Meetings on Arlington Hts. apartments informational only

A spokesman for a parents group proposing to build an apartment complex for mentally ill adults in Arlington Heights says meetings scheduled Thursday and on Sept. 14 are informational meetings on mental illness, and not public forums on the project.

The North/Northwest Suburban Task Force on Supportive Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness proposed the $9 million, 30-unit Boeger Place Apartments on 1 acre at 120 and 122 E. Boeger Road, east of Arlington Heights Road and south of Dundee Road.

In May, the Arlington Heights village board rejected the rezoning and variances required for the proposal to move forward after hearing much resident opposition. More than 225 people were at the meeting, and a majority of the 50 residents who spoke opposed the project.

The Task Force intends to submit revised plans to the village board this fall. It also is planning public meetings with neighbors of the site that is adjacent to Buffalo Grove and across the street from Buffalo Grove High School.

"We'd like to have the community meetings early in that process or before we submit," said Hugh Brady, task force co-president. "They are not scheduled yet. Exactly when and where is still up in the air."

The meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 at St. Edna's Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, is open to the public, but not a forum for those who oppose the project to voice objections, Brady said.

"It is an information and education meeting for people who want to learn more about mental illness and the difficulties people with mental illness and their families face in getting adequate services and treatment," Brady said.

Task force representatives will discuss the pros and cons of the Boeger Road apartments proposal as part of the presentation, but it won't be the focus of the meeting. They will answer written questions after the presentation, but there won't be discussion.

Brady said the group feared residents opposed to the project would pack the meeting as they did at village hall, which could pose a problem since the St. Edna's room seats only 55 people.

"It's not a public forum to discuss the merits of any one particular proposal," Brady said. "That forum will take place before the village board. Our time at St. Edna's is limited to 9 p.m. so it's not going to be an open forum that goes on endlessly."

The group will conduct a second meeting tentatively set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove.

"The room we have at Kingswood is larger so we may be able to have a more open agenda," Brady said.