Burr Ridge 'Hillbilly' Incident Explained

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge officials had to research the issue, but it turns out that members of the public have no right to walk on Savoy Club Court. The street is considered a public access easement, which gives service and emergency vehicles the right to enter but not pedestrians.

Last month, a resident on Savoy Club yelled at a woman walking in the subdivision, telling her she had no right to walk in a private subdivision, according to a police report. She said he called her a "bitch" and a "hillbilly."

At the time, an officer said he would have to consult with the village to determine whether the subdivision's streets were considered public. When Burr Ridge Patch called the village later, officials did not have an immediate explanation.

In an interview Tuesday, Village Administrator Doug Pollock said the village called its lawyer to figure out the situation. The lawyer advised the street is privately owned and maintained, but has a public access easement, Pollock said.

"It's the option of property owners whether or not they allow public access for people walking their dogs or whatever," Pollock said. "If they put up the equivalent of no-trespassing signs, they could restrict access."

At the entrance of the subdivision on 79th Street, there is what appears to be a guard shack and a sign reading, "Private Community." It is not gated, and no signs indicate that pedestrians are prohibited.

The village has six gated subdivisions and a few others, like Savoy Club, that have public access easements, Pollock said. Such arrangements are costly for homeowners, but some prefer it that way, he said.

On Sept. 5, the same woman apparently walked into the subdivision again, about two weeks after the first incident. A neighbor complained to police, prompting an officer to tell the woman that the village and homeowners association clarified that the subdivision was private.

The woman, however, said she was told by the village she was allowed to walk her dog there.

Pollock acknowledged some confusion existed, thus the reason to contact the lawyer.