Hinsdale Wants To Avoid Landscaping Disputes

HINSDALE, IL – In the last few years, Hinsdale officials have dealt with two high-profile controversies about landscaping between businesses and houses.

Now, the village is considering regulations for such problems.

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

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

Under proposed rules, the village would require new commercial developments to erect 8-foot fences and plant 10-foot trees or bushes, up from 6 feet, to screen off houses.

"I think it's a good idea to have stricter screening where we have nonresidential uses abutting residential uses," Village President Tom Cauley said. "It gives you a starting point."

Rob McGinnis, the village's community development director, said the chiropractor's office dispute largely inspired the proposed rules.

If the village had required both a fence and landscaping in that situation, McGinnis said, "we would have avoided a lot of that brain damage."

The Village Board voted unanimously to refer the issue to the Plan Commission. Trustee Luke Stifflear was absent.