Fresh Farms parking draws resident’s ire

Recent articles in local newspapers have reported on the relationship between Mariano’s and the municipalities of Palatine and Vernon Hills.

In Palatine, the Journal & Topics Newspapers reported that despite Mariano’s obtaining additional off-site parking, some of the store’s employees and vendors were parking on surrounding streets. To ease neighborhood concerns, Palatine officials enacted parking restrictions.

In Vernon Hills, the Daily Herald reported that until late fall, employees were shuttled from remote lots to keep the 280-plus space parking area open for customers while an adjacent parcel was secured.

Then there is Wheeling. The recent expansion of Fresh Farms International Market has resulted in parking nightmares for nearby residents.

Every day, development employees park on the residential street located south of the shopping center and sometimes park at the local elementary school (Walt Whitman). Delivery trucks are often seen idling on this street while waiting to get to the store’s delivery dock.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen if emergency vehicles were dispatched to Walt Whitman School. With the employees parking on the street and the possibility of trucks parked on the street waiting to deliver, would emergency vehicles be able to get through?

These concerns have been brought to the attention of the Wheeling Village Board. Apparently the board has determined there really isn’t a problem. I can’t help but wonder if the board’s thoughts would be different if this were an election year.

Fresh Farms please take a lesson from your competition and treat the neighborhood with the respect it deserves. Wheeling officials please take a lesson from neighboring communities and treat both residents and businesses fairly.

Mary Papantos

Wheeling