Burr Ridge Says No To Gates – For Now

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Chasemoor subdivision in Burr Ridge requested the village allow it to put up gates to limit traffic flow.

The village rejected the request "at this time."

The issue was discussed at Monday's Village Board meeting. While Burr Ridge rejected the gates, trustees approved other measures to limit traffic in the neighborhood.

During public comments, Bob Kuikman, who lives on Waterside Place, asked the Village Board to keep gates on the table.

Mayor Gary Grasso said they were.

"It was on the table for consideration as early as when the Village Center was being built," the mayor said. "There are pros and cons."

Trustee Guy Franzese did not speak, but he has been a longtime critic of gates.

In 2021, Franzese and Trustee Anita Mital were in the minority voting against a gate at the Pinecrest Court subdivision. Allowing a gate, Franzese said, would prompt other neighborhoods to seek them.

"Instead of the community of Burr Ridge, we become the gated community of Burr Ridge," Franzese said at the time.

On the Hinsdale Village Board, Trustee Scott Banke is a gate skeptic. Earlier this year, he said gates could play into the "negative perception of Hinsdale as an elitist town."

"I think we need to be wary of adding another line item to this negative perception," he said.

Hinsdale and Burr Ridge are among the state's wealthiest towns.