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Barrington resident urges halt to tree removals, warns Park Avenue parking plan will hurt businesses
Summary
Resident Bill Hartman told the Village of Barrington board that a roughly 20‑year‑old downtown tree was removed during streetscape work and warned a plan that would eliminate 34 Park Avenue parking spaces would harm downtown businesses; he suggested redirecting a developer donation to streetscape preservation.
Bill Hartman, a Barrington resident, told the Village of Barrington Board of Trustees on June 8 that contractors for a downtown streetscape project cut down a roughly 20‑year‑old tree and urged the board to prevent further removals.
"It took 20 years to grow that tree," Hartman said, urging trustees to tell contractors "not to cut down any more trees." He displayed photographs and said many residents are "really mad" about the loss.
Hartman also raised concerns about a Park Avenue plan that, as he described it, would remove 34 parking spaces. "There's 34 parking spots there," he said. "If those 34 cars have to find another spot, it's going to really damage the businesses." He told trustees that merchants were concerned enough they might sue over the plan and suggested a developer who had volunteered to make a contribution instead donate equivalent value to expanding streetscape work.
The remarks came during the public‑comment portion of the board meeting; the transcript does not record a formal response from trustees or staff, nor any immediate board action to change the streetscape work or the Park Avenue plan. The board moved on to proclamations and consent‑agenda business following public comment.
The board's next regular meeting was set for June 22, 2026.
