Official Asks How Much Elmhurst Can 'Cram' In Neighborhood

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst park board member Vince Spaeth has made clear that he opposes putting a proposed bandshell east of the Wilder Mansion.

But on Tuesday, he spoke as a Wilder Park neighbor.

Over the last quarter century, much has been added in this area, including the public library, a park museum and projects at neighboring Elmhurst University, he said.

"It's like 10 pounds of stuff going into a 5-pound bag," Spaeth told Elmhurst's zoning commission. "How much more can we cram into this area?"

He pleaded with the commission to look at the area as a whole, not just the bandshell.

"All of these things do impact each other, and they affect us as neighbors and that affects our quality of life," Spaeth said. "How much more can we allow to take place in this area and still have it be a vibrant neighborhood, which, I think again, is for the neighbors first and all the others are nice to have in our community around it."

A Wilder Mansion renovation two decades ago brought a proliferation of more than 200 events a year, he said.

"We've tolerated it," Spaeth said. "We're not super happy about this. It does impact our quality of life every day."

Other speakers said they expected the bandshell's noise to be a problem. They also expressed concern about the frequency of events. At least one resident said she couldn't escape the sounds of events, including those at the university.

Parking was also cited as an issue.

Many oppose the site east of the mansion because it is expected to block perhaps Elmhurst's most iconic building.

The bandshell controversy has created tensions among park officials for more than a year.

At the zoning meeting, park district officials, including board President Kevin Graf, were in a row together. Spaeth, a former park board president, sat across the aisle.

Jim Rogers, the park district's executive director, made the case for the bandshell.

Zoning board members noted the proposal calls for up to 30 amplified events a year.

"That's not to say we're goign to do 30 events," Rogers said, adding that it would more likely be eight concerts and eight movies in the summer.

With an earlier bandwagon at the park, Spaeth said in his comments, the district held three concerts and three movies a year historically.

Rogers said the structure's proposed open sides were a response to residents' concerns about the size and mass of the bandshell.

"It's probably a misnomer to call it a bandshell," Rogers said.

Resident Brian Mahoney spoke up for the bandshell. He said the district has been open with the public and suggested opponents wanted to impose a more onerous decibel-level requirement on the bandshell than on other places.

"I want to see the bandshell as soon as possible," Mahoney said.

In his closing comments, Rogers said the old bandwagon, which was typically east of the mansion during the summer, took up 960 square feet, while the permanent one would be only 1½ times larger, at 1,480 square feet.

Susan Rose, the zoning commission's chair, closed the hearing, saying the commission would accept no more evidence and testimony.

Spaeth asked to be recognized to correct what he said was a misstatement.

She said he could not, given the hearing was closed.

Afterward, Spaeth told Patch that Rogers' statement on the square footage lacked context. Outside of events, the bandwagon would be folded up, meaning it took up far less space than Rogers indicated.

The zoning commission is expected to start deliberating at its meeting next Tuesday night.