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Kids & Family

Letter to the Editor: Transparency Versus Opaqueness Part 3

Reader Jay Thomas shares concerns over Lexington Homes. Thomas' thoughts will be shared in several posts due to the length of the letter.

The City of St. Charles  hosted a meeting on April 4, 2007 at the Municipal Center to provide residents “an additional meeting to ask questions, voice concerns, and offer ideas on the future of this area (Applied Composites).” 

The City went on to state in its letter to property owners, “If it is to be redeveloped for residential use, how much density is appropriate?  Should it match the surrounding neighborhoods to the south?” The public was told its feedback would be used in deciding how to amend the Comprehensive Plan. At the end of the day, the public’s feedback meant nothing because the Comprehensive Plan Amendment reflected relatively little of what the public wanted to see.  

At the April 9, 2007 meeting of the Planning and Development Committee, Mr. Hupp told the Committee about the two meetings. He commented, “there was a good turn out of the neighbors and…that their comments and concerns were noted and the consultants are reviewing those comments to see how they can be addressed.” Evidently, the consultants didn’t feel that the public’s input was worth much because most of it was ignored in putting the Comprehensive Plan Amendment together. And Mr. Hupp gave the Aldermen, who made up the Planning and Development Committee at that time, the impression that the final result would reflect what the public wanted.

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Perhaps even more revealing than the City’s and the consultant’s actions is an article dated April 5, 2007 that appeared on Chicago Real Estate Daily.com, a Crain’s Chicago Business affiliate. The article entitled, “Homebuilding Veteran Launches New Venture” is about Mr. Ronald Benach. He talks about how he is the Chairman of the Board of the relaunched  Lexington Homes, LLC, which was created in 2006. He speaks about developments that they have under way and future ones planned in St. Charles and Des Plaines. So, before the public input could even be digested, before the consultants could finish their study, before the Comprehensive Plan Amendment could even be drafted, and before the Amendment could even be approved by the City,  Mr. Benach is not only confident that Lexington Homes will be building a residential complex in St. Charles but he is bragging about it. 

Why the confidence?  Because he is paying the consultant, he knows what the Comprehensive Plan Amendment is going to allow before it is ever put on paper.

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