Cuba Road proposal doesn't go over well

What started out with dozens of Kildeer residents protesting an idea to possibly close a segment of Cuba Road because of a shopping center proposal became a heated discussion as village trustees turned on each other Monday night.

The development in question, targeted for roughly 45 acres at the northeast corner of Route 12 and Cuba Road would be anchored by a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and a J.C. Penney department store.

Village President Al Stefaniak said last week the developers conceptual plan includes turning Cuba Road into a one road street or a cul-de-sac just east of Route 12 with limited access to the state highway for area residents.

"We obviously know that a proposal such as this is something that can't be undertaken lightly by the board," he said Monday, addressing the packed audience in the village hall boardroom. "We also know that we have an asset on Rand Road (Route 12) that needs to be utilized to generate sales tax to secure the future of our village."

Neither the proposed development, nor the potential closure of Cuba Road, was on the agenda for discussion Monday night. But residents rallied after e-mails went out within the community asking for a show of support against the Cuba Road closure idea.

Residents and village Trustee Nandia Black reproached board members for not involving the public in past discussions involving the closing of a village road.

Black accused the village board of dealing secretly with the developer on the proposal.

"We are not here to have discussions in closed session with developers," she said. "What's sad is the public has the right to know."

Fellow trustees vehemently denied any impropriety or having any secret dealings with the developer.

Many residents also spoke in support of the village board and defended the board's integrity.

"It is unfortunate that information that is inaccurate gets sent out and we have 50 or 70 people responding, thinking that we haven't thought through this," village Trustee Olivia Coughlin said. "It's an unfortunate situation that we have misinformation going out to people when we are unprepared to answer the questions that they have."

Several trustees criticized Black for revealing what was discussed in closed session.

"There was no intention that this was something that was going to be done in secret," Stefaniak said. Certain aspects of the proposed development have to be done in closed session because they involve negotiations with neighboring Lake Zurich which has a stake in how the property is developed he added.

Stefaniak said the time for residents to give input is at the plan review committee stage.

Resident Christopher Agrella, who lives in White Pines subdivision, was appalled by the village even considering closing Cuba Road at the Route 12 juncture because it would strain neighborhood streets.

"It's a major thoroughfare," he said. "It a rather cavalier fashion, this artery of 135 years has been tossed into the mix."