Winnetka Park District urged to stand strong on comments to IDNR

Residents urged the Winnetka Park District Board to take a strong stand in comments to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on the lakefront development plan outlined in a permit submitted by Justin Ishbia through his Orchard 2020 trust.

The Park District owns the land next to Ishbia’s property at 205 Sheridan Road and is tasked with representing the people of the village, and residents urged members to consider both perspectives when commenting on the plan.

“I’m tired of paying for Ishbia’s plan,” Winnetka resident Katie Stevens said, referring to the time and professional fees that have been required during ongoing negotiations. “I want the Park District to represent us, not one person.”

The submitted plans include a stone breakwater at the northern end of his property with elevated native plants south of the structure, another stone breakwater parallel to the shoreline connected to the bluff by a steel groin with a cable safety railing along the steel and a grated access boating ramp just south of the northern breakwater. Plans outline stormwater disbursement from the northern breakwater through the stone and steps over the breakwater about two thirds down to ensure public access.

The northern breakwater elevation varies from 591 feet in elevation closer to the bluff to 587 feet at the end. The southern breakwater elevation sits at 587 feet in elevation.

Commissioner David Seaman said that, while he is all for individual property rights, the board’s comments to the IDNR need to be very strong, calling the initial draft weak.

“I completely respect the property exchange that we have with him ... but we need to be very direct, strong, (and) respectful on passage, on vegetation, sightlines, the boat ramp, (and) stormwater discharge,” Seaman said. “I want to be respectful to Orchard 2020 but definitely want to perform our duty to the public in our response.”

Commissioner Colleen Root told the board that several residents have come to her with concerns about being unable to meet with the person at IDNR who is tasked with overseeing the project. Stevens said she tried multiple times, but was instead directed to speak with Ishbia’s partner Bill Weaver at construction engineering company AECOM, something she was very uncomfortable doing.

“In the last two days I’ve had comments, people calling me, saying that they are afraid to go to Mr. Weaver’s offices because they do not want to be identified by such a prominent applicant as having concerns about the design,” Root said.

“I get the sense that a lot of people who have been following this are kind of intimidated by Ishbia because he could maybe get upset with them and litigate them into the ground,” resident Steve Juliusson said. “I don’t think people want to get anywhere near that.”

Those concerns included a vague description of native plants and the cable railing along the southern steel groin, adding further height to the structure. With the Park District’s proposed southern breakwater, Ishbia’s northern breakwater and the cable safety railing, residents worry that views to the south could become substantially obstructed.

“Frankly stated, it appears that the desire to fence and limit access continues by this applicant,” Root said. “How much stone and steel do we need to dump in the lake if our neighbor is going to do a nine foot northern breakwater?”

Board members have been asked to submit comments to Superintendent of Parks Costa Kutulas with plans to send their finalized comments to the IDNR by the end of the year. The comment period for the project ends Jan. 2.

According to Kutulas, the IDNR could require a public hearing for Ishbia to present the plan based on comments submitted but that is exceedingly rare. He said he believes it has been done once over the past 30 to 40 years.

“The Winnetka Park District is not an authority nor do we have jurisdiction on anything proposed formally on his sites,” he said. “Everything that’s in there will go through the proper agencies.”

Root suggested requesting a public hearing in the board’s comments to the IDNR.

A draft of the plan for the Elder/Centennial lakefront workshop on Jan. 21 was also presented, identifying six stations of discussion topics for residents to comment on and ask questions.

The six stations include topics such as the history of the site and project, design examples for lakefront construction, current design plans for Elder and Centennial, a timeline and approved motions made on the design thus far, the inclusion of the dog park and the property exchange agreement between the Park District and Ishbia.

“That’s the organic nature of having these open forums, it allows the public to be engaged and not have to hold back on a question,” Kutulas said. “They can ask the hard questions instead of having to say ‘I’ve got three minutes to get my response together and that’s it.’”

Board President Warren James said the board will extend an invitation to Ishbia and his team to take part in the Jan. 21 workshop in hopes that there can be some collaboration on the project.

“Just because a permit is issued doesn’t mean it gets built,” James said.