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Archive for the ‘Traffic’ Category

Fix for chronic flooding on Route 59 in North Barrington set to begin

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Daily Herald, Taxes, Traffic on July 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A $2.17million drainage project about to get underway will reduce chronic flooding on Route 59 south of Route 22 in North Barrington. | Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

By Mick Zawislak | Daily Herald

A project years in the making to address chronic flooding along Route 59 and neighboring streets in North Barrington is set to get underway.

Village officials announced the start of the $2.17 million GHO Stormwater Drainage Project, designed to address 20 years of flooding on Route 59 south of Route 22.

The road in that area has been closed six times due to stormwater impacts, most recently on April 18, as hazardous driving conditions resulted from water overtopping the road, according to the village.

Village streets also have seen severe flooding for many years. The failed system to be replaced has negatively affected more than 40 properties and 250 acres within the watershed area.

When completed, a drainage construction project will reduce the flooding problem on Route 59 south of Route 22 in North Barrington. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

GHO stands for the Grassmere Farms, Haverton and Oaksbury neighborhoods in the area. The genesis of the regional project began in 2023 when the village approved an engineering agreement to develop plans for flooding relief.

On April 22, the village approved a contract with Copenhaver Construction Inc., for the project. The village was notified last week that all necessary permits from the Illinois Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission had been approved.

Article continues here.

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Public pushback to Flock cameras spark variety of government responses

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Big Brother, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Roads & Bridges Committee, The Center Square, The New Normal?, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD on July 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Flock cameras such as the one pictured above have been installed at border entrances/exits of all Barrington Hills roads.

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

Across the country, opposition to license plate cameras created by Flock Safety is mounting. Major cities and small communities alike are deciding to end their contracts with the company – Illinois being no exception.

Cities in Illinois, such as Oak Park and Evanston, have chosen to end contracts with the company, even as police departments have said they’re a useful tool in law enforcement.

In Springfield, aldermen were at odds in recent weeks over an ordinance to renew their contract with Flock for two years, costing taxpayers half a million dollars.

On Tuesday, council passed the measure while allowing for more transparency and regular public reports on the cameras’ effectiveness.

“It’s some simple things, and I’m just asking that to be standard and be given to us on multiple things. Transparency, equitable – making sure that these things are fair – and also reporting back to us so we as a council can, come budget time, look to address these things,” said Alderman Shawn Gregory.

Gregory was opposed to renewing the contract, but he said he was able to draft a plan for transparency based on guidance from organizations like the ACLU.

The council negotiated changes with the police department during the meeting, and passed it with two members opposed to any stipulations.

In contrast, the Madison, Wisconsin, area recently ended their partnership with Flock over data privacy risks and outside access.

Article continues here.

Editorial note: CNET published an excellent article last month titled, “When Flock Surveillance Comes to Your Town: Everything to Know About These Cameras.”

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Rezoning request for potential data center in Hoffman Estates withdrawn

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

The firm that owns the 186-acre Plum Farms property at Higgins Road and Route 59 in Hoffman Estates has withdrawn its request to rezone the site to manufacturing use that potentially would have enabled a data center there.

“We got word last night that it had been withdrawn,” Hoffman Estates Village Manager Eric Palm said Wednesday.

That immediately removed the decision from the agenda of Monday’s village board meeting, at which a large crowd of opponents from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington was expected.

Report continues here.

Related: “Barrington CUSD 220 opposes rezoning of Plum Farms,” “Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage,” “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Building Department, Clown Car, Data Center, Dumb and Dumber, EJ&E/Canadian National, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, One Barrington Hills, Open Meetings Act, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Police Reports, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Roads & Bridges Committee, Sears, Simple Minds, South Barrington, Taxes, The Land We Love Run, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Well Water Quality, Zoning Board on June 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

*Ironically (and moronically), just six months ago President Cecola invited an unannounced guest to present their ideas on a 110-acre data center proposal adjacent to Pond Gate Farms that would have necessitated rezoning that acreage to Light Industrial in Barrington Hills at his December board meeting.

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Village Posts Traffic Advisory for Sunday June 28th.

Posted in Fundraisers, The Land We Love Run, Traffic, VBHPD on June 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“The Land We Love 5K & 10K Run will take place on Sunday, June 28, between 7:20 AM and 9:00 AM. During the event, Cuba Road, Merri Oaks Road, Buckley Road, and Oak Knoll Road will be closed to through traffic.

Residents who live along the race route will continue to have access to and from their homes; however, brief delays may occur. If possible, we encourage impacted residents to avoid traveling during the event. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we support this community event.

Thank you, Village of Barrington Hills.”

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Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Data Center, Deception, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, News Media, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality, WGN9 on June 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By: Dana Rebik, Ethan Illers | WGN9

A proposed data center in the northwest suburbs is drawing residents to protest Wednesday evening.

Plum Farms, which stretches across 185 acres of land near Route 59 and Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates, could soon be home to the village’s third data center. It’s a project proposed by the company Karis Critical.

The possibility of the data center being built has area residents frustrated.

“It is incredibly close. My neighbors and I, we can walk down a hilly berm from some of their back yards,” South Barrington resident Dr. Laura Holmes said. “The people here have some idea that they’re closing us in.”

At a commission meeting held on June 3, residents said they were not given information about the scope of the project, so they filed a freedom of information request and said what they found was alarming.

“We feel like we’ve been totally ignored. The public hearings we’ve had are like political theater. It’s just a formality. They’ve already made up their mind,” Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard said. “They had all these plans up to 18 months ago even prior to the sale of the property. We found a letter from the village manager who basically guaranteed we can re-zone.”

According to a letter from Village Manager Eric Palm to Karis Critical Attorney Matthew Norton, in January of 2025, Palm said the village recognizes the benefits data centers provide for the community, saying the village will support zoning approvals and that staff will recommend its approval.

Residents said seeing this makes them feel left in the dark.

“It’s been very surreptitious,” Holmes said.

Residents also found detailed site plans on a Karis document, showing a five-building, 300 megawatt data center, ten times larger than the one Karis tried to build in Naperville, which was voted down earlier this year.

Report and video can be found here.

Related: “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

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Local residents protest potential rezoning of Plum Farms site in Hoffman Estates for data center

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Deception, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Mad Cows, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions on June 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, including Christine Krzystofczyk of Hoffman Estates, protest the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the corner of routes 59 and 72, immediately west of The Arboretum in South Barrington Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Residents of communities near the 186-acre Plum Farms property in Hoffman Estates Wednesday protested its proposed rezoning for industrial uses they consider a smoke screen for a data center.

Demonstrators from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington cited documents obtained through public records requests as evidence that inquiries about a plan for a data center at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 were shared with the village in early 2025

Hoffman Estates Deputy Village Manager Jon Pape confirmed landowner Karis Critical did submit such unsolicited concept plans last year. They were not reviewed by village staff as a formal development proposal would have been.

Doreen Gibrich, along with other residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, protests the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property on the corner of routes 59 and 72 Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Mayor Bill McLeod emphasized the request before the village board at its meeting of Monday, July 6 is for a rezoning of the property without a detailed plan attached.

“A concept plan isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” McLeod said. “Formal plans are very involved. What’s on the table is rezoning.”

The village’s plan commission recommended against granting that request by a 4-2 vote on June 3. The village presidents of Barrington Hills and South Barrington have lent their voices to the opposition.

Article continues here.

Related: “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

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Editorial: ‘Toll free in ‘73’ was just another empty promise. Buckle up for a 45-cent toll hike, Illinois.

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Chicago Tribune, Clown Car, Cost of Living, Deception, Ethics, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Road construction, Springfield, Taxes, Traffic, Unions on June 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Engineer John Zimmerman, left, and Commissioner George DeMent, right, view an automatic coin collector at the toll gate of the Calumet Skyway on April 10, 1958, to be opened to traffic. | George Quinn/Chicago Tribune

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Illinois tollways were meant to be freeways decades ago.

Gov. JB Pritzker promised to reform the Illinois Tollway before he was elected, the latest in a long line of governors, from Rod Blagojevich to Jim Thompson, who vowed reform.

Remember, the tollways aren’t even supposed to be tollways anymore. The tolls were meant to be temporary until the bonds issued to build the roads were paid off. Many of our readers may remember that old promise that by 1973, our dear tollways would become freeways.

“Toll free in ‘73,” it turns out, is just another empty promise long forgotten.

After decades — and billions of dollars — in paid tolls later, drivers are further away than ever from those cost-free roads.

Now, they’re staring down the prospect of another toll hike.

The Illinois Tollway board is in the process of implementing a 45-cent toll increase for I-Pass users, meaning a 70-cent toll today could become $1.15 in 2027.

And the toll hikes won’t stop there. Starting in 2029, the proposal to be considered by the Illinois Tollway board sets up CPI-indexed toll hikes every two years.

Editorial continues here.

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Hoffman Estates Village Board of Trustees meet Monday

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Village Code on June 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Hoffman Estates Board of trustees will meet Monday at 7 PM at 1900 Hassell Road.

As previously reported, “(The Plum Farms) data center development will not appear on the agenda of Monday’s village board meeting.” However, Friday South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posted:

“The Plum Farms property zoning on rt 59 and 72 across from the Woods of South Barrington is not presently on the schedule for the Village Board meeting in Hoffman Estates on Monday, but while Mayor McCleod and the Hoffman Estates Trustees decide whether or not to take the Plan Commissions recommendation against the change of zoning allowing a data center, I encourage you to attend their next meeting on Monday the 15th. This gives their leaders time to consider residents voices while contemplating the way they will vote.”

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here. Monday’s meeting will be available live via YouTube and the link can be found here.

Related: “Hoffman Estates board won’t consider rezoning for potential data center Monday”

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Change.org Petition: “Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates”

Posted in AI, Cellular Service, Cook, County, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on June 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Issue

“We need your support to stop Hoffman Estates Village Board from rezoning the 185-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of 72/Higgins and Rt 59/New Sutton Rd from Mixed Residential and Retail to zoning that will allow for data centers, manufacturing, and distribution. Residents in Hoffman Estates, South Barrington, and Barrington Hills cherish the high quality of life, fresh air, and safe environment — not the 24/7 hum of diesel generators and industrial noise. Specifically, this petition request is to halt Hoffman Estates’ approval of a zoning change that would allow for a third data center property within a few miles of two existing data centers. A data center situated across the road from hundreds of residents and very close to two other data centers is not a reasonable location. The noise, diesel emissions, and industrial-scale activity don’t belong near homes, many retail, restaurants, and wonderful outdoor venues on the South and East side of Rt. 72 and Rt. 59.

Local residents, city and state officials, environmental, and public health advocates voiced their concerns at the June 3 Hoffman Estates Plan Commission Meeting regarding the Plum Farm rezoning request. Hoffman Estates Planning Board recently voted at the end of a long evening against the rezoning request, with a vote of 4 to 2.  However, the decision now rests with the Village Board, which is not obligated to adhere to the Planning Commission’s recommendation.  We need to get everyone’s voice to each and every Village Trustee to ensure they understand the voice of the people, and to accept the recommendation of their own Planning Board.”

View and please sign the petition here, then share.

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