Briefs: Palatine Library seat open

The Palatine Public Library District is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on its board of library trustees following the resignation of Trustee Peter Salter. The seat, as well as a separate six-year seat, will be up for election on April 7, 2009. Applicants must submit a letter of interest and qualifications to President Carol Barnes by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. Applicants will be interviewed at a special board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 10. For further information, call Director Susan Strunk at (847) 358-5881, ext. 155.

Palatine blood drive Sunday

A Thanksgiving blood drive organized by the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago and hosted by the Sikh Religious Society takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Sikh center at 1280 Winnetka St., Palatine. LifeSource will conduct the blood drive. No appointments are necessary. LifeSource donor card or picture ID is required. For information, contact LifeSource at (877) 543-3768 or the center at (847) 358-1117.

Des Plaines OKS townhomes

Des Plaines has approved construction of 121 townhomes and 102 condominiums by Lexington Homes on 12 acres at the northwest corner of East River and Golf roads - the former headquarters of United Stationers, which relocated to Deerfield. Aldermen raised questions about the eight-story height of the condo building next to the Cook County Forest Preserve and the lack of driveways in front of the townhomes, but other aldermen said that at one time 24-story buildings had been proposed and that the rear only driveways have worked well at similar developments elsewhere. The project provides 49 more parking spaces than required. Construction is expected to occur in phases through 2011, depending on market conditions. Aldermen also approved a parking variance for reuse of an industrial building at 1530 Birchwood Ave., allowing 27 spaces instead of 47 because covenant restrictions on the property left no way to meet the requirement. The use - warehousing and distribution - requires less parking than manufacturing, city officials said, and the city will look at creating a separate, lower parking standard for other such buildings.