Barrington Hills officials are exploring whether changes are needed in the village’s open burning regulations after hearing from residents on several sides of the issue.
Resident Nina Chandel recently told the village’s public safety committee the ordinance for residential property needs a definition for habitat restoration open burning. She also suggested a modification for approved habitat restoration open burning days to be available based on wind speed and the air quality index.
Chandel said the current burning policy is hindering her ability to restore 4 acres of forest to natural health near her home.
“I now have masses of invasive brush on my residential property that cannot be removed or chipped or mulched,” Chandel said. “And it cannot reasonably be burned within the three-hour, five-foot single location limits that are in the current ordinance. Right now, this massive invasive brush presents health and safety hazards for the forest plants and wildlife and for us.”
Resident Justin Pawlik questioned Barrington Hills’ 10 p.m. cutoff time for a fire during the village board’s public safety committee last Thursday.
Read more here.
Why is any burning allowed in a village that has no fire hydrants and whose fire district fire departments have proven time and time again that they are not capable of saving houses from total destruction once they catch on fire? Just wondering!
Why do you have a “read more here” button when the reader is asked to pay the Herald to read more………..so irritating.
Suggest you don’t push the button then.
Suggest you head on over to Barrington Hills Chronicle then because they don’t care about violating copy right laws it appears – https://www.facebook.com/barringtonhillschronicle/posts/2846135572285046?__tn__=K-R
LOL Kate, What a joke! 90% of the content on the “Chronicle” FB page is copied from this page hours after it is posted. However, I do encourage BHO readers to head over there if they want to engage in conversation with Trustee Paula, who thinks it’s fine to communicate individually with an individual who already threatened VBH with a civil rights suit 2 years ago. Paula is very helpful and very chatty apparently. Reckless behavior!
Looks like Paula Jacobson handed the reins of the Chronicle over to the handlers of InZone. Dumb move since they control her now or maybe they have for some time?
Richard Michi
New Neighbor Burned Yard Waste 80 Days out of 180 Days
What would you do if your neighbor cut down about 80 trees and burned the yard waste over about 180 days—at his burn pile located only about 125 feet from your home (and about 325 feet from his home)–no matter the wind speed—and the smoke and stench meant you couldn’t open the windows in your home during spring, summer and fall months—or sit on your patio because the eyes of you and your guests would tear and you would have coughing fits?
The Barrington Hills Observer wrote on April 27, 2020:
“Then, depending on the season, by 6:00 PM people are outdoors enjoying their property from barbecues to bocce, and they likely do not appreciate the smell of smoke other than from their own grills. Also, in the spring and fall, who does not want to open their windows for fresh, cool air.”
I’ve been a prisoner in my own home because of the seemingly incessant burning of yard waste by the neighbor.
Believe it or not, the current burning ordinance allows every BH resident, in his sole discretion, to burn yard waste every day of the year for up to three hours each day between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (even in the dark) no matter the wind speed as long as the 5x5x5 burn pile is only 100 feet from a neighbor’s home.
My neighbor didn’t need a permit and didn’t have to tell the village or me that he would be burning so often.
I’ve owned my home for more than 30 years and there are more than 200 trees on my five acres. I’ve never burned. My landscapers have never needed to chip more than one day a year.
I would conjecture that more than 95% of residents burn yard waste fewer than five days a year.
There are many ways to change the ordinance to prevent outliers from destroying the lifestyle and health of neighbors while accommodating the burning of yard waste by almost all residents.
Write (barrringtonhills-il.gov) or call (847-551-3000) our board of trustees and tell them burning should be allowed, but on a much more limited basis—similar to the numerous suggestions I’ve written to them.
Thank you.