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Council approves 23-year Ravinia license and special-use items after safety-focused debate
Summary
The council approved a 23-year license and special-use amendment for the Ravinia Festival Association, 6–1, after discussion about pavement, lighting and public-safety review timetables; one council member voted no and requested an earlier safety review.
The Highland Park City Council voted May 27 to approve a minor amendment to a plan development for 418 Sheridan Road and a special license agreement with the Ravinia Festival Association, concluding a debate about public-safety review timing and proposed pavement changes.
Council members discussed whether the new license should remain on a long review cycle (23 years) or be reviewed in three years for safety considerations such as lighting, pavement, crowd management and emergency access. Council member Littlemore advocated for a three-year review to allow earlier reassessment of safety measures; the mayor and staff argued the longer cadence aligns with existing agreements and operational planning.
Jim Schmidt, representing the festival, described a proposal to widen an existing asphalt roadway by 6 feet on the west side adjacent to the railroad to facilitate bus drop-offs and to create a safer pedestrian path. "No trees come down," Schmidt said; he noted the Green Bay Trail would remain crushed limestone.
Council approved items a and b (Ravinia-related) with six ayes and one nay (Council member Littleworth opposed). Council members asked that festival representatives raise the project at neighborhood meetings and commit to neighborhood notification and signage when permits are filed.
What happens next: Staff will finalize the license agreement documentation and coordinate any required permits and neighborhood outreach before work is scheduled.
