There’s a new group of engaged citizens in DeKalb.
“Keep Our Green. It’s not for Shodeen” has 422 likes on their Facebook page. According to one of their hardest working members, former mayor Bessie Chronopolous, they also have 500-plus signatures on a petition against The Land Swap – a proposal between District 428 and ShoDeen Development to exchange property and other considerations.
Kudos to the group for organizing quickly in objection to what could have been a fast track approval process. The proposal was scheduled for a public hearing in front of the DeKalb Planning Commission, Nov 28, at 6pm in the city council chambers. But towards the end of last night’s regular city council meeting during staff reports, Mark Biernacki read a text sent to him by city planner Derek Hiland informing him that the school district and ShoDeen had withdrawn their rezoning petition.
Far too often citizens are too busy with their lives and jobs to be aware of the doings of their local governmental units in their neighborhood. Once they find out it’s too late to have meaningful participation in the process.
This group will have meaningful participation. It already has community wide support for keeping the property around the former high school (now Huntley Middle School) as a park that serves as open space and soccer fields for AYSO participants. Despite the petition withdrawal the group is moving forward with an organizational meeting at Barb City Manor 7PM, Tuesday (11/27). Mayor Kris Povlsen said that the city, park district and school district were continuing discussions on the land. The neighbors and users of the land will have some input.
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