Developer presents conversion plan for South Barrington Office Center; residents press police staffing concerns

An unnamed developer presented a proposed plan to convert the South Barrington Office Center at 33 W. Higgins Road into a residential/mixed‑use development during the July 13 Village Board meeting. The presentation was given for initial review; no formal zoning action or vote was recorded that evening.

During the public‑comment period, resident Sue Ardizzone expressed concerns about the management and staffing levels of the South Barrington Police Department. Ardizzone’s remarks were recorded in the minutes but the transcript does not include further specifics of the grievance. Resident Al Saller asked whether a rumor that the former Home Goods store would become a Trader Joe’s was accurate; the minutes note the question but do not record a confirmation.

Mayor Paula McCombie invited public comment and later addressed the earlier police‑department remarks after the Board reconvened from executive session. The minutes do not include a verbatim response or record any Board action directly tied to these comments.

The matter of the office‑center conversion was informational at this stage; the minutes indicate related Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals meetings are scheduled in the coming week on other items (a proposed church and school, signage, a pool‑fence variance and a proposed residential development near Mundhank & Freeman Roads). Any formal land‑use review or required approvals for the Higgins Road proposal would be subject to review at future hearings.