Yesterday, Rabchuck had a release about his new website. In the article, he states how much he cares about residents and their opinions and feelings and wants their imput. Yet here with Lexington he has in a previous story called those against it "a small group of vocal residents". Not a very kind word toward those residents he says he cares so much to hear from. What about the 1000+ residents who signed 2 different petitons against both the TIF and the plan? What about the rooms full of residents over the past couple years of meetings??? Oh yea, John you were no where to be found, didn't follow the project or the meetings at all. Now you of all people seem to think your an expert? Where have you been for the last several years for this or the Towne Center battle? Guess none of it really mattered to you until you decided you needed to look involved now that you are running for office. Nice try, but go try and say you know a darn thing about a project you have only but one night of you life following. Obviously what residents have said and what the City Survey statesmeans nothing to you as you try and claim.

By his recent statements denigrating the opinion of the public, Mr. Rabchuk has shown himself to be a man who as Mayor would not represent the people of St. Charles but who would only push for what he thinks is right...whether the majority of the population disagrees or not. The City's own priority survey shows that the VAST MAJORITY of St. Charles residents DO NOT WANT projects like Lexington Club.
So, Mr. Rabchuk you will not be getting my vote on April 9th.
Furthermore Sir, had you attended the meetings on this particular project, you would know that Lexington Homes' environmental consultant only considers the level of contamination to be a 1.5 on a 1 to 10 scale and that the State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would allow light manufacturing uses on the Applied Composites site without any remediation. So, you really are speaking out of turn and showing your lack of knowledge about the issues.

Thank you for the photos of the former applied composite site. Now that you have shown us the evidence from the photos you have taken credit for Mr. Rabchuk please take yourself down to the St. Charles police and turn yourself in for trespassing. Also it gives the citizens another look at how irresponsible the owners of the property & developer are by not securing this site. If this is the way Lexington Homes treats the community now do you really think they have the best of intentions for the city of St. Charles. They bullied they way in Des Plaines and are trying to do the same here. As far as the TIF goes we are not obligated to hand them over money to ensure their profit. They purchased a site knowing full well there may be issues and forgot the golden rule, Buyer Beware.
Now that we know whose side you align yourself with and whose interest you feel are more valuable, I along with the hundreds of people I have represented at countless City Council meetings will not be giving you our vote Mr. Rabchuk.

Mr. Rabchuk, I for one do not consider the more than 1,000 vehicle trips per day that Lexington Homes projects from the PUD to be minimal as you assert. If 1,000 more vehicles were traveling in front of your home on a daily basis, you would not consider it to be MINIMAL!!!! You obviously do not understand the issues with this project and you have shown yourself to be unwilling to listen to what the residents are saying. You are the worst candidate of the four who are running for Mayor!!!!

Furthermore, you are following that tired and erroneous refrain of "More Rooftops." St. Charles has more rooftops than Geneva, Batavia, and South Elgin and yet those communities are doing a better job of attracting new retail businesses than St. Charles is doing. More rooftops is not the solution and people who say so are only making excuses.

As a downtown business owner, The City Council Planning and Development Committee should make developing 1st Street a priority. This would be a better move for the St. Charles retail community than popping up more homes near west. Which ever mayoral candidate pushes for this development will have my vote.

Thank you for your input Mr Rabchuck--makes my decision on who to vote for, or in this case not vote for, in the election for mayor a whole lot easier. NEXT

Jason, FYI Mr. Rabchuck has been on the Downtown Partnership Board for years and look at the results of his supposed business knowledge and experience. The unfinished 1st Street you mention, Fox Island Sq virtually empty on the 2nd floor, and we recently lost the Bistro below. Many empty store fronts on both East and West Main St and Pi Pizza another recently closed business. With no obvious plans to turn it around and trying to blame roof tops on the lack of commercial growth when our neighbors (Batavia, Geneva & S Elgin) are adding commercial business with less population as us is a point I hope the candidates debate as I think it's a sad excuse for failure and not a valid reason. And now negative comments towards residents and Council members that simply want better for their City than we have had in recent years. His argument of the tax revenues from this project don't make sense either since there will be a tax freeze if the TIF is approved which doesn't give us the revenues he sites for many years and in fact will likely cause everyone's property taxes to go up as the development builds out and services are required to be provided on limited revenues. It may seem risk free for the City but it isn't for tax payers. Any of the other 3 candidates would be a better choice as our new Mayor.

Well Well Well, I am glad to see things are still the same while I was away on holiday. First for Mr. Rabchuk to make statements that the aldermen's decision to vote against the TIF is unfortunate and detrimental is is really blowing things out of proportion. The bottom line of the current proposed project and tif is that what the TIF is really for in the end is the developer's profit. Clean up costs are the same not matter how many homes you put in on that land and it isn't 6.2 + Million. Another question is if it is so important to clean up the site then why not address the contamination issues of the creek while you are at it. Aren't the existing residents worth the concern?

Then there is the issue of the supposed needed roof tops. As others have mentioned if they are our only solution, then why is it that Batavia just landed a new sporting good and accessory store, Geneva just got Ross, both are getting other restuarants and businesses along with South Elgin and yet they all have fewer homes than St. Charles. St. Charles has not been focusing on commercial for over 5 years. It has been nothing but a major residential push. Anyone fighting it gets slammed by the administration for it. Now not only the residents but the Council too. To see a mayoral candidate doing it now is a bit concerning. As many have said it is statements like this that lead me to know who I will not be voting for. I commend the Council for their vote and I hope they give the same vote Monday

First of all, I would like to commend those Aldermen who were brave enough to stand up to the City Hall steamroller and evaluate the Lexington Club proposal on its merits.

Secondly, Mr. Rabchuk, if you were attending all the meetings, you would know that there are no longer any row houses in the Lexington Homes proposal, that the environmental hazard posed on the property is not that serious, and that traffic will still be an issue. If you were so concerned about this project, why didn't you say something about it when the former Applied Composites site was brought up before the Comprehensive Plan Task Force (of which you were Vice Chairman) and both the Chairman and the paid Consultant said that they thought the Lexington proposal was too intense for the area and that the increased traffic would be too much of a burden on the existing city streets and neighborhood. It seems like you are only raising the issue now to attempt to get some political traction from it.

What a shame that city residents can't respect differences of opinion and have an educated debate on the issues. Instead, some resort to personal attacks and threats. What a shame. At least Mr. Rabchuk took a position. Mr. Rogina wouldn't even speak to the issue as a mayoral candidate. And, Jake Wyatt's statements clearly demonstrate that he's a babe in the woods.

Mr. Rogers, shame on you. You talk about people resorting to personal attacks and threats and then you turn around and make personal attacks on Mr. Rogina and Mr. Wyatt.
So, it appears that you are one of those people, like Mr. Rabchuk, who doesn't really want to have a debate; you would rather simply tell people how to think.

I think there is a difference between personal attack and political rhetoric, although it might be difficult at times to discern a difference. The elected officials and candidates for office are all adults here, and I'd be genuinely surprised if any one of them expected a) everyone to agree with them, and b) not to receive criticism or support for their views.

It's OK to disagree with someone, and it's OK to state publicly you can or cannot in good concscience vote for someone. Beyond that, calling others names, making false or unsupportable statements about someone tend to fans the flames of anger, which tends to escalate and puts a wet blanket on intelligent and potentially helpful dialogue.

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