Bettendorf Castle plans stir controversy in Fox River Grove
The owners of Bettendorf Castle in Fox River Grove want to turn it into a space for tours, weddings and other special events, but neighbors object to the plans.
The village’s zoning board of appeals is scheduled to hold a public hearing Feb. 23 about the zoning application submitted by castle owners Michael and Judy Strohl, who live on the property at 418 Concord Ave.
Kevin Long, who lives across the street, said he is concerned that, if plans are approved, there will be an increase in noise and traffic and a decrease in property values in the residential neighborhood. He is among 29 residents who signed a petition against the zoning application and submitted it to village hall Feb. 15.
“They want to serve alcohol and have live bands.” Long said. “It’s not the right spot to do something like that. To do a banquet hall, you should go and build in a business-zoned area.”
Long has three children ages 3 to 7 and said he’s worried that the added traffic will be dangerous for neighborhood kids.
The Strohls tried to tailor their plans by taking into account residents’ concerns, said their attorney David Curfman, of Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis. “It’s a very personal issue (for residents), we understand that,” he said.
The gothic-style castle was built by Ted Bettendorf, an immigrant from Luxembourg, starting in 1931 until his death in 1967. The 1.75-acre property includes seven lots along Concord Avenue, just south of the Metra railroad tracks. One lot holds a cottage where a son of the Strohls lives, while the rest are vacant, Curfman said.
The zoning application asks for a zoning ordinance amendment to create a special use permit to allow tours, events, celebrations and other activities in “historic buildings and grounds” in certain residential areas that abut business districts. The narrow framework limits the number of special use requests submitted in the future, Curfman said.
Plans for the property include allowing licensed event caterers to bring in alcohol for functions, which would include weddings, graduations, school trips, political fundraisers and more. There would be no street parking, only attendant/valet parking only for as many as 95 vehicles on site and shuttle bus service from remote parking lots such as the Norge Ski Club.
Ted Johnson, who lives on Concord Avenue next to the westernmost lot owned by the Strohls, says residents who signed the petition also question the use of the word “historic” to describe the castle.
“There are thousands of homes (in the Chicago area) with turrets. Are those historic? No. Are they unique? I don’t know if you can even use the word unique,” he said.
The castle might not be historic in terms of its age, but it is historic because of the unique building techniques used by its first owner, Curfman said. Bettendorf reportedly learned the technique in Europe by observing the reconstruction of a medieval castle.
Bettendorf Castle is not registered as a historic property with any agency, and the village’s zoning board would have to determine whether it considers it as historic, Curfman said.
“(The owners) are hoping to be able to basically share their property with other people,” he said, adding that the Strohls have owned the castle since the mid-1980s and reared their children there.
Village President Robert Nunamaker said it’s good that residents made their position known through the petition. He declined further comment, stating he wanted the zoning board “to make whatever decision they want to make.”
The zoning board of appeals’ public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at village hall, 305 Illinois St. If the board approves the plans, they will be reviewed by the village’s public health and safety committee before being heard by the village board, Village Administrator Art Osten said.