Transparency, public’s voice are at stake

Long Grove’s historic charm is under threat — and not just from the Quik Trip proposal to build a large fueling station at the intersection of Routes 83 and 53. The real concern is the lack of transparency and responsiveness from village leadership surrounding this project.

Despite strong and consistent public opposition voiced at Planning Commission and Village Board meetings, the project continues to advance. Even more troubling is that minutes from the March 4 PCZBA meeting — where commissioners unanimously voted against recommending the rezoning — have yet to be posted online, as of this writing. This omission makes it harder for residents and even board members to understand the basis of that vote.

At the May 13 board meeting, former trustee Anne Kritzmire was appointed as chair of the PCZBA. When questions were raised about the process for replacing the previous chair, vague references to “going a different route” and reliance on statutory authority did little to reassure the public. That same evening, a local HOA representative asked why Quik Trip was being considered at all. The response? “Taxes are part of it.”

That answer raises more questions than it resolves. This development is unlikely to significantly reduce TIF district debt before it expires in 2031, and Quik Trip has rarely developed outlots in Illinois — further limiting potential revenue. So if the economic upside is minimal and residents are opposed, what’s really driving this decision?

Our elected officials must uphold not only fiscal responsibility but the long-term values and vision of our community. Long Grove’s identity — rooted in its history, aesthetics, and small-town character — is not something to be traded away lightly.

We urge the Village Board to restore transparency and prioritize what residents have overwhelmingly asked for: responsible development that honors the past, listens to the present, and protects the future.

Diane Trickey

Long Grove