Battles Inspire Hinsdale Landscaping Rules

HINSDALE, IL – High-profile battles over landscaping around businesses prompted the village to draft proposed rules.

Under the proposal, the village would require the planting of bushes and trees that are at least 8 feet tall between businesses and houses. This applies to properties that are being redeveloped. Exceptions could be made through a public hearing process.

In 2022, the village received complaints that a contractor for a new chiropractor's office removed trees that screened the businesses on Ogden Avenue from houses behind it. At one point, the village president accused the office's representatives of lying to the village.

In another case, residents near the Land Rover Hinsdale dealership on Ogden alleged that the business did not keep its promise for landscaping.

In January, the Village Board asked the Plan Commission to come up with proposed landscaping rules.

"We've not had minimum requirements," Trustee Luke Stifflear said at Tuesday's Village Board meeting.

Trustee Scott Banke asked how the village would enforce the rules. He said he wanted to avoid repeating the previous scenarios.

Stifflear said more than 90 percent of people comply with the rules, watering their plants.

"It's a small minority where we don't have that," he said. "We rely on residents to comment and ask us to fix it."

He added, "If a house (behind a business) complains and says those trees are dead, then they are obligated to replace them."

The board did not vote on the landscaping rules, but it may do so at a later meeting.