Dozens of Walnut Grove residents came to the Barrington Village Board meeting on Nov. 10 to urge trustees to preserve residential zoning on North Hager Avenue and oppose plans tied to Barrington High School that could demolish homes for a 40‑space parking lot.

"I would like to encourage you to vote against rezoning the residential properties on North Hager Avenue," said Christina Granoff, a Walnut Grove resident. Multiple speakers — including Jeff Andrus and Dawn Mass — said the proposal would erode neighborhood character, remove housing stock and depress property values. "Please consider every option before choosing to erase this vital part of Barrington and rezone our residential neighborhood," Andrus said.

Residents offered specific concerns and alternatives. Christina Granoff and others said the auditorium expansion would add about 120 seats and that roughly 40 of the additional parking spaces were proposed to come from several lots adjacent to the high school, with other spots to be found elsewhere on school property. Alyssa Clapson told trustees she believed the district or investors planned to spend "well over $1,600,000" to acquire and demolish houses for about 40 parking stalls; trustees and staff did not confirm that figure.

Jennifer Tennant, the village's director of development services, told the board the village had received an application from the school district and that the project was "still in the early stages." Tennant said the next step is that the district respond to village review comments and then host a neighborhood meeting; she added that "the neighborhood meeting is scheduled for December 10 at 6PM via Zoom. Anyone is welcome to attend." She said the plan commission public hearing was tentatively scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, and that required studies (for example, traffic impact analysis) are submitted by the petitioner and may be reviewed by independent village consultants.

Trustees did not act on zoning tonight. Several residents asked that the village and school district hold joint conversations and provide transparent, public impact studies — including topographic and drainage information — before any rezoning or demolition is approved.

What happens next: the school district's neighborhood meeting (Dec. 10) and the plan commission hearing (tentatively Jan. 13, 2026) will be the formal venues for review and public input. The village's development review process requires the petitioner to supply technical studies; staff said those materials will be posted on the village's development updates website and mailed to nearby property owners when the project advances.