It has been over a decade since this publication requested input from residents on matters of importance to our residents via surveys. The last time was in November of 2013 (seen here), and before that, in October of 2012 (seen here).
So, why have we decided it is time to solicit input from residents? It boils down to two reasons.
First, our Zoning Board of Appeals has spent a year discussing Village Code modifications that may affect all residents. Such modifications include:
Recreational Vehicle Regulations – This determines how many, “Recreational vehicles are defined as vehicles or trailers for recreational or utilitarian uses which can be driven, towed, sailed, hauled or flown,” one might store in the open on one’s property.
Renewable Energy – This is intended to establish guidelines for roof and ground mounted solar energy systems. Those systems might be solar, geothermal and/or wind based.
Solid Roof and Berm Height – The Zoning Board seems to be leaning toward increasing the maximum height of solid fences and berms from five feet to six feet. (The five-foot limit on solid fencing has been in place for as long as anyone can remember, and thus may explain why one rarely sees solid fences in Barrington Hills).
Drafts of these Code modifications can be viewed here.
Many believe the Zoning Board and the Board of Trustees would benefit from objective opinions from as many residents as possible before deciding on any code modifications.
The second purpose of a survey is to take the pulse of residents when it comes to our current Board of Trustees. The reasons are clear to us as well as numerous residents, and we will cite examples.
Outside of the current Village President, the maximum experience level of Trustees is three (3) years. One of those trustees has only physically attended five (5) regular board meetings in 2023. And they were absent from five (5) meetings and attended remotely two (2) times.
Further, we understand the Trustee who is the Committee Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals has yet physically attended one of their meetings. We could go further, but it should be apparent now why residents might be interested in a new survey.
We hope to have the questions posted in a few weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to email any questions or suggestions to BHObserver@gmail.com.
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