Resident urges stricter EV-charging requirements for new Deerfield apartments

Andrew Marwick, a Deerfield resident, told the Board of Trustees on July 21 that developers receive too many variances and that new apartment projects should include more electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. Marwick, who gave his address as 442 Kelburn, said the development proposed at 155 Fingston Road (the transcript alternately spells the road name Finkston) is expected to have roughly 128 units but “they're only talking about putting in 4 charging stations.” He cited, by way of contrast, a 300-plus-unit development in Tempe that he said included only eight chargers and argued that percentage-based minimums—on the order of one-quarter to one-third of units—would be more appropriate than the small number of chargers currently proposed. Marwick also criticized recent local approvals he said favored developers, naming examples discussed at prior meetings including proposals involving Shake Shack and a dual drive-through, Jewel, and retail vacancies at the south end of a shopping center; he urged trustees and the Plan Commission to scrutinize proposed parking and site plans and to require adequate charging infrastructure in new multifamily projects. No trustee action followed Marwick’s remarks during public comment; his comments were received for the record.