'This Is Not The Way We Do Business In Northbrook'

During Wednesday's special session of the Northbrook Plan Commission, during which members of the commission requested additional changes to Walmart's proposal for a superstore at 1000 Skokie Blvd., a couple commissioners decried the behavior of certain members of the public who participated in the community input portion of the Walmart petition. 

"This is the first time I have been uncomfortable about making my views known, because of the previous atmospheres in this hearing room," Plan Commission chair, Marcia Franklin said at Glenbrook North's Center for the Performing Arts. "This is not the way we do business in Northbrook."

Commissioner Norm Jacobs reminded the room that people in the community will inevitably have different opinions on the matter.

"I'd like to thank the members of the community that came and provided their input, those that did so respectfully," Jacobs said. "I have a little bit of a problem with the booing and clapping and whatnot that disrupted people's testimony."

"Whether you like it or not, their testimony is their testimony," he added. 

Franklin told the audience that she serves on the commission because she lives in Northbrook and believes in the village's governing process. 

"I would never enter the application process for any application with my mind made up and unwilling to listen to the evidence presented," she said.

Franklin added, "I hope that neither I, nor any other member of the commission or person wishing to put evidence in, is placed in that position again."

Share your thoughts on the 1000 Skokie Blvd. proposal in the Patch's new Walmart open blog.