Acting Niles Mayor Bob Callero today named Trustee Andrew Przybylo to be Committee Chairman of Building and Zoning. Callero spoke of several issues related to the Department of Community Development that need to be addressed soon by someone with zoning and development knowledge. He said, “Andy Przybylo has the kind of background that Niles needs toward formulating a Comprehensive Land Use & Policies Plan.”
Mayor Callero emphasized a recent seminar on Land Use / Zoning Law Outline given by his Administration, where Attorney Ronald S. Cope stated that, “Any major revision to the Zoning Ordinance should be preceded by the formulation of a Comprehensive Land Use and Policies Plan.” That gathering was held on January 5, 2009, and attended by Acting Mayor Callero, Trustee Andrew Przybylo, Trustee Louella Preston and many Niles staff, along with the general public. Other Trustees were invited but were out of town or unable to attend.
Przybylo said, “At the January meeting I realized that Niles needed a Comprehensive Land Use and Policies Plan which would be the basis for any major revisions to our zoning ordinance—like legislation affecting digital display message centers.”
Further, Trustee Przybylo indicated that as a mature community, Niles should look to this “Plan” with an eye toward comprehensive redevelopment. Such a “Plan” would take into account the relationship of future land cover-buildings and pavement, and proper drainage. He fully expects his Committee to be involved in the planning to eliminate basement flooding from sewer overflow. He added, “The timetable being set by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is painfully slow. We will be working to accelerate the process.”
Other issues that the Comprehensive Land Use and Policies Plan would cover are:
- Defining a new retail model that would keep our stores leased, with an enhanced shopping experience.
- Creating beautification programs that are specific to the retail model.
- Looking toward Niles and its neighborhoods to create a model for beautification.
- Identifying new ways to be more environmentally sound.
Andrew Przybylo is a co-owner of the White Eagle Banquets & Restaurant. He was on the Niles Zoning & Plan Commission 1987-89 and a Niles Trustee from 1989 to the present. In 2002, then President of the Cook County Board, the late John H. Stroger appointed Przybylo the Secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals. This experience has equipped him well for his new responsibility.
Also invited to be members of the committee were Trustees Bart Murphy and Kim Biederman. Trustee Murphy has accepted, but Biederman has not yet responded.
Mayor Callero was asked why he decided to create the new committee. According to the Mayor, “It is a new time in Niles. Attorney Cope made a compelling argument for a comprehensive plan as a major step towards my fulfilling my commitment to eliminate basement flooding in the village.” He went on to say, “I intend to make more use of standing committees than has been done previously, and to have the committee meetings open to the public, with public participation encouraged. I feel strongly that this will make for better informed trustees, as well as better government.”