Park & Hillside

Why this does not fit the character of the neighborhood:
1. Additional traffic creates safety concerns for this already hazardous intersection for St. Pet's & GBW students, pedestrians.
2. Gridlock at Park & Hillside due to new school road will divert traffic to quiet residential streets
3. A private pre-school is still a business and this is our neighborhood
4. Requires removal of old growth trees and loss of open space
5. Alteration of historic church building. Evicts current congregation
6. Controversial transaction and conflict of interest involving Village Trustee. This is not how our government should work.

Please sign the petition in opposition to this proposal. Email info@********.org. Let them know you object!
Preserve Our Neighborhood!
Yes, add my signature to the Petition In Opposition to the Special Use Permit for the Proposed Preschool at 625 Hillside Ave., Glen Ellyn
<<<<<<<<<<<

quote:

Originally posted by GESince1958:
Please sign the petition in opposition to this proposal. Email info@********.org. Let them know you object!
Preserve Our Neighborhood!
Yes, add my signature to the Petition In Opposition to the Special Use Permit for the Proposed Preschool at 625 Hillside Ave., Glen Ellyn
<<<<<<<<<<<

Does anyone know the website or petition to signup to show support for the school? It'll be pretty sweet to have a Montessori school within walking distance of downtown.

quote:

Posted March 02, 2008 07:03 AM Hide Post

Does anyone know the website or petition to signup to show support for the school? It'll be pretty sweet to have a Montessori school within walking distance of downtown.

Good News! The school currently is operating out of St. Marks, 393 N Main St, which is TOTALLY within walking distance of downtown. Heck, it practically IS downtown - rather than the new proposed location where they have to evict a congregation from the church

. . . and which is a quiet neighborhood . . . and a location that cannot accommodate a 2 lane drop off area (at least not from any plan that has been shared or proposed).

BTW, another serious accident at the corner of Park and Hillside Saturday. This just underscores our point that this already dangerous intersection does not need any more traffic or the complications that would come along with this proposed preschool.

Serious accident. I saw that accident at 11:00AM. Are you, uh...certain that it was a serious accident? Looked like nothing more than two completely clueless individuals having a fender bender. Damage was barely noticeable to the naked eye. Or was there another one? If not...then this very well may be a case of twisting the facts to fit your agenda.

BTW, two police cars showing up was a bit of overkill for what was essentially the need for a police report. Perhaps a violation being written.

Also, I am holding a public meeting and march to draw attention the plight of the unfortunate people who live in the vicinity of Main between Hillside and Phillips. I can't believe what is happening to their peaceful neighborhood! Frickin' Montessori *******s!

quote:

Originally posted by GoodNeighbor:
Heck, it practically IS downtown - rather than the new proposed location where they have to evict a congregation from the church.

Isn't there a problem because Tim Armstrong is representing the buyers of the church? A purchase (which hasn't gone through yet) hardly equals an eviction in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by GoodNeighbor:

quote:

Posted March 02, 2008 07:03 AM Hide Post

Does anyone know the website or petition to signup to show support for the school? It'll be pretty sweet to have a Montessori school within walking distance of downtown.

Good News! The school currently is operating out of St. Marks, 393 N Main St, which is TOTALLY within walking distance of downtown. Heck, it practically IS downtown - rather than the new proposed location where they have to evict a congregation from the church

. . . and which is a quiet neighborhood . . . and a location that cannot accommodate a 2 lane drop off area (at least not from any plan that has been shared or proposed).

BTW, another serious accident at the corner of Park and Hillside Saturday. This just underscores our point that this already dangerous intersection does not need any more traffic or the complications that would come along with this proposed preschool.

BTW, I admire your neighbor's and your activism, involvement, interest, passion, etc. I even under stand why you may not want those kids in your neighborhood. Hell, I have a gigantic High School in my backyard. My point is...it would be swell to present factual information rather than fanning the passionate flames of danger.

Those poor suckers over by St, Mark's...

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Serious accident. I saw that accident at 11:00AM. Are you, uh...certain that it was a serious accident? Looked like nothing more than two completely clueless individuals having a fender bender. Damage was barely noticeable to the naked eye. Or was there another one? If not...then this very well may be a case of twisting the facts to fit your agenda.

BTW, two police cars showing up was a bit of overkill for what was essentially the need for a police report. Perhaps a violation being written.

Also, I am holding a public meeting and march to draw attention the plight of the unfortunate people who live in the vicinity of Main between Hillside and Phillips. I can't believe what is happening to their peaceful neighborhood! Frickin' Montessori *******s!

Were these the idiot teenage girls that drove their purple car over the curb? Yeah... really fricken' "serious" accident.

Too bad the Montessoris can't build a large circular driveway, like their neighbors across the street, to manage the glut of traffic that is sure to come.

This is another reason why Glen Ellyn is getting a reputation as a town full of old fogies who won't do anything for other people's kids now that their kids are grown and gone. These people don't need to battle every single initiative that creates something positive for other people's kids.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
I even under stand why you may not want those kids in your neighborhood.

Are you serious?

Is this montessori hysteria getting to your head?

Who would have thought...all this over a montessori school and 70 kids aged 2-5.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

quote:

Originally posted by GoodNeighbor:

quote:

Posted March 02, 2008 07:03 AM Hide Post

Does anyone know the website or petition to signup to show support for the school? It'll be pretty sweet to have a Montessori school within walking distance of downtown.

Good News! The school currently is operating out of St. Marks, 393 N Main St, which is TOTALLY within walking distance of downtown. Heck, it practically IS downtown - rather than the new proposed location where they have to evict a congregation from the church

. . . and which is a quiet neighborhood . . . and a location that cannot accommodate a 2 lane drop off area (at least not from any plan that has been shared or proposed).

BTW, another serious accident at the corner of Park and Hillside Saturday. This just underscores our point that this already dangerous intersection does not need any more traffic or the complications that would come along with this proposed preschool.

BTW, I admire your neighbor's and your activism, involvement, interest, passion, etc. I even under stand why you may not want those kids in your neighborhood. Hell, I have a gigantic High School in my backyard. My point is...it would be swell to present factual information rather than fanning the passionate flames of danger.

Those poor suckers over by St, Mark's...

Ok, let's hold it right there for a moment and follow your suggestion of presenting facts instead of fanning flames -

The "poor suckers" remark about the St. Mark's neighbors isn't factual and seems to fan flames, if ever so slightly, so let's walk our own talk...

While the whole village can probably sympathize with your plight of having a high school in your backyard, unless you moved in in the 1920's, wasn't the school already there when you moved in? That's a big difference, the character of your neighborhood was already pretty well set and you had the choose of accepting that or looking elsewhere. Yes, it may have been the case that the new fieldhouse addition was not there yet, but, you know how schools are, they have a way of growing and expanding, and I think that is a valid concern with this one too.

I think a lot of factual information has been presented. If you were at the January 10th pre-application hearing, some very specific concerns were presented at length, in writing. Instead of attacking, many of the concerns were raised as questions, asking for more information. Has any response to those questions been presented? It is great to keep asking for concerns, but at some point you have to provide answers for the dialogue to be sincere. Also, from what I gathered at that meeting on January 10th, the neighbors were concerned that very little communication had taken place at all and they were left in the dark, with only information on file with the village for the Jan 10th pre-app hearing as their source of info. In follow up, the group has posted that factual info on their website as it is public info. (www.glenellyngoodneigbors.org)

Did the school present this info to the public or solicit input from those most affected? At the meeting they claimed there was so little time between when they signed the contract for the property and the Holiday break that they couldn't. Was it not that important to them? A letter in a few dozen mailboxes, a call for a meeting, some kind of out reach? No wonder the mistrust level is so high here.

Has the school responded to any of the questions asked or concerns raised at the Jan 10th meeting or have they provided more information and updates? It would seem that the burden is on the party preparing the plan and the action to proactively initiate the flow of info. Not just asking for concerns over and over but actually responding to what has been raised. That is true communication.

As for further facts -

facts: the school is currently at St. Mark's and seems to be enjoying a great relationship with the church and the neighbors there.

facts: the Hillside/Annandale area is a quiet neighborhood, and, yes, the site on the corner of Park and Hillside for the proposed school cannot accomodate a two lane drop off config, nor was a two lane one proposed.

facts: define a 'serious' accident... to a parent who has young children out and around playing in the yard or friends' yards nearby, the squealing of tires and brakes, the sound of metal and glass impacting is pretty serious, even if an ambulance wasn't needed. What is the threshold of serious? When there are injuries? When a child or adult pedestrian is hit? When it reaches a certain level of dollar damage? The fact is - serious can have a different meaning to a family across the street with young kids, or seniors who can't walk very fast, than to someone who is just driving through on their way to running errands all safe and belted in to their vehicle.

I admire your call for the facts, just recognize them when you see them and try to understand how firsthand experience/knowing the big picture/location/point of view can influence the perception of the facts.

quote:

Originally posted by glellyn:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Serious accident. I saw that accident at 11:00AM. Are you, uh...certain that it was a serious accident? Looked like nothing more than two completely clueless individuals having a fender bender. Damage was barely noticeable to the naked eye. Or was there another one? If not...then this very well may be a case of twisting the facts to fit your agenda.

BTW, two police cars showing up was a bit of overkill for what was essentially the need for a police report. Perhaps a violation being written.

Also, I am holding a public meeting and march to draw attention the plight of the unfortunate people who live in the vicinity of Main between Hillside and Phillips. I can't believe what is happening to their peaceful neighborhood! Frickin' Montessori *******s!

Were these the idiot teenage girls that drove their purple car over the curb? Yeah... really fricken' "serious" accident.

Too bad the Montessoris can't build a large circular driveway, like their neighbors across the street, to manage the glut of traffic that is sure to come.

This is another reason why Glen Ellyn is getting a reputation as a town full of old fogies who won't do anything for other people's kids now that their kids are grown and gone. These people don't need to battle every single initiative that creates something positive for other people's kids.

As long as we're still on the subject of facts -

these weren't teenage girls,

again, serious to you may be different than the person in the accident or the parent with young children playing in the neighborhood.

also, while it is great to be "pro-kid" by being for the school, who is supposed to be "pro-kid" for the safety and other concerns of the kids that live in the neighborhood 24/7 or the kids that come visit, play, or travel through there on their way to school, friends, shopping, sports, and other activities? this is not a "downtown" corner or neighborhood. The proposed site is not right across the street from the Central Business District like the St. Mark's site. And, when people moved onto streets around St. Mark's, the church, the stores, the apartment buildings, the traffic and streets, and the character of this neighborhood was already well established, even before the school moved there. That is perhaps why it has fit in so well (that and the 45 foot wide opening up to 75 foot wide traffic flow area they now use as there drop-off/pick-up zone with a two lane exit onto a street without constant traffic).

is that a fact that Glen Ellyn is getting a reputation as a town of old fogies?

and, is that a fact that old fogies are bad for the town?

and, if the old fogies were here (that's what makes them old, right?) and there was this reputation, why did you ever move here? Because those old fogies spent years paying taxes long after their kids left home and they themselves retired to their fixed incomes so they could sweat out the property tax increases and keep paying taxes - so you can enjoy nice streets and good schools in Glen Ellyn? I think you owe the "old fogies" more respect and maybe even a thank you (that is not a FACT, that is just my opinion).

and, I don't think old fogies battle every single initiative - sometimes though, in their experience and wisdom they may know something that can help us all and should be listened to.

I find myself on different sides of all issues with people of like and different ages. I think it is wrong to lump all people together on the basis of age.

Come to think of it, I think it is wrong to lump all teenage drivers, or girl drivers, or drivers of purple cars all together with sweeping generalizations. That just doesn't seem very factual.

I also would NOT lump everybody with a negative opinion on the school together with those who are not giving facts, or, the "hysterical" or the "breathless" or "emotional". It seems like they have been trying to get the facts out, and may have a sense of urgency because they felt the school had a two month headstart and a village trustee's help to make their case.

It seems like when you can't win on the facts, people try to attack the person making the point, like they are trying to attack the people who are opposing the school here on this thread. So, if those opposed to the school aren't getting answers, or feel like what they are seeing is not making sense, or are feeling powerless, then you might find them getting a little annoyed, but could you blame them?

They would fit right in with the group that got so upset over the Downtown Consultant issue from the last couple of months. What brought that on? Appearance of poor judgement, appearance of certain improprieties - real or not, appearance of a poor process, action that did not match the information that was being given or receieved, the appearance that a decision was already made and that many involved were just going through the motions, concern that the decision would not benefit the citizens of Glen Ellyn, especially those that it affected most... are there some common themes going around, could that make people upset?

SO - I just ask of you to avoid making broad generalizations and stick to the facts or finding out the facts. What did a teenage girl in a purple car ever do to you anyway?