Homer Glen residents and farm owners clash with village over summerfest permits and PUD rules

Hundreds of residents and multiple employees of Bankston/Bengston Farm urged the Village of Homer Glen on Aug. 14 to allow the farm’s summer operations to continue without year-by-year special event permits, saying the farm relied on an existing Planned Unit Development and longstanding practice.

The appeals came during the board’s public comment period after staff issued a violation related to Summerfest operations. “We can’t make long term investments where we must get year by year permission to operate,” said Scott Bengston, owner, Bengston Farm.

The dispute centers on whether the farm’s summer festival falls within the scope of its PUD or requires a special event permit. Several employees and longtime customers told the board the attraction brings visitors from across the state and out of state, hires seasonal workers and supports local businesses. “Bankston’s is more than just a workplace. It brings joy to countless families year after year,” said Lindsay Hecker, employee, Bengston Farm.

Mayor Christina, addressing the crowd, said the village was not seeking to close the farm. “Bankston’s is not being shut down. Their pumpkin farm is not being shut down,” she said, adding that expansion beyond the PUD requires either a PUD amendment or a special event permit. “If you want to expand, you have two choices. You can either come in and have your PUD changed, or you can apply for a special event permit,” the mayor said.

Scott Bengston told the board he and his father made business investments—including purchasing equipment and signing multiyear contracts—based on village guidance last year that Summerfest was covered by the PUD. Bengston said a July 2024 village occupancy inspection referenced Summerfest, and that this year his permits for fall improvements were put on hold after the violation.

Village Manager Joe Baber and other staff told the board the village’s position rests on land‑use rules and the need to follow current permitting processes. Baber said the village had previously met with the farm’s owners and agreed on procedures but later asked for special event permits to allow annual review and coordination with public safety and other departments.

Neighbors and employees raised concerns that enforcement has been uneven across similar businesses. “Why are we being fined for something that is allowed under our existing PUD while the business [with long ties to the mayor] adds up violations without any consequences?” asked one resident, referencing a competing business named in public comment; the board did not take immediate action on that allegation.

The mayor said the board wants the farm to continue and urged the owners to pursue either a PUD amendment or a special event permit to resolve the dispute. No legislative action on the farm’s permits was taken at the meeting.

The board did grant Bankston’s a three‑minute extension to complete public comment after a motion by trustees.

What happens next: farm owners were advised to pursue either a PUD amendment or a special event permit so operations and future investments can be decided with formal village approvals.