The Unspoken Subject At Hinsdale Board Meetings

HINSDALE, IL — The U.S. Department of Justice sued Hinsdale last year over its effort to shut down a group home for men with addictions.

The village had no process for handling zoning requests for "reasonable accommodations" for the disabled, including those with addictions, under the Americans With Disabilities Act. At its last two meetings, the Village Board has taken up the issue of a "reasonable accommodation" procedure for group homes. It approved such a procedure this week.

The rules are a likely response to the village's battle with Trinity Sober Living's home at 111 N. Grant St., which prompted the federal government to sue. In discussing the procedure, trustees have mentioned a situation in 2018 involving a "reasonable accommodation," but neither the village president nor the trustees have spoken about the high-profile situation involving Trinity.

Trinity opened in a single-family housing neighborhood in the summer of 2019 and closed late last year when it opened a home in Bensenville. Other than a statement from village president Tom Cauley, the subject of the federal lawsuit has not been mentioned during board meetings. It's likely been a topic of discussion during closed sessions.

At Tuesday's meeting, Trustee Luke Stifflear said the procedure would allow group homes in certain zones as a matter of right as long as they meet specific standards.

"There was a first reading (of the procedure) two weeks ago. There was minimal discussion on this. Over the past two weeks, I have not received any questions from residents," Stifflear said. "I would like to highlight here that any individual group could continue to apply for reasonable accommodations at any property within the village, not only the ones that are permitted as a matter of right."

Single-family housing would not be among those where group homes are allowed as a matter of right.

Trustee Gerald Hughes said the procedure was a good step.

"One of the important things is a visible process. This is a place to start," he said. "It should be clear how to deal with the village in these situations."

The trustees voted unanimously for the procedure.