[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6364391,"mediaKeyId","2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80","parentId",2164810,"title","Council approves Highland Park Public Library expansion, rezoning and parking exception after split vote","audioSeconds",1752,"startMs",6163000,"endMs",7915000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80&start=6163&end=7915","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80/thumbnail_6163000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364391/Highland-Park/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-approves-Highland-Park-Public-Library-expansion-rezoning-and-parking-exception-after-split-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364391-c4223d8bd685ebea56572640e6c9e52c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202234&Signature=RzjFotpHArzodxqS097uP~2poRKp~ani0u-dbs2WWv-sIHyNkZnRB~rQmNopp4FEQKZ6h1X0hOTe8B2K~t4CMqF6oImraAbh8wq5YFyxMQhCmXMmIzXDojpyJR0aGBMcatCKD9MBPjd9q2lgjPWLSytJzOTaKeCcnpfhqYbqMILcfl5BXqIC55vBU5DADFG8DENJ8cdhCh1u0Sc3KJia6-~C6Y3Ega1s5QlBr-0s9SedwlCWdB5Xn1SmxadgfxUF7HHyt4aThWf~PIi~IT0wx-D8OxJtUsHT1ipe2-NVQc80a4~Yak0CP0o9gKPMet0WAudbnOz6YSLoJyeFuTpNbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Highland Park, IL","date","2025-01-28T03:47:45Z","article","The Highland Park City Council voted 5-2 on Jan. 27 to approve a package of measures allowing the Highland Park Public Library to expand: rezoning several parcels to the PA (public activity) district, approving a final plat of subdivision, and granting a special-use permit and a special exception for parking relief that reduces the library's required on-site parking by 40 spaces. Councilmembers Tapia and Littler voted no.

Director of Community Development Veil Fontaine summarized staff and plan-commission review. The proposed addition is about 7,850 square feet, with a maximum height of 32.5 feet. The plan includes extensive landscaping; staff said the proposal provides a surplus of shrubs and trees relative to code requirements. The project would keep extensive pathways and retain significant plantings along St. John's Avenue.

The library had requested a rezoning to make library use a permitted use in the district; staff and the Plan and Design Commission recommended approval. The commission voted in favor of the rezoning and special use recommendation (6-0 and 5-0-1 for parking relief, per the staff report) and recommended certain conditions including lighting restrictions and easements for relocated utilities.

Council discussion focused on trade-offs between expanding library services and preserving the open green lawn west of the library. Several councilmembers, including Annette Littler and Councilmember Tapia, expressed disappointment at the loss of the front lawn and concerns about the process and the degree of review for adjacent issues (for example, the future of the Miss Nitro sculpture and other campus elements). Councilmember Tony Bloomberg and others said staff and the library board had thoroughly examined alternatives, including building up or expanding east, and concluded those options were prohibitively costly or technically infeasible; Bloomberg said the board had been fiscally cautious in planning.

Library advocates and some councilmembers stressed the community value of expanded children's services and programming. Councilmember Barissa Brockman and others described strong public demand for youth services; staff noted the library is one of the community's most-used public buildings. Opponents in the audience urged the council to slow the process and consider a broader holistic plan for the campus; resident Jason Dreyfus called for pausing the approvals and argued for more attention to the sculpture and green-space impacts.

After debate, the council adopted the rezoning, plat and special-use actions and granted the parking exception to allow the expansion. Staff said a final plat amendment will be recorded to reflect municipal approval and that the applicant must satisfy the plan-commission conditions, secure required easements and follow the city engineer's direction on relocated utilities.

Vote tally: Barissa Brockman — aye; Yumi Ross — aye; Councilmember Tapia — no; Annette Littler — no; Kim Stone — aye; Tony Bloomberg — aye; Mayor Nancy Rotering — aye. The package passed, 5 ayes to 2 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 01-27-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved rezoning, a final plat and a special-use permit to allow a 7,850-square-foot library addition and granted a 40-space parking exception; the measures passed 5-2 after debate over loss of green space and process concerns.","taxTitle","Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois","taxId",55515,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364396,"Council approves taller netting, poles at Northmoor Country Club to stop balls reaching Edgewood School",2220,5116000,7336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80&start=5116&end=7336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80/thumbnail_5116000.jpg","/articles/6364396/Highland-Park/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-approves-taller-netting-poles-at-Northmoor-Country-Club-to-stop-balls-reaching-Edgewood-School","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364396-fdea2e0f00a7153ab417ad4c7e15e040/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202234&Signature=Act0ivORke8Wp3ofATNY-t0zHVFpx1LLBAxBk~2u7lXmJsENsgA8x5665U2TYbc-jqqXxNfZzlhfkCQWNoj37FBtg2i8dvYOwvYti919OOMlndZQLRgBFmju7Yg5R6rTnoVRoIk2yPjYNPzxUJwEr~4e22B9vHsI29lku~US3Cxi41ZE-wt0s~b36BvaaRaAlrhCAjkPZHFYwnijtFnGA5~IpHaguzGy95Ul2VXRSmUQe6lzb2NH5-KCdHvjLpu5vpww5t~70YklBM53OLHggUwmOxYFkSkNSfkHilEGhv5oiggGzvJPAklKkFdLqtohAh2a4Wxf-JWuPz5oluCdJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following a public hearing on Jan. 27, the Highland Park City Council approved zoning variations and design review to allow Northmoor Country Club to install six additional poles with netting up to 130 feet high and approximately 260 feet long to stop golf balls from leaving the driving range and landing on adjacent school property. The council voted 7-0.

Director of Community Development Veil Fontaine said the action responds to a city citation that alleged Northmoor's driving-range balls had landed on property occupied by Edgewood School and created a public nuisance. Fontaine summarized an expert analysis submitted by the club that recommended center-targeting of tee bays and minimum safety-net heights between 70 and 130 feet to reduce ball escapement to far less than 1%.

The proposal requests variations from the zoning code for a reduced front yard, increased allowable accessory-structure height (up to 130 feet), and reduced accessory setback so the new poles would be offset behind the existing poles and nets. Fontaine said North Shore School District 112 strongly supported the proposed solution and that staff recommended approval.

Michael Lieber, vice president of Northmoor Country Club and a Highland Park resident, told the council the new poles would be gunmetal gray, the netting is black and visually transparent, and the added poles would be designed to be as visually unobtrusive as possible while meeting the safety requirements. He said the club preferred the more extensive safety installation to ensure the driving range no longer posed a hazard to the adjacent school.

Corporation counsel noted the council was acting under the city's zoning code procedure for settling litigation; the installation is part of a settlement that would lead the city to dismiss the citation when the work is completed. The applicant has until May 31, 2025 to complete the pole-and-net project, at which point the city will dismiss the citation, staff said.

An attorney for the club described the expert's trajectory analysis and the east-west width chosen for the new netting based on typical ball paths. A few members of the public asked technical questions about the netting coverage and whether balls aimed left or right would still be contained; staff and the applicant said the expert analysis informed the placement and height to address the pattern of escaped shots.

Councilmember questions focused on color and visual impacts, and staff and the applicant said the poles and netting would be low-visibility materials and would be offset from the existing structures. The council approved the variances and design review; the vote to grant the relief was recorded as 7 ayes, 0 nays.","After a public hearing and with support from School District 112, the council granted variances to allow six new poles up to 130 feet with 260 feet of netting, resolving a citation over golf balls striking adjacent school grounds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364401,"Council grants off-street parking exception for new Roger Williams restaurant amid neighborhood parking concerns",616,4465000,5081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80&start=4465&end=5081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80/thumbnail_4465000.jpg","/articles/6364401/Highland-Park/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-grants-off-street-parking-exception-for-new-Roger-Williams-restaurant-amid-neighborhood-parking-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364401-2a51fdbf95cc00c6d6ef53a5258fb3e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202234&Signature=g0P5Smzvnp7PqPh~ZFGk7GQgqkAVfeRfQMEvclT8dl3bkg7itQGEiq-Xqxe19uQzYBIPA8HG4yTlNTmXBr3wP8cenWW~VsWudcRojrag0gF9EMHqf2t6lsrx5LMiV-baP~ugKPU3uL~O1tziK9dGSnKgtAs~TkFUBW4KmAUdDwQKIerb8Mx2BUUWRW~da4l35f0Z-g5DOKlhT-49C5kz8ayrBkmy47XCMHUB6rm2wzMMEF6BJ5nsM8Ra2VWvdLO~AY-WrLVfHaxNmS7b3IRR9vH8EX6UwJ-3bblc13waHakXzD6l15WdW9C-0WITjD-dZxOf5Fj-aFl3Vqmrg~L4BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Highland Park City Council on Jan. 27 approved an ordinance granting a special exception for off-street parking relief for a proposed restaurant at 565 Roger Williams, allowing the project to proceed despite a net loss of seven on-street spaces. The vote was 7-0.

Councilmember Annette Littler, who serves as the council liaison to the Plan and Design Commission, said the commission recommended the project 7-0 and described the proposal as an exciting redevelopment of a long-vacant building into a 30-seat interior restaurant with an additional outdoor area that could accommodate roughly 100 seats. Littler said she supported the project but expressed concern about parking impacts on the neighborhood, citing Thursday-night food-truck events and Ravinia Festival crowds.

Council members discussed existing public parking in the nearby three-block area, the potential for valet or shuttle arrangements and transit options including PACE bus service and the train station. Councilmember Kim Stone noted the neighborhood's historical walkability and said encouraging walking and transit could mitigate the parking impact. Councilmember Yumi Ross urged that the voices of existing businesses on Roger Williams be heard because any change to parking could have a ripple effect.

Planning and Design Commission had reviewed the proposal and recommended approval; staff said public parking lots are available nearby and that the project complies with the commission's design review conditions. The clerk recorded a unanimous roll-call vote approving the ordinance.

Council members urged the applicant and staff to consider operational mitigations such as valet, use of the train-station lot, and parking management on event nights. The ordinance approves the special exception and design review necessary for the restaurant to move forward on Roger Williams.","The council approved a special exception allowing a new restaurant at 565 Roger Williams to proceed with reduced on-street parking; members acknowledged neighborhood concerns about parking demand during events such as Ravinia and food-truck nights.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364407,"Council approves omnibus consent items 2–11 and 13 in unanimous vote",561,3369000,3930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80&start=3369&end=3930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80/thumbnail_3369000.jpg","/articles/6364407/Highland-Park/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-approves-omnibus-consent-items-211-and-13-in-unanimous-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364407-9bebb9b827a77e46bef52568553930dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202234&Signature=Enrs5owTs1vIP0g0NpZ5NUI2d3V9Xk9mvJisKqpNz9N2BHGBH-TAA0Kc4GZbZwDKqoPJZckHwehuD3ur2Et5RZvgqL8NvaQuYbrNC0Atf4ICuhUsJ6~Rhsm47oHT~Tv7kKBjXR~d4F6XaJ3v7zyJY9uVuYhu2Zl0LAi16OT2uuX8TClSxjxBQ0OyRobG6lXlH0sz7-Ig-1IepzfYhAkrmT6Cw0mCdFv7HGo7fPxLVj7Nml~UttOBzvRDFtg3EQUeMEEb3mBdKm6n15ePe7J5uXkbac~fRkK-EoVX5Jr3feXy31SD66Rn2Vr0Jmm-UteyGZkadjVcGLPexCHytfgHhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Highland Park City Council members on Jan. 27 approved omnibus consent agenda items numbered 2 through 11 and 13 in a single roll-call vote, 7-0.

City Manager Gita Newkirk highlighted item 2 (a food-and-beverage interior improvement grant) and said staff recommended approval for the applicants on the packet. Councilmember discussion included minor clarifications about the program's eligibility criteria and that the program required both property owner and business participation.

Clerk-administered roll-call votes recorded Barissa Brockman, Yumi Ross, Councilmember Tapia, Annette Littler, Kim Stone, Tony Bloomberg and Mayor Nancy Rotering as voting aye. The council moved the remaining omnibus matters forward without additional separation or debate.

The motion approved the staff recommendations as presented for the grouped items and returned authority to staff to implement the programs and grants described in the meeting packet.","Highland Park City Council approved the grouped consent items listed as 2 through 11 and 13 by a 7-0 vote during the Jan. 27 meeting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364412,"Highland Park council waives bidding, approves one-year promotional contract with amended revenue share",566,3914000,4480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80&start=3914&end=4480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164810-86e9643a0d3474da16241f5a986acf80/thumbnail_3914000.jpg","/articles/6364412/Highland-Park/Lake-County/Illinois/Highland-Park-council-waives-bidding-approves-one-year-promotional-contract-with-amended-revenue-share","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364412-5ac8fdb8686e7d567dc7c808853941ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202234&Signature=QxBvUKUSRvH2D947IZLHSazbq8Ftdfpy-yRXTKWNL1PBRAVxYPl8F7Sa5kKH496aaFGM4gzeBjDqBYFUVARut7ymqMl49TUiasXkJUYaH70Nptrw-xf2N9VdcSsQkrAm0MJZmYybrR1n-i3JYiQdAGtFZ6YQX2fz8a6DgL7VHmGaTUFnt7pIjTp5SAxC~bv9Iseah8BDmp7eA7NsYfl4ZnYGZMm0JP0X~8vZxhYWI4eivuAFtgKWjNILGOCTWnGsCspe-cx7p7rBKVeUr-jOJv6y96GlchwF0JITAdxeL~WcWbM-7FurX9OezRkt9syksnfe90iziNgg3F40j99ODQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Highland Park City Council on Jan. 27 approved an ordinance waiving the city's formal bidding requirements and authorized a one-year agreement with Ripple Public Relations LLC for event promotional services, with council members voting 6-1 to set the sponsorship commission at 30%.

City Manager Gita Newkirk told the council the proposed arrangement had two components: event management and a revenue share on sponsorships. Newkirk said moving much of the city's events into the Central Business District would increase site-management work and make sponsorships harder to secure, which the contractor cited when asking to raise its commission from a historical 20% to 50 percent. The manager said the majority of council \u001cwould determine\u001d the acceptable rate and staff would return to the contractor if the rate was not accepted.

Councilmember Annette Littler raised specific concerns about the increase in the contractor's share of sponsorship revenue, noting the contractor had historically received 20% and had proposed 50%. Littler said she supported the services but objected to the size of the jump. Assistant manager Jason (last name not specified in the record) reported that Ripple said it would not accept less than 35%, and staff recommended a compromise of 35% if the council preferred that level. Councilmember (name recorded as) Motagio and others noted that increasing the commission from 20% to 30% already represented a substantial raise.

Councilmembers ultimately approved a motion to waive bidding and accept the agreement with Ripple with a 30% commission on sponsorship revenue and a $60,000 retainer (as described in the staff presentation). The roll-call vote was: Barissa Brockman, Yumi Ross, Councilmember Tapia, Annette Littler, Kim Stone and Mayor Nancy Rotering — aye; Tony Bloomberg — no. The motion carried 6-1.

City staff said the total estimated financial impact for event operations this year is roughly $265,000 and that last year sponsorship revenue totaled about $60,000; the commission applies to sponsorship revenue generated, not to the entire event budget. Staff also said if the contractor declined the terms the city would negotiate further and, if necessary, return to council.

Councilmembers emphasized the need for more comparative information with other municipalities but noted differences in arrangements, including when sponsorship agreements are held by nonprofit partners rather than the municipality itself.

The council's vote waived the bidding requirement in the city purchasing manual and approved the one-year agreement as amended. The contract and the revenue-share arrangement will be tracked by city staff, and staff committed to follow up with the contractor if the final agreed percentage differs from the council's action.","The city approved a one-year agreement with Ripple Public Relations LLC for event promotion and sponsorship management, waiving formal bidding rules and setting a 30% revenue share for sponsorships after council debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Highland Park Public Library expansion, rezoning and parking exception after split vote

Council approves taller netting, poles at Northmoor Country Club to stop balls reaching Edgewood School

Council grants off-street parking exception for new Roger Williams restaurant amid neighborhood parking concerns

Council approves omnibus consent items 2–11 and 13 in unanimous vote

Highland Park council waives bidding, approves one-year promotional contract with amended revenue share