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Residents and trustees spar over Family Square grocery plan and downtown master plan alignment
Summary
Public commenters and a trustee discussed Family Square property redevelopment and whether a proposed Sprouts grocery would fit Lisle’s downtown master plan; trustees said residents should check public records and the village is reviewing site options.
Public comment and trustee remarks at the Village of Lisle Aug. 18 meeting highlighted disagreement over redevelopment of the Family Square site and whether an organic grocer, Sprouts, should be welcome in the downtown area.
The items matter because redevelopment choices affect the village’s downtown plan, potential TIF considerations and where a grocer could locate.
“I suggest you review your comments because they are very conflicting and not always factual,” resident Susan Sorel told Mayor Mullen in public comment, criticizing statements she said were made about a grocery store and the village master plan.
Dean Brecco, a resident of 5494 Burr Oak, said a Sprouts representative told him they had not encountered a community that turned down their store. “They were stunned that the village of Lisle actually did not accept that,” Brecco said during public comment.
During trustee reports, Trustee Lesniak encouraged public engagement and said some social-media discussion on the topic lacked context. Lesniak said the village’s public documents are available and offered to send links to residents seeking meeting minutes. She did not state that the board had made a new decision about the Family Square property.
Board members did not take a formal vote on Family Square or Sprouts during the Aug. 18 meeting. Trustee Lesniak said potential alternative commercial spaces, including property on Ogden Avenue, were listed in village documents as options for retailers; she said the site would be in a tax-increment financing (TIF) district.
No executive-session materials or new purchase actions for the Family Square property were disclosed in open session. Brecco speculated publicly that a bid or executive-session negotiation might exist but provided no documentation; the board did not confirm such activity during open session.
Trustees encouraged residents to review public records and participate in upcoming meetings to ensure full context when discussing redevelopment proposals.
