It’s the moment of truth for the Northbrook Planning Commission and Northbrook Village Board.
Are they stewards for the residents of Northbrook, or do they rule without regard for public opinion because ultimately, they believe they know what is best for its residents?
While serving on the Northbrook Village board for two years from 2009 through 2011, I had many opportunities to ask myself that very same question.
As the public opinion sessions have begun and residents have started voicing their opinions, I am hearing very little from those residents that actually want a Walmart in Northbrook.
Walmart is predicting that it will bring in an estimated $1,000,000 in revenue each year. But while that money may sound great on paper, our town is going to suffer way beyond that $1,000,000 received.
Traffic. More traffic than you can imagine driving up and down Dundee and Sunset Ridge Road. You thought construction traffic was bad this summer? Dundee and Skokie will be completely unmanageable.
Road Damage. More traffic will mean that more roads will need more repairs. And, yes, that costs money... a lot of money.
Property Values. As a real estate broker focusing exclusively on Northbrook, I see what happens to the values of homes on a daily basis. Don’t think that the addition of thousands of cars on the east side of town won’t affect property values in all of Northbrook.
The traffic will absolutely decimate Sunset Ridge and Voltz roads... our most prestigious and expensive real estate in Northbrook. And if the property values go down on the east side of town, they ultimately will go down on the west side. Northbrook will fall in the rankings of where people want to live and raise their children. This will affect everyone who owns a home in Northbrook. None of us will be immune.
Resources. The resources that will be needed to support Walmart are going to increase. There are going to be more calls to the police department. More calls to the fire department. More calls to village staff. This in turn leads to overtime and/or more employees.
Other Businesses. Ultimately, Walmart will force smaller businesses to close their doors. How much are those businesses already paying in taxes that Northbrook will lose? In addition, how many other businesses will leave just because they can’t get their customers and clients in the doors because traffic is so bad?
If Northbrook is in that desperate of a need for $1,000,000 in revenue, then maybe they need to start making some cuts to the budget.
I reviewed this budget extensively for two years. I know there are more than enough ways that we can cut $1,000,000 from our budget. And those cuts won’t increase traffic, resources or road damage. And it certainly won’t decrease our property values.
It really doesn’t seem as though I am speaking to the residents of Northbrook... because I would be preaching to the choir on that one. I am speaking to the Northbrook Planning Commission and the Northbrook Village Board. The residents are overwhelmingly against Walmart. This decision is one that will affect this community forever. Literally forever. Is that worth one million dollars? Is this what your legacy is going to be? The destruction of our town?
As I said my goodbyes to the village board the last night of my service in 2011, I implored them to consider term limits going forward. Needless to say, that fell on deaf ears.
My guess is that the outrage of a ‘yes’ vote will result in the people of Northbrook instituting their own term limits. And those board members that vote for Walmart will be tossed unceremoniously out of office. And, unfortunately, THAT will be their legacy.
Kati Spaniak is a 38-year resident of Northbrook, a real estate broker and a former Village of Northbrook Trustee.
