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Committee declines to support Vernon Hills lot for Mundelein music festival parking after police raise safety, noise concerns
Summary
Committee of the Whole declined to direct staff to bring forward a resolution permitting remote parking in Vernon Hills for a Mundelein festival that allows on‑site cannabis consumption; police cited prior neighbor complaints about noise and smell and warned of impaired‑driving risk for up to 600 vehicles per day.
The Committee of the Whole on Aug. 12 heard a request to use a Vernon Hills lot as remote parking for the Mundelein music festival “Miracle in Mundelein,” which permits on‑site recreational cannabis consumption. After presentations from staff, the police chief and the festival organizer, the committee declined to ask staff to prepare a resolution to permit the remote parking.
Director Jennings explained the event’s parking plan would use a Vernon Hills lot with shuttle service to the festival site roughly two miles west; organizers would sell parking passes and provide security and porta‑potties. Chief Kreese told the board Vernon Hills officers had responded to numerous complaints in previous years at the festival’s prior sites, citing loud music and the wafting of marijuana smoke into adjacent residential neighborhoods.
"Each of the last two years, we responded to numerous complaints about the smell...I am concerned about impaired driving after an open air marijuana festival," Chief Kreese said. He said staff estimated up to 600 vehicles a day using the remote lot and warned about the difficulty of managing exits and potential impaired drivers.
Festival representative Bridal Bloom said organizers had used off‑site parking at Medline in prior years without recorded incidents and that they had modified staging to direct sound away from Vernon Hills. Several trustees said they supported the chief’s concerns. Trustee Schenck stated that Vernon Hills would not participate until Mundelein consulted with Vernon Hills about site proximity to neighborhoods.
At the committee’s request for direction, multiple trustees voted 'No' on moving forward with a board resolution to permit the remote parking; staff will not pursue the permit at this time.
