La Grange Officials Clash Over Housing Panel

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange's village president was skeptical this week of a proposal from some trustees for a task force that would suggest ways to increase affordable housing.

That prompted one trustee to accuse President Mark Kuchler of attempting to stop the process.

Like many western suburbs, La Grange has seen steep increases in housing prices in recent years. It's getting harder for empty nesters, young professionals and local workers to afford housing locally.

A trio of trustees, Beth Augustine, Glenn Thompson and Shawana McGee, proposed the task force. Such a panel was recommended in a 2024 board-approved, long-term development plan.

Kuchler said the Village Board needed to be specific about what it wanted from the task force. He said the village has done much better than other towns with affordable housing.

"Why shouldn't we be recognized as an absolute leader in the western suburbs with 13 percent affordable housing?" he said.

At the same time, Kuchler touted the value of single-family houses as opposed to multifamily dwellings. With the long-term plan, he said, the board had already rejected four-flats and eight-flats in single-family neighborhoods.

He said La Grange faced an affordability crisis. But he said he was unaware of anyone who wants changes that impact their home equity.

"I'm not trying to make La Grange affordable by having our equity go down," he said. "I'm not suggesting anybody is."

Augustine said she emailed officials earlier this month, giving specifics on the housing panel, with the backing of Thompson and McGee.

But she said it seemed as if Kuchler did not read it.

"We did what you asked," she said.

Among other things, the memo proposed that the task force consider incentives for developers to include affordable units. Such incentives include zoning exceptions.

In the last few years, the board has approved such exceptions for larger projects without requiring affordable units.

Trustee Lou Gale joined Kuchler in criticizing the three trustees' effort. He said he wanted to know how many members would be on the task force and how they would be appointed.

"Is it just going to be a line out the door, and we just take the first 10?" Gale said.

Augustine said, "A lot of what you're referencing, Trustee Gale, is in the document."

"I disagree," Gale said.

Trustee Thompson said Gale was a "little nitpicky" on the membership number, noting the document says 10 to 15.

He also suggested Kuchler was trying to "kill the whole process," which Kuchler denied.

Several residents spoke during the meeting in favor of the task force. Trustees agreed to have staff come up with a plan and present it during a meeting next month.

Here's a March 5 email from Trustee Beth Augustine to the rest of the Village Board:

Over the last 2 years, we have been asked frequently about Affordable Housing; Housing strategy and policy. Most of the inquiries have come via Public Comments at Board meetings in response to our recent planned developments, and through our housing discussions by way of public input at community engagement meetings for the Comprehensive Plan. This Board took note of this and saw fit to include specific language about a Task Force in our Final Comprehensive Plan.

Since then, I have continued to worked with Peg Moster and Cynthia Schilsky of the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area’s Housing Committee to talk about how and when the Village might move forward in this regard. About a month ago, we had a meeting with President Kuchler and it was his suggestion, that we put our Task Force ideas in writing. So we put that together and sent it to he and (Village Manager) Jack (Knight) earlier this week. We noted that we'd share it with the rest of the Board in a few days. That document is attached here. We think it contains clear objectives, as well as a suggested framework for how it might be defined and structured.

We expect the Board and staff will have different perspectives on this and will certainly want to add their own ideas and changes -- but we think it makes a great case for the Task Force. The timing of this is right. Not only has this topic has been raised on a broad range of occasions; from our planned developments, to the recent South 47th Corridor Study, to recently purchased land on the West End -- it the subject of potential new mandates emerging from the BUILD Initiative.

As you will read, we see this being formed with a wide range of residents with different professional or personal perspectives on housing, and from a ross section of town. Perhaps there can be a member from DRC, ZBA and PC Commission on it as well.

Low impact to staff: We know staff will be needed to help launch but our design intends for this to be a think tank of independent review. No need for the burden of staff research, meeting packets and other work that accompanies the requirements of a Commission. This Task Force can be an effective way for residents and this Board to learn more about our housing; the potential upsides and the downsides. As well, it can further demonstrate that we are serious about resident involvement. As a Trustee, I want to use every tool in the kit to understand our options before making decisions. I want to hear from residents before they accuse us of making policy without their input. A Task Force of residents could deliver learnings, insight and opinions that adds a strong foundation for the discussions we will inevitably be having in the next year or so.

I look forward to your feedback and any suggestions you may have.

I'd hope to get the formation of a Task Force on the Agenda for a vote soon. Whether yay or Nay, the full Board should have a say in this decision.

Sincerely,

Beth