Northbrook trustees approve special permit for Meadowbrook School gym after heated neighborhood debate

The Northbrook Village Board on an item related to Meadowbrook School voted to approve an ordinance granting a special permit for an elementary and secondary school, a loading-space variation and site plan approval for Meadowbrook School (District 28) at 1600 Walters Avenue.

The vote came after more than an hour of staff explanation, trustee questions and public comment from neighbors and parents. The board approved the measure 6–0; staff and the village attorney had said a written protest filed earlier triggered a requirement that at least five of seven trustees vote in favor for the ordinance to pass.

The special permit request stems from the fact the school predates the village zoning code and therefore did not have an institutional special permit required by the current IB (Institutional/Benevolent) district. Director McKeown told the board the gymnasium design “does meet the zoning code except for the 3 things that are in front of you today,” referring to the special permit, the loading-space variation and the site plan. Village Attorney Elrod explained that a valid protest filed under the village code requires a supermajority and said, “A valid protest triggers a super majority vote on the village board level. That means in order to pass the ordinance that's before you, you need a vote of 5 out of the 7 of you.”

Neighbors and parents split on whether the board should grant the permit now.…