Randhurst, Mount Prospect end dispute over streetlights

The managers of Randhurst Village have agreed to install additional street lighting around the property, ending a brief dispute with village officials over the need for more illumination on the roads surrounding the shopping center.

James Conroy, executive vice president of development for Casto Lifestyle Properties, sent an email to officials before this week's village board meeting withdrawing their request for a waiver from a requirement they add lighting.

"After Tuesday's (April 28) meeting, it was clear that the village board does not want to approve any variance to the street lighting requirement for Randhurst, so at this point we have decided to respectfully withdraw our request for a variance," Conroy wrote.

Mayor Arlene Juracek called it a "real tribute to the power of public discussion," referring to a recent meeting that featured extensive give-and-take between trustees and Conroy.

"We really appreciate the wonderful relationship we have had with Casto management," Juracek added. "I think they were doing something that they felt was their fiduciary duty to at least attempt and, based on an honest reading of the discussion, they elected to go along with the lighting requirements."

Village code requires streetlights in the public right of way along Elmhurst Road, Euclid Avenue and Kensington Road, adjacent to the shopping center. However, until recently the village had not attempted to enforce that requirement since Randhurst Village opened in 2011.

Shopping center management appeared before village trustees last month seeking a waiver, saying that the requirement meant installing additional street lighting on both sides of Elmhurst Road. That, Castco argued, would be a nuisance for residents living nearby.

Trustees, however, labeled it a safety issue and said the village should enforce the mandate.

Juracek said it is unclear when the new lights would be installed because of the shopping center's transition to new ownership, but she expects it won't happen for at least a year.

"So I'm sure that's part of the closing (of the sale)," she said. "They're going to figure out who is going to pay for it and when it is going to go in."