Palos Heights residents came to last week’s city council meeting with questions, concerns, and some pushback regarding a proposed parking lot project at 123rd Street and 71st Court.
While no final decision was made, the Palos Heights City Council voted to send the project to the Zoning Board of Appeals for consideration for a special use permit.
Kristen Restivo, a resident, brought detailed questions pressing the city council on whether it had considered improving existing lots, leasing underused private spaces, or working with businesses to share parking after hours.
“Once we cut down those trees and pour down that concrete, there’s no going back,” Restivo said. “Sharing a vision and a plan as a first step would generate excitement and investment from the community.”
Another resident, whose home borders the proposed site, said she had voiced solutions back in 2022. “Nothing has been done since then to address the concerns, and now the city is trying to pass this motion during a holiday week, hoping many may not be paying attention, but we are,” she said.
Mayor Bob Straz addressed her concerns and said that the city had recently received nine proposals from planning firms to help shape a new downtown development plan. The proposals will be reviewed in the coming weeks.
“This is all going in conjunction with a comprehensive plan,” Straz said. “Once we sit down with the company, we’ll see if this parking lot even fits.”
Aldermen Mike McGrogan and Robert Basso were among the council members questioning why the city would start pushing the parking lot before hearing what the consultants had to say.
“I don’t see what the rush is,” Basso said. “Wouldn’t it be something if the plan comes back and doesn’t even recommend a parking lot there.”
McGrogan shared similar thoughts. “I do not support spending thousands of dollars on consultants when the city could handle the planning internally. I don’t care that we have the money in the fund. Just because we have it doesn’t mean we have to spend it.”
Alderman Dan Brennan said sending the proposal to the ZBA doesn’t lock the city into anything. He called it a “procedural step.”
Aldermen ultimately voted 4-2 to send the plan to the ZBA. Brennan, Brent Lewandowski and Patrick Scully voted “yes.” Basso and McGrogan voted “no.” Jack Clifford, Jeffery Key, and Heather Begley were absent.
The next scheduled Palos Heights meeting is Tuesday, July 15.
