Unusual Burr Ridge Meeting On Developing Old Bank Site

BURR RIDGE, IL – Earlier this year, the Burr Ridge Village Board met about the development of the private TCF Bank property, which the mayor says he wants to control.

In one way, it really wasn't a meeting.

Only three members of the seven-member board – Mayor Gary Grasso and trustees Tony Schiappa and Guy Franzese – attended the Feb. 15 session.

Under the Open Meetings, a majority must show for it to be considered an official meeting.

At board meetings, a roll call is taken of the mayor and trustees. But for the February session, the roll call included two members of the Plan Commission and five others, one of them a developer.

Patch left messages with Grasso and Village Administrator Evan Walter about the unusual nature of the meeting. It also filed a public records request for more information.

Besides the officials, the others listed as attending were developer Aristotle Halikias, lawyer Tom Hurka, Vince Petroshius of Vince's Flower Shop, Rachel Hurka and Kishori Dattani.

In internal emails in January, Grasso referred to a "TCF Vision Committee." No information about such a committee is on the village's website.

In an email to Administrator Walter, Grasso said in January he would chair the committee of nine members, including Plan Committee Chairman Greg Trzupek. He asked Walter to recommend four residents for the mayor's consideration. He said it would meet the week of Feb. 6.

On Feb. 16, John Garber, who belongs to the family that owns County Line Square shopping center, emailed Walter about the committee.

"I was talking with Vince from Vince's Flowers, and he mentioned that you might have room on your committee for the TCF property," Garber wrote. "I would be interested in joining the committee if you have availability."

Walter forwarded the message to Grasso, who responded with one word, "No."

County Line Square is next to the vacant TCF property, which contains a five-story building.

According to the meeting's minutes, Petroshius said the village should not pursue retailers that would directly compete with Village Center and County Line Square, where his shop is.

"There was agreement on this concept," the minutes state.

Rachel Hurka, who said she works in the technology industry, said she thought the building could be used for tech companies because of the nearby amenities in Burr Ridge's "downtown," which is the Village Center development.

Halikias said restaurant and entertainment uses tended to be easier than others to finance if the right operator were identified. And Trustee Schiappa wondered whether the first floor could be used for a luxury car dealer.

According to the minutes, Grasso said development of the site would occur on the village's timeline.

"All agreed with this statement," the minutes said.

Bill and Kathleen Voigt were among a few residents who attended. They live in the Chasemoor of Burr Ridge Condominiums, which is next to the TCF site.

"The planning board meeting was informal and welcomed input from all sources," Bill and Kathleen Voigt said in an email to Patch. "The site needs to fit the community was the overriding thought. There seemed no interest in rental apartments."