The Village recently released recordings from the June 23 Village Board meeting. To access the menu of the meeting’s topical audio recording segments, click here.
The Observer recommends that readers take a few minutes to listen to the attorney’s report. Ironically, the dialog, often times antagonistic, only demonstrates how the political shadow and influence from the past continues today on our board as we pointed out in “Conflicted,” which was published the very morning of the meeting.
A direct link to the recording can be found here.
– The Observer
I heard Messer and Harrington were completely out of line. To his credit McLaughlin didn’t let them get to him as well he shouldn’t since these two are just tools.
Also heard the Oakwood owner held up a copy of the village website home page and declared that since it states VBH is an equestrian community then it’s a fact. The real fact is that “branding’ appeared on the website shortly after the 2005 election. It was Abboud’s pay back to the Riding club for helping him win the election
The fact is we are a rural residential/estate community that is equine friendly. Joseph Goebbels said “If you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it” and that’s what’s been going on here for way too long here.
As far as I’m concerned horses are fine. I have no issues with them or other outdoor animals. The problems come more often than not with some of the lunatic animal owners who try to cram their lifestyle down their neighbor’s throats
For the BHO record, I stated Barrington Hills is zoned “Residential” (R1-R4)* and not zoned equestrian; not once but [maybe] 3 times. This zoning designation for our Village is not subject to debate but a legal reality*.
I also stated while zoned residential, BH has a rich tradition of embracing equestrian activities and lifestyle which is sewn into the fabric of BH primarily as a hobby. [you can listen to the tapes of the ZBA meetings and draw your own conclusions]
The ZBA is ostensibly considering whether a text amendment to our Village Code is in order to allow commercial [business] boarding beyond the guidelines set forth in the Village’s home occupation ordinance.
While I welcome Dr. LeCompte’s continued effort to publicly discredit me as a ZBA board member I would admonish him by saying that fundemental notions of fair play and common decency require he do this by introducing facts rather than story telling. The issue of large scale commercial boarding is too important to BH residents for the record to be skewed by some who stand to gain from the outcome.
*[BH is also zoned B1-B4 (Business) in very limited areas, see BH Zoning Map. These catagories fall under “Restricited and General Business”. These business districts have no application to the commercial horse boarding issue as the location of all large scale boarding operations in BH to the best of my knowledge are presently located within R1 District (5 acre zoning)].
*[I was also on the plan commission which spent more than a year writing the comprehensive plan where the word “equestrian” I am reminded appears
73 times. But you will never find the word “equestrian” used as a “zoning designation” nor will you find the phrase “commercial boarding” or the word “equestrian” in the context of a business use”.
Instead, consistent with my statements the BH Comprehensive Plan references equestrian in the context of a hobby and lifestyle providing a rational in support of BH 5 Acre R1 zoning.] . . .
How quickly some forget the mantra: “Save 5 Acres” !
David Stieper – ZBA member and Resident
Please listen to recordings 9 (Attorney) and 10 (Administration). Draw your own conclusions. Trustee Messer is defending his and Bob Abboud’s actions April, 2013 to nominate ZBA positions after the defeat of Abboud in order to influence promotion of unlimited commercial boarding in Barrington Hiills. Trustee Messer states “he gets to disregard the Attorney General.”
Be afraid.
Trustees Messer, Meroni, Harrington, Gohl in this audio (and Selman who was not in attendance) attempt to ignore the Attorney General’s opinion. Worse, they disregard that the action of Abboud to nominate with their approval 35 committee members after his defeat is unequivocally bad ethics and poor moral judgment. This is an overt political attempt to influence the outcome of Oakwood Farms litigation and install unlimited commercial boarding code in our Village.
We equestrians should panic that these illegal and immoral acts will only backfire and eventually rally all residents to fight against the existence and spread of unchecked commercialism in our Village.
Polly
“Representation without taxation”
Curious! Why is there such loud support from the Save 5 Acre slate of Trustees for commercial boarding when these interests do not pay fees or taxes to the Village for their commercial operations? Why do non-residents enjoy the benefits of the Barrington Hills Park District and our open trail system without payment of any fees? Do the public officials representing these interests enjoy any other financial or in kind service for their promotion of commercialism in the Village? Just seems odd that there is so much feverish support for commercial interests subsidized by real taxpayers in the Village. Anyone care to enlighten?
“James Otis”