Public Comments of Oct. 9, 2007
La Grange Plan Commission
Hearing on Proposal for La Grange Place

Harlan Hirt, 421 S Spring Ave

These remarks were made by Mr. Hirt in his second appearance during the same public comment session.

If I may redirect the point I was trying to make before, because you said your lawyer [the Vilage Attorney] has advised you [that comments regarding the rezoning of open space, as requested by the developer, were germane to discussion of the proposed project], three acres is the cutoff point.

This proposal would remove 3.5 acres from the public park. Therefore, under the law as I understand it, that does require a public referendum before the action can be taken.

So the Village has to buy into this plan to make it legal for the Park District to sell through a court[-sanctioned] action.

If the Village does not agree to the plan as proposed, I feel that a public referendum on this action is needed.

If that referendum favors [sale of the parkland] because the benefits [are supported by the voters, than so be it]. But it does seem appropriate that this action should be going to public referendum. And I think the Village has the power and the authority to make sure it does that.