Letters related to proposed Variance to allow flooding:

My name is Lisa Olmstead and I live down the hill from the Brookbank Prairie subdivision in Downers Grove.  I think it would be irresponsible for the Village of D.G.  to be granted a variance for construction of a southbound lane for Brookbank Road.  In general, there is less and less place for water to settle and several area homeowners (myself included) already have increased pressure on our foundations from water runoff.

As a Realtor, I know that any home requiring flood plain insurance becomes less attractive in the marketplace and more difficult to sell.  So, a few questions come to mind:

Fifty years ago when many of these homes were built, the drainage systems were adequate and worked fine.  Now, however, with increased building and construction, there is nowhere for the water to go!  On paper, the engineers claim the water will have retention areas to flow to, but in reality, things often don't go as planned.  We (and the wildlife) need the wetlands and nature areas to remain untouched.  Once these are destroyed, we can never get them back.  It would be wise for the village of Downers Grove and the County to treasure the few remaining vestiges of nature that dot our lands, instead of obliterating them in the name of progress.

Please encourage the village of D.G.  to leave the wetland areas, and to not build any additional roadways or homes in the Brookbank Prairie.  We don't need any more concrete!  Ideally, no additional homes will be constructed in the Brookbank Prairie and they will add landscaping / turf to prevent water from streaming down the barren hill.

In addition, the number of foreclosures and bankruptcies is testament to the fact that there will always be a market for older, modest homes.  These homes can often be updated and modified enough to provide comfortable, economical living, especially in the light of increased energy costs.  The owners of these older homes should not have to suffer at the expense of a few privileged people who may want to purchase new construction in the area.

The opinions of Downers Grove residents tend to get 'steamrolled' over at committee meetings and the committee members or village officials simply do whatever they want!

It would be a disservice to the citizens of Downers Grove for the Village or County to put the interests of builders before the interests of the general citizen population and what is best for them.

Topic: DG Stormwater Variance: Bad move or error?

It's probably too late as you read this to do much about the pending floodplain variance.  In these days, though, as you hear your own voice cursing the trashing and redevelopment of our Downers Grove neighborhoods, here's a point of amusement.  Amidst a formidable pile of legal-government gobbledegook, a new precedent went before the county offices on August 1 at the referral of the DG council.  After years of ignoring the need for decent teardown rules, then aligning firmly with any builder with the know-how to white-paste two bricks together, the council has now put before the county a request for a variance tripling the floodplain tolerance, from 6" to 18". 

In the past decade, I've learned of our Council that, given so many lemons, one must learn to make lemonade.  Perhaps the Brookbank Road development will be a proud new cultural attraction---Venice of the Midwest.  The ornate gondolas, creative piers and floating docks, soft lights dancing and flickering on our canals---all promise to make south Downers a worthy competitor to Chicago's Venetian Night Festival.  After all, Chicago supports that festival only one weekend per year, and we in Downers will be able with any larger rainfall to enjoy artful punting and the songs of gondoliers.  Venice is sinking? No prob, couldn't happen here. 

A one-time variance does not impact your home.  That's true, but this one sets a nasty precedent.  Watch for it!  Besides, the information ads for flood plain insurance are all over DGTV....your council is watching out for you.

Good water dogs include labrador retrievers and the hunting breeds; I've read that any dog with a prominent chest, extended jaw, and well-rooted tail probably has a bit of swimmer in him.  But, I suppose you'll figure these things out over time.  Thanks again, Council!

Please share the following thoughts with all involved in the Aug. 1 hearing regarding the above matter relevant to proposed development on Brookbank Rd. in Downers Grove.

The requested variance will increase storm water flooding on residential property in the area.

Such flooding is already a significant problem in many Downers Grove neighborhoods.

Downers Grove government, in recent years, has taken a very pro-development at any cost approach to such issues, and clearly does not comprehend nor respect the county's right and need to mitigate and regulate residential flooding problems, since they are pursuing this variance despite just recently being on probation by the county for poor management of storm water issues.

I, and many other Downers Grove residents, have lost all confidence in our village government's ability to put quality of life issues ahead of potential financial gain by politically connected individuals.  We can only hope that our county government still respects those common sense values which made Downers Grove/DuPage county a great place to live in the past.

Thank you.

William Vollrath   Downers Grove

Letter to the County Board Commissioners:

I am unable to attend tomorrow's meeting but wanted to offer my thoughts.  I have been on the Downers Grove ZBA [Zoning Board of Appeals] for a number of years and know the flooding problems in that area from a past case.  I believe the status quo is already a problem in rainy weather and anything that would worsen the flooding is completely unacceptable.  Please do not grant a variance in this case.  It is hard to imagine a clearer case where the rules should be enforced.

Best regards,     Tom H. Sleeter     Downers Grove

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