Patty Meroni: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Barrington HillsWebsite: http://www.save5acres.comOffice sought: Barrington Hills Village boardAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Barrington Hills Village HistorianChairman, Village of Barrington Hills 50th Anniversity EventFounding Member, President, Riding for a Cure II, with donations exceeding 500k. Member Fox River Valley HuntSpring Creek Basset HuntRiding Club of Barrington HillsFox River Valley Pony ClubMember Barrington Hills Country ClubElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Saving our unique rural, equestrian and conversation character against the incursions of developers who want to break our 5-acre zoning with ""smart planning techniques"" which would ""allow limited exceptions to 5 acre lots on the perimeters of the village, transitioning to 5-acre minimum lots throughout the village interior"". What most residents do not realize is that Barrington Hills has several large unincorporated properties with in its boundaries totaling hundreds of acres, the borders of which are also perimeters of the village, thus allowing developments from both the outside and the inside of the village. Like a doughnut eaten away from within and without!Feathering, which is a euphemism for high density zoning, is the beginning of a domino effect to start breaking down the 5 acre zoning around the perimeters of the village and which will ultimately lead to breaking the 5 acre zoning throughout the village. The effects of this on our water resources will be catastrophic in the future. Key Issue 2 Protecting our unique rural, equestrian lifestyle, our conservation areas - which have garnered national acclaim and awards, and our open space. Barrington Hills is a sanctuary, both to its residents and the abundant wildlife within its borders, an island in a sprawling metropolitan area, and must be protected at all costs. A large amount of conservation work comes out of Barrington Hills, from Citizens for Conservation, Spring Creek Stewards, Friends of Spring Creek and more, all of which goes to protecting our open space, land, ecology, water and waste management and horses. Horses are one of the three (3) core justifications for maintaining our 5 acre zoning.The Common Sense Party is trying to redefine our village as a residential community, not an equestrian village. But, you don#146;t have to own horses to enjoy the beauty of the open spaces, the green pastures inhabited by grazing horses and frolicking foals Our village is a treasure as it stands now. To allow the breakdown of our 5 acre zoning and the resulting population increase will result not just in the loss of our open space, ecology, wildlife and land, but will put huge new financial pressures on the village for new schools , roads, police, fire and infrastructure improvements.Key Issue 3 Water and Land Use Management..As we focus on the future, and look to the 2020 and 2030 plans , the importance of water use and management and wise planning of land use will become of paramount importance, not just in the Barrington area, but throughout the region. In fact, water that we have taken for granted will become perhaps our most precious commodity in the future as populations grow and urban areas spread, demanding more and more of this life sustaining resource. Throughout the southwest today water is the number one concern for cities, agriculture, ranching, farming and recreation.The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. CMAP has been studying the long term outlook for our region and the predictions are dire as the area continues to expand its urban footprint with water greedy suburbs, massive paved areas which change water retention, and a growing demand. Barrington Hills is the water renewal resource for our area, and without the 5 acre zoning to support the aquifers and water retention , manage waste and waste water, and recharge the aquifers, our entire region will face a drastic water shortfall within the next 30 years. This cannot be allowed to happen for it will be catastrophic in the future. Questions Answers Describe your personal position on the outdoor lighting ordinance.I believe that the village board has created and approved a new ordinance with changes in it that needed to be made. Controls were needed and the new ordinance created provides much needed controls to protect our community and maintain the village atmosphere as intended by our village forefathers.Generally speaking, do you see the village of Barrington Hills as the product of strong regulation or as a bastion of individual property rights? Should the practices of the past be changed or maintained?village management and citizenry find that modifications need to be made. Our community is one where different interests have come together. With farming gone the village founders wanted to create a community of estates where the the majority of the residents had more ""elbow room"" and would allow for an equestrian way of life and where the forest preserves and riding trails could be enjoyed by residents and equestrians alike and also preserve wildlife. The village already has acreages where land owners have created #147;eye sores#148; like automobile junkyards. There are two of them that are still village problems and where landowners have proceeded as they #147;see fit#148;. This is why we need regulations. One of these junkyards is our contiguous neighbor who has had as many as 19+ junker cars on his property and the village has had him in court for over 5 years. There are still over 10 junker cars on his property.Barrington Hills is an incorporated municipality and as such has zoning ordinances which are directly designed to protect its village citizens from such abuses and protect property values. Every municipality in the U.S. has such regulations and to overthrow all regulation would eliminate police, fire and other village services Do we want anarchy as proposed by some who want no regulation? Should the village's requirement of minimum 5-acre lot sizes be maintained or should land owners have the right to divide their property as they see fit?I am 100% opposed to breaking 5 acre zoning, including the misguided concept of #147;feathering#148;.If I am elected I will never compromise on the 5 acre zoning.Would the village benefit from a modest amount of commercial development? Where, if anywhere, should a commercial area of the village be established?The village already has 3 small commercial areas, one of which is on New Hart Road across from the high school and adjacent to the Smith Barney office building, all of which is owned by Common Sense Party candidate for trustee, Dede Wamberg. Our village fathers set the stage by creating a village with by laws that discouraged ""commercial development"" other than farms which were protected exceptions. Our village is surrounded by ""commercial development"". Our Federal tax code encourages ""home businesses"" however. I#146;m in favor of the existing home occupation ordinance. Should equestrian uses of land within the village be further regulated?Other than sensible management of horse boarding I don#146;t think additional regulations are required, rather I feel the village should do everything possible to support our equestrian lifestyle and equestrian activities such as the annual Kalaway Cup which has become our premier village event bringing together equestrians and non equestrians alike to celebrate our unique community and lifestyle.