09/19/2002MINUTES
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
September 19, 2002
The Village Board met as a Committee of the Whole in the Board Room of the Village Hall at 7:35
p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2002. In attendance were:
Steven Harris, Mayor
Robert D. Franz, Village Manager
Jerry Kayne, Trustee
Robert Fialkowski, Finance Director
Derek Ragona, Trustee
Barbara Houpt, Director of Community Development
Harriet Rosenthal, Trustee
Jeff Ryckaert, Principal Planner
William Seiden, Trustee
Peter Coblentz, Village Attorney
Vernon Swanson, Trustee
Matthew Wylie, Trustee
Wintrust Bank Proposal
Mayor Harris opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance. He complimented Wintrust for
their determined effort to become a part of the Deerfield business community and thanked the plan
commission and VCDC for all of their work in developing a plan for the northwest quadrant.
Although some believe that the process has taken too long and may have been unfair to the parties
involved, he disagreed. The board could have made a unilateral decision early on, but it would have
done so without all the facts and input generated along the way.
Gail Gussis, representing the plan commission, and Alan Garfield, Chairman of the VCDC, were then
asked for initial comments. Ms. Gussis stated that the plan commission voted in favor of a temporary
bank in the Lindemann building because it felt the special use criteria of the Zoning Ordinance had
been met by the petitioner. Mr. Garfield commented that the VCDC's approval from the beginning
was to look at the larger picture and, when the board chose not to purchase the Lindemann parcel,
interpreted it to mean that a private use would be incorporated into an overall redevelopment plan for
the quadrant.
Rick Rushkewicz and Bill Graft, representing Wintrust Financial, then summarized the many
variations of their proposal as it evolved through meetings with the VCDC and eventually a prefiling
conference with the plan commission. Mr. Graft noted that, from the beginning, they tried to listen and
react to the overall needs of the quadrant as described to them by boards and commissions, other
governmental districts and village staff. He emphasized that the bank owned the Lindemann parcel
and would like to be a part of an overall redevelopment plan for the area. They are still willing to
consider other options, but need to know soon if a bank use will be approved.
Mayor Harris asked for trustee comments and questions. Board members expressed various views
regarding the proposal, noting that to date they have not been intimately involved in the process. A
concern was expressed about the added public cost to redevelopment if the bank was not part of the
plan. Trustee Wylie noted that the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee should be given time to
study this specific location as part of their assignment to update potential development areas within the
village. Others felt it might not be prudent to delay a decision on this quadrant for as much as six
months to complete that process.
Committee of the Whole
September 19, 2002
Page Two
It was concluded that the board was not in a position this evening to decide whether, under any
planning scenario, a bank should be a part of a northwest quadrant redevelopment plan. Since the
issue involved potential land acquisition, the board will meet in executive session to discuss that
option.
Mayor Harris then opened up the meeting to public comment. Remarks ranged from strong support for
a bank to the need to adhere strictly to the Northwest Quadrant Task Force report, which recommended
phasing out commercial uses in the quadrant. VCDC members expressed firm support for their
recommended site plan stating that a temporary bank in Lindemann's would give all parties time to
resolve land swap issues and the final details of a plan.
After a brief recess, final thoughts on the subject were expressed. Wintrust requested a decision within
a reasonable time frame since they are heavily invested in the project. Mayor Harris thanked everyone
for their participation.
The meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.
Minutes prepared by:
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