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Randhurst, village officials spar over need for more lighting

The Mount Prospect village board would like to see more street lighting around Randhurst Village, but the shopping center's management fears more lighting could bring more problems for its neighbors.

Village trustees last week heard the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the Randhurst plan by waiving a requirement for street lighting around the perimeter of the shopping center.

Village code requires streetlights in the public right of way along Elmhurst Road, Euclid Avenue and Kensington Road, adjacent to the shopping center.

For the village to make an exception, Randhurst would have to prove hardship because of factors such as conditions on the property and protection of the public welfare, property or neighborhood character.

Mount Prospect Senior Planner Consuelo Andrade said Randhurst Village first requested the waiver years ago when the redevelopment of the former Randhurst Mall went through the zoning process. The village tried to work with Randhurst management to obtain a grant that would pay for LED lights, but they were unsuccessful.

The issue has been kicking around in the seven years since. Now, trustees say, it is time to resolve it.

The shopping center management says one of the problems with meeting the lighting requirement is that, because of the width of Elmhurst Road, streetlights would have to be installed on both sides of the street.

"It's putting lights in the backyards of residential housing, and I don't know that that's the best approach to solving this problem," said James Conroy, executive vice president of development for Casto, the shopping center's manager.

Trustee Richard Rogers said that when he chaired the planning and zoning commission, commissioners made it a point to oppose a lighting waiver. His feelings about that have not changed.

"Those streets are very dark," Rogers said. "And for the safety of both the motorists and the pedestrians, we felt that those lights were extremely important."

Trustee Michael Zadel agreed but asked whether the lighting could be made unobtrusive for residents.

By granting the waiver, Trustee Paul Hoefert said, the village could create a precedent for subsequent requests.

"I think you get on a slippery slope," he said.

"One of the biggest complaints we have with our residents is a lack of lighting," Trustee John Matuszak added. "As a customer, as a member of the community, as a person who shops there, that type of lighting creates an impression of a safe environment. And I think that a safe environment is a big factor in whether people would choose to shop there."

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