Development causing unrest for City Council

On April 14, the DuPage County Board approved a mixed-use development for the Royce Reality (Krilich) property along Butterfield Road, adjacent to Oakbrook Terrace. On behalf of the City Council of the city of Oakbrook Terrace, I want to set the facts straight with your readers.

The County Board was told that the city rejected proposals from the developer without further guidance. Not true. No application for development was ever filed with the city, and the city never denied any application. The city discussed acceptable development with the developer and potential buyers, but the sale’s price did not account for poor soils, wetland area restrictions and an inadequate private water system. These factors, not city officials, prevented the sale and development of the property for so many years.

The County Board was told that the developer made compromises, and recent news stories state that no more than 1,500 residential units were approved. Not true. The developer originally asked for 2,132 dwelling units. Under the lowest possible interpretation of the approvals, 1,890 dwelling units would be allowed, including 500 senior housing units, just 241 units or 10 percent less than requested.

Under the high end interpretation, 2,087 dwelling units would be allowed, just 45 units, or 2.5 percent less than requested. The developer was also allowed to count the same land area for residential density and commercial floor area in part of the development, and was granted more than three times the maximum permitted square footage of commercial uses in the residential zone. Not much of a compromise.

Density means traffic. This includes 22nd Street, which is already glutted with vehicles. The roadways cannot accommodate the additional traffic, even with improvements. Revenues generated by the proposed development will be less than represented, and costs to provide public services will greatly exceed the estimates of the developer.

Inadequate usable open space is provided for the public. The marketplace cannot absorb all the residential units to be constructed. Please get the facts. Otherwise, the neighbors of the property and county taxpayers will pay the price.

Anthony R. Ragucci, Mayor of Oakbrook Terrace

Reagan had the right answers for economy

Just like President Obama inherited an economy in disarray, President Reagan inherited an economy that was in trouble. In fact, the case can be made that Reagan inherited a worse situation. Interest rates, inflation and unemployment were all in the double digits.

The path both men took to remedy the problem, however, is totally different. Obama believes the government can fix the economy by regulating and bailing out businesses. He feels government can be the solution.

Reagan believed that the government was the problem, and he took the steps necessary to remove regulations and punitive taxes to encourage growth in the private sector. Obama wants to increase spending in entitlements and cut military spending. Reagan cut entitlement spending and increased it for the military.

The results for the Obama way, although it is too early to tell completely, are not encouraging. The results for Reagan’s way are complete: record and sustained growth for many years. And we were a nation at peace.

Bob Speziale, Elmhurst