Protest Sign 'Theft' Precedes Policy Shift In Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — Signs will no longer be allowed to remain on public property in Northbrook, following a change in policy village officials say was coincidental to an incident in which a Glenview woman was issued a citation for theft in connection with the removal of several signs on Techny Road. Katherine Owens, 55, of the 3100 block of Landwehr Road in Glenview, was charged with theft by Northbrook Police on Aug. 26 after allegedly taking the signs from the Parkway. According to the Northbrook Star, Northbrook officials stated a policy earlier in August that all signs regarding development issues would be allowed to stay.

Owens told the Star she did remove the signs, but the "thing has been completely blown out of proportion." She said she has already complained that her citation was unfair, since the signs were played illegally under Northbrook code, and she hopes to see the charges dropped before her scheduled court appearance next month.

Owens believed the signs were out of date and needed to be removed, while the organizer of opposition to rezoning to allow the Heritage Woods assisted development at the corner of Shermer and Techny roads said she intended to apply new stickers to the signs to update the dates, according to the Star.

It's not just signs from the anti-Heritage Woods "Save Northbrook" campaign that has been generating complaints, Northbrook Village President Sandy Frum told the paper. The village has also received complaints about signs from a local swim school and a youth group.

» Read more from the Northbrook Star

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_{Top photo: Pins from the "Save Northbrook" campaign | via GoFundMe}