Views and News from the Chairman | July 2014

Kirby, a 12-year resident of the Village, is the most recognized member of our family—especially in town, where he meets-and-greets everyone. I love this about our Village. When I see wolfhounds the size of ponies outside Starbucks, I know my fellow Commissioner Gary Ruben is nearby. And when I admire a dog I’ve never met before, I also meet a neighbor.

Whether you call it “downtown” (contemporary) or “uptown (historic), our Village center embodies what the Danish call “hygge”—coziness and warmth, the art of building community, and taking genuine pleasure in everyday experience. In our Village center we congregate, we bring the kids and the dogs, we shop; we work–and we linger together whenever we can. Our Village center is “hygge”, and it is home.

Now, as part of Glencoe’s regular planning process, it’s time to review the guidelines for this precious resource—formally known as “Chapter 10 of the Comprehensive Plan of the Village of Glencoe”. This includes preparing a planning map for downtown and—eventually—reviewing our appearance review standards and sign ordinance. The Plan Commission is assigned these tasks—and the Commission’s recommendations to the Village Board are advisory only.

Here’s our approach: we are calling this the downtown “TuneUp”.

Why? Because nothing is “wrong”, we are not fixing something that’s broken. We will be thinking about—and I hope you will, too—ways in which the future may impact our small community, ways to safeguard what we cherish, and ways in which our town center can remain “hygge” and thrive as a place to do business, shop, gather, and meet-and-greet some of the most wonderful dogs on the North Shore!

Our 3 Phases:

1.  First, we are getting the word out to everyone we can and making it as easy as possible to share your ideas. Many residents are contributing ideas on the chalkboards at Wyman Green; keep those ideas coming, we are recording every one of them.

2. Second, once you know about the TuneUp….join the conversation! We want to listen.  We especially want to listen BEFORE we start work on the map or possible edits to Chapter 10. We all know the issues that always come up: the Public Works garage, adequacy of parking, restaurants. What else should we be talking about?

3. Third, the Plan Commission has been asked by the Village Board to prepare a proposed planning map and (if needed) updates to Chapter 10. Share your reactions and suggestions! We want our work to be thoughtful and inclusive. You can help make that happen.

Oh, and there’s one more thing: please say hi to Kirby when you spot him in town. He loves our Village center almost as much as we do.

– Caren Thomas, Chairman at Village of Glencoe Plan Commission