Burr Ridge Man Ignored Stop Work Order: Village

BURR RIDGE, IL – A Burr Ridge resident continued with a construction project last year without a building permit, despite a stop work order from the village, according to public records.

The project was on 89th Street, east of Madison Street, with the owner listed as Curtis Eshghy. Patch left a message for comment with Eshghv, who says on LinkedIn that he is the CEO of C&N Construction.

Last August, the village said it issued a stop work order, but the work continued.

The project included a pool, hot tub, patio, fence, landscape berm and paver walkway, according to Burr Ridge records.

It wasn't until late January that Eshghy applied for exceptions to the village code. At a public hearing, the Plan Commission identified hardships and recommended exceptions for Eshghy. But members expressed concerns that Eshghy undertook a building project without a permit.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Guy Franzese said significant construction work continued despite the village's order. He asked about the village's fee to a homeowner for a stop work order. He was told it was $700.

Franzese then called for relooking at the village's fees. He said $700 for a project costing hundreds of thousands of dollars is nothing.

"It should be painful to do this because it is certainly painful for staff," he said.

Mayor Gary Grasso agreed.

"Thwarting the authority is unacceptable," he said. "They can't continue to the extent that you indicated and basically beg forgiveness and pay a small fine."

Burr Ridge's attorney, Mike Durkin, said the village could charge the $700 fee for every day that an owner violates a stop work order.

Trustees agreed that it was appropriate to review fees.