'Vicious Cycle' In Elmhurst Demolition Rules?

ELMHURST, IL – State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi urged Elmhurst aldermen on Tuesday to address a "practical impossibility" with its proposed rules on demolitions.

Without comment, though, the City Council approved the language that she suggested be changed.

Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican, did not identify herself as a state lawmaker. She said various builders have raised issues with the proposed changes.

During public comments, Mazzochi, a lawyer, focused on the requirement that builders give the week that demolition will occur when applying for a permit.

"It's very difficult to submit a demolition permit to the city of Elmhurst identifying the week in which demolition will occur before a demolition permit is actually issued," Mazzochi said.

She said the city would have to give a builder a date certain when a demolition permit would be issued.

"Otherwise, the demolition permit will never be complete because you can't actually identify when the demolition is going to occur until you've got the demolition permit," Mazzochi said, calling the process a "vicious cycle."

Under its policy, the City Council does not respond to public comments.

Later in the meeting, aldermen approved the language to which Mazzochi objected as part of a package of items considered routine or uncontroversial.

Patch left a message for comment with Mazzochi.