[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6553282,"mediaKeyId","5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547","parentId",5071509,"title","Northbrook says municipal landscaping contractor violated gas-powered leaf-blower rules; contractor faces enforcement","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",4494000,"endMs",4568000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547&start=4494&end=4568","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547/thumbnail_4494000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553282/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Northbrook-says-municipal-landscaping-contractor-violated-gas-powered-leaf-blower-rules-contractor-faces-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553282-ba70b83f2642b3d2bd2e03f6eecb6f93/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218499&Signature=lptPa1N0ijPTNvk7I6urGfAT5km1CtSLOpQZ5OVyJGnfjYbEd44-RNo11vjWmYtWouD7ZG65DUl4XQzBnTD3t9zPzuWoFvJ~4r1OvCVxbM7EPwVTIVGfwFwxUKDncBUIznmOK-i8qz5XB69EkZjSZlP9O2bCU5Yq977gXdKkSp3Hz72Sv7vUfVA~A8oXSxQTx1zABLqGgkOaM0fsmd14KuCjPyGohdw8WwW7K4yprLeizeZw7j5wlYmWba-snJk0-pbGyDqaWIwzXa7gDeQufJLYaYoYI-Kn-kgupRdUCZQXmuGt2ow9Cqgnhv9V-wuyj7wS5CnK-yppbQjHjncvqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northbrook","date","2025-06-24T19:35:00Z","article","Trustee Ross told the Village Board that the contractor maintaining municipal properties violated the village's gas-powered leaf blower restriction on multiple occasions. The village reviewed the contract and the ordinance, issued a verbal warning to the contractor and posted a notice on the village website.

Trustee Ross said the village will pursue enforcement like it would for a private property violation if there is a repeat occurrence and may exercise contract remedies, including the 60-day termination clause. He said staff will follow up with the contractor, and that the village posted information to its website and will circulate an email to trustees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northbrook - Village Board of Trustees - Jun 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustee Ross reported the village's landscaping contractor used gas-powered leaf blowers in violation of the village ordinance and that the village will pursue contract remedies and possible termination on repeat violations.","taxTitle","Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",55401,"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},6553286,"Northbrook police: surge in high-speed e-bikes prompts recommendations, public meetings",287,559000,846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547&start=559&end=846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6553286/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Northbrook-police-surge-in-high-speed-e-bikes-prompts-recommendations-public-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553286-53c7767090be2fb0c308c42286a2b054/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218499&Signature=imy1ZuZyRlioVK3XpfsubQEsvoLI5nmlqc8WDVgKIcF8ef~VIK5GlYtlXVczXhZO7gMulBjisSN5RDkn4h1CRjv6Vui3k2HvAonCi5MU0xEHGew4l2Zro6hGQiMfaR4FeYc4g7p6S2O6UJnfXxkD39GTE88MhADGOLTHeqnmblBWqvGgO4h1jIt0YW5LoZ7zBPLIdW1h8B8ezaYr-YHon5cXsNJIqMmpmoPiXuXRxgihkBkFdlppjWgw~qU0NpsCDRmlxSXsWbRiebqKxMx4KxKrxXpuCcnvtGSc2DboGVt52xyOzIfipNeRGSskkmu0bYe7MoxIw6nZtOzPmIXXJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northbrook Police Department reported an increase in calls about electric bikes and motorized scooters and said it will recommend local rules and schedule public meetings to gather input.

Chief Ustich told the Village Board the department is getting “at least 5 to 10 a day” complaints about e-vehicles and is enforcing current state rules where appropriate. He said class 1 and class 2 e-bikes (up to 20 mph) are treated like bicycles under state law; class 3 vehicles — described as those that can reach 28 mph and above — are more problematic and, under state rules, require registration, a valid driver’s license and insurance. “Class 3 vehicles are more problematic,” he said. “Those are the ones that can go 28 and over. Those need to be registered with the state. You have to have a valid driver's license, and it has to be … insurance for it.”

Chief Ustich said police are taking an educational approach and are reviewing what neighboring jurisdictions have done. He said officials are considering a range of tools, including impounding illegal mini-motorcycles, issuing citations to parents in jurisdictions that do so, and prohibiting riding on sidewalks where appropriate. The chief and village manager said they will return with specific regulatory recommendations and will hold two open houses for public input; staff indicated the meetings were targeted for the week of July 7.

Public commenters described recent dangerous incidents involving high-speed electric vehicles and urged action. One resident recounted a recent crash that left a teenager seriously injured and urged the village to act; the village manager and police chief said they intended to address those safety concerns in the forthcoming recommendations. The police chief also said the department is developing a program to reward helmet use that “should be rolled out in the next couple weeks.”","Police reported daily complaints about electric motorized vehicles and said staff will review local rules, hold public meetings and consider impoundment or parent sanctions used elsewhere.",{"_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},6553291,"Northbrook board approves special permit, loading-space variance and site approval for Meadowbrook gym",2728,1641000,4369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547&start=1641&end=4369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071509-c0c55a5ad97ce7d5ebef8763ee5ca547/thumbnail_1641000.jpg","/articles/6553291/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Northbrook-board-approves-special-permit-loading-space-variance-and-site-approval-for-Meadowbrook-gym","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553291-804754b8428ab4a17330a27fc125f996/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218499&Signature=NHg3c7CcJu4q19~JQ1JhPEybrBBJge~hmBXuFwEqlFcV9lY3Ax988ui5SpAnUBEQyMWV~wmeskzllrSM6RHm8CYqT0gYA~y3C3V87cRvxLnj-uTgdVvVFoHyPBF39ZA-vvLKMRZ6Qi-OpFZf9nhDiip5q9ZNYRgSW4otWjvWgD50ymeC0rIxeRQFvuzqZYL~FgZMVfocN322TS4s1334lDwXFSgRjhgEAES07VTigHAxhXpS51r8RtaXNYqoQO3SOsj2iAo16k7PkSPrxzkRb6M7VlbXDvAmJsIRV0hGzZM0uyokTwokvj~t4MNiJOe71turPfhX07khqtqArfuzjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northbrook Village Board voted to grant a special permit allowing Meadowbrook School to operate as an elementary and secondary school at 1600 Walters Avenue and approved a loading-space variation and site plan for a proposed gymnasium, passing the ordinance by supermajority.

Village planning staff told trustees the school site, built in 1954–55, has long operated as a legal nonconforming use and that the gym plans comply with zoning except for the items before the board: the special permit, a loading-space variation, and site approval for the gym. Director McKeown said the larger school projects approved by referendum are not yet at a design stage and that state review (including the regional office of education and the state fire marshal) will handle building-level plan review.

The vote followed extended public comment. Supporters — parents and PTO volunteers — said the gym will relieve overcrowding and was expected regardless of the referendum result. Laura Jaeger, who volunteers with the Meadowbrook PTO, told the board, “the school is just bursting at the seams. We need more space.” Several nearby residents and engineers urged the board to delay approval until the district produces more-complete plans and a stronger neighborhood engagement process. Andy Horn, a nearby resident, said he “respectfully urge[d] the village board to slow this train down, demand more from district 28, encourage full transparency, neighborhood involvement, and environmentally conscious planning.” Opponents raised stormwater, tree loss, construction impacts and the sense that neighbors had not been meaningfully engaged.

Village staff and the village engineer told trustees that stormwater controls for the gym project must meet Northbrook standards and that the village engineer must sign off on any required approvals; the developer must demonstrate compliance before permits proceed. The village attorney advised trustees that a valid written protest, which staff determined appeared to meet the filing requirements, triggers a supermajority threshold (5 of 7 trustees) to adopt the ordinance and cautioned that denying the permit could expose the village to legal risk of frustrating a school district’s operations.

Trustee Hebel moved to approve the ordinance; Trustee Cassidy seconded. Roll call recorded six affirmative votes and no negatives, satisfying the supermajority requirement. Trustees who spoke during debate urged the district to expand neighborhood outreach, address stormwater and construction staging and consider sustainability measures referenced in the village Climate Action Plan.

Next steps: District 28 will continue design work and proceed through state plan-review processes; the village engineer must sign off on civil/stormwater plans before permits proceed. The board also asked the district to coordinate with village staff on traffic, construction staging and neighborhood communications as the project advances.","The Village Board voted to grant Meadowbrook School a special permit to operate and approved a loading-space variation and site plan for a new gym at 1600 Walters Avenue after public debate about stormwater, tree loss and community engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Northbrook says municipal landscaping contractor violated gas-powered leaf-blower rules; contractor faces enforcement

Northbrook police: surge in high-speed e-bikes prompts recommendations, public meetings

Northbrook board approves special permit, loading-space variance and site approval for Meadowbrook gym