Concerned Field Park Residents Delay Plan for New Music Makers Building

Several residents of southern Field Park expressed severe concerns at a special public hearing of the Western Springs Plan Commission on Monday about the proposed construction of a new arts-and-music building, causing the Commission to postpone any recommendation on the proposal pending a Village traffic study.

Local youth music school Music Makers wants to turn the lot at 4332 Howard Ave.—which lies between First Methodist Church and a duplex, and currently holds a dilapidated, vacant house—into a three-story, aesthetically-pleasing fine-arts complex. But residents of the area say that traffic and street-parking loads from Field Park Elementary and First Methodist are already too taxing.

“The traffic situation on Howard is untenable, and I think it would be irresponsible of our Village to rezone,” said Kathy Zehner, who lives on the 4300 block of Howard. “I have gone out to leave my house and somebody is parked across my driveway so I couldn’t get out… Why not put it where we already have open commercial space rather than adding it to an area that is already overburdened?”

Terry Vonloewe, a 30-year resident of the 4200 block of Franklin Avenue, was also critical of the location.

“It isn’t even pleasant to live in our home anymore,” she said. “I don’t want another commercial venture in my neighborhood. It’s really terrible… I have pictures of the street in front of the projected project, all potholes, the street is a mess, people come off of Wolf Road to avoid the train tracks… It’s only by the grace of God that no kid has been killed there.”

Petitioners presented a vision of a residential-looking building with sloped roofs, a front porch and trellis and a horseshoe driveway for drop-off and pick-up. The three-story building would resemble a two-story and could house both Music Makers and a dance studio.

The proposal would require a trio of Village ordinances: a rezoning of the lot to commercial (C-1), a text amendment allowing the music and dance schools as permitted conditional uses and a conditional use permit letting the schools operate on the property.

“We’re excited about being part of the community and we think we’ve got a lot to offer in music and dance education,” said Village resident and architect Joe Pasquinelli. “I think this is going to be a great addition and enhancement to our community and will offer a facility that is really befitting for music and dance education.”

But he and Music Makers owner Jeremy Michor found themselves having to defend their plan against charges that it would swamp an already-busy residential area in vehicle traffic.

Michor said that most classes at the complex would be held after 4:00 p.m., when traffic from the elementary school would have abated. Additionally, he claimed most classes with Music Makers would be private lessons, not large classes; however, he could not account for the dance studio.

“I’m as concerned as anyone about the traffic,” Michor said, adding that the music school has had success routing traffic at their current Grand Avenue location by simply asking parents to take a certain route. “I believe our families would do anything to make this work.”

The proposal was not without support, even from nearby residents. Kirk Frehner, who lives on the 4200 block of Howard, said he understood the risk of higher traffic, but still wanted the new building, saying it would be far better than a decaying lot and provide a great local opportunity for children.

“We’re quite supportive of it, because it would bring a great facility that would enhance the arts education for the kids in the area,” Frehner said. “I understand the points made, [but] the benefits would outweigh the additional traffic.”

Pastor Dean Shapley of First Methodist also expressed a mixture of enthusiasm and concern for the proposal.

“We are supportive of you being in our neighborhood, and we welcome you there,” he told Michor and Pasquinelli. “That being said, there are challenges with the traffic and with congestion that we are aware of as well. I think it’s a good suggestion that as plans progress, if they progress, that we take a serious look at traffic flow.”

Village Engineer Jeff Ziegler agreed with Shapley, recommending that the Plan Commission hold off judgment until the Village could conduct a 45-day traffic study.

“I just don’t see enough of a traffic study or a plan in place [at this time,]” Ziegler said, adding that part of the onus to prove that an effective traffic flow could be obtained would be on Music Makers themselves.

The Commission has recessed the public hearing until Tuesday, May 31st to allow the study to take place.