Walnut Grove is more than just a place to live; it's a community rich in history that we proudly call home. Situated in the heart of Barrington, our subdivision, which includes North Hager Avenue, Laverne Lane, Raymond Avenue, and West Main St, has developed a unique character over its 100 years, shaped by the contributions and experiences of families who value safety, privacy, and the harmonious ambiance of residential living.

Now, this cherished character is under threat. The Barrington District 220 has proposed a plan that would dramatically alter the essence of our neighborhood, transforming it into something our community does not stand for. Their plan involves spending and estimated $1.6 million of their $4.3 millage budget surplus to purchase and demolish four residential homes and properties on West Main Street and North Hager Avenue to create a parking lot. The district approved contracts in August to buy 502, 506 and 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. at a cost of $985,000 and are currently in negotiations with 118 N. Hager Ave. Closings are scheduled for December 15th, and the district is asking for village board zoning approval. Families with D220 students are being evicted from these properties because of this process. The School Board has suggested that this will add just a meager 40 parking spaces at a whopping $40,000 per parking stall.

This plan not only conflicts with Walnut Grove's identity but also violates the Village's Comprehensive Plan, which prioritizes protecting the scale and character of neighborhoods and minimizing commercial encroachment into residential areas. It is the very definition of "spot zoning." Approving the rezoning of these properties into a parking lot would significantly reduce the home values of current residents, infringe upon their privacy and security, and permanently alter the residential character of our subdivision. Noise, bright lights and late-night activity from a parking lot are incompatible with single-family homes. More concerning is the dangerous precedent this re-zoning will set for our community as a whole. It signals that residential homes bordering D220 school property are not protected, but rather serve as land banks for future institutional expansion.

Most all of us can agree that the school needs more parking spaces, but there are better alternatives that must be considered first. Alternatives that do not include buying up more properties within the village and ones that can provide significantly more than just 40 additional spaces. Barrington 220 owns over 11 acres of land immediately west of the high school, across Hart Rd. They also have a grass field on the southwest corner of Hart Rd and Main St. which is already adjacent to existing parking, near the future auditorium, and large enough to provide upwards of 200-250 additional parking spaces, all without disrupting and devaluing our residential community and reducing property tax income for the village. Forty parking stalls does not solve the parking shortage from the future auditorium project, clearly demonstrating that this land is not suitable for the districts intended use. Their current proposal is both shortsighted and a frivolous usage of tax payer dollars, at the expense of current tax paying residents.

Walnut Grove, formerly Trestik's Subdivision, has proudly existed with the Barrington Village community for 100 years and has neighbored Barrington High School for 76 of those years. It contains several Sears homes from the 1930's and 1940's built by former Barrington High School students and a 1901 farmhouse, that was moved on three separate occasions to ensure its preservation, eventually settling on its current lot on N Hager Ave., naming just a few. These reflect Barrington 's architectural and cultural heritage, which are deserving of the same protection and recognition as the surrounding Historic Overlay District. We are asking the Village and the District to honor our neighborhood homes, respect and protect our place and value within this community the same way we have for them.

We strongly oppose this rezoning initiative. It is crucial for us to stand together to uphold and protect the integrity, value, and peace of our beloved residential community and say no to spot zoning! Let’s urge the Village of Barrington to uphold its comprehensive plan and zoning laws and encourage Barrington District 220 to consider better suited alternative solutions that satisfy the need for additional parking spaces without sacrificing our residential areas.

Sign this petition to help us save our community. Your support is vital in ensuring that Walnut Grove remains a residential haven for current and future generations.

For additional information and how to help. Please check out our website - www.SaveWalnutGrove.org

Mike Moran

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