August 24, 2016

 

 

Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff and Community,

 

Last week, District leaders met with leaders of the Village of Brookfield in our continuing effort to reach a settlement to build a parking lot and relocated tennis courts on school property. We presented the Village with a new plan that we strongly believe presents a positive solution to the concerns of the Village Board and members of the Hollywood community. Unfortunately, the Village Trustees rejected our compromise out of hand.

 

As part of the long-term effort to modernize our school and its facilities, the District renovated its athletic facilities and sought to build a parking lot on school property. Originally, the District planned to build a 150-space lot and move its tennis courts offsite. However, in response to feedback from the community, particularly our partners at the Hollywood Elementary School, the District revised its plans to instead move the tennis courts next to the elementary school and build a 91-space parking lot adjacent to the parking on Rockefeller Avenue, which the District leases from the Village of Brookfield. 

 

In 2014, the District took this plan to the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission. After a collaborative and cooperative process that involved the District conducting extensive traffic and parking studies, as well as installing a $600,000 enhanced storm water retention system, the Zoning Commission unanimously approved the District's plan. Without explanation, the Village Board of Trustees voted to deny approval of the plan. The District then pursued its right to appeal the Village's denial to the courts.

 

What does this compromise entail?

 

Our compromise plan includes a much smaller parking lot consisting of 63 spaces. The west side of the parking lot and the tennis courts would be shielded from view by landscaping. A set back of 25 feet from Hollywood Avenue would also provide a sizable green space accessible to the community and include a row of trees that would be planted in the parkway to further improve residents' view. The District would also provide increased traffic controls during special events and at other peak traffic times for an orderly and safe traffic flow. This plan represents a true improvement for the community and goes a long way toward meeting the needs of the District.

 

You can see renderings here:

 

Artistic Renderings of the Compromise Plan:

	Street View from Northwest

Aerial View from Southwest

 

 

 

 

Why is this compromise important?

 

Additional parking is vital to the District's ability to provide a robust educational experience for our students, to attract exceptional staff, to provide access to parents, and to serve as a hub for programs and events benefiting the broader community. It will also help to keep people from parking on the streets in the Hollywood area.

 

Because the District has no parking of its own, students, parents and staff routinely complain about the lack of adequate parking. This problem is even more pronounced for students who work after school, participate in extra-curricular activities or take time to meet with teachers outside of school hours. We have also received complaints from members of the community who visit the school for programming sponsored by the YMCA, Brookfield Little League, Triton College, recreational, theatrical and musical groups, and many others.

 

This issue will only worsen with time. District enrollment has grown significantly in recent years, and is projected to do so well into the future. In 2000, we served about 1,000 students. This past academic year, we served more than 1,600.

 

We are extremely grateful to the Village and the Zoo for providing opportunities to the District to lease parking, but we cannot rely solely on agreements that are uncertain in the long-term and sap District resources. The Village is now threatening not to renew the Rockefeller parking lease next year. The lot leased to the District by the Zoo is often closed to District parking when the zoo determines it needs the lot and the lease is only on a yearly basis. All of this pushes parking and traffic into the Hollywood neighborhood in an uncontrolled manner and underscores how important it is that the District build parking that we control ourselves.

 

We also know that the neighboring community is concerned about increased traffic and congestion, as well as the visual appeal of the neighborhood. We have taken a number of steps to address these concerns, including canceling the lease of a semi-pro football team. We think this new plan further reflects our commitment to providing a solution that is beneficial to everyone in our community.

 

Where do we go from here?

 

The District has provided a compromise plan that partially serves the needs of the District and fully addresses the interests of the community, including the Hollywood area. We do this out of a sincere desire to act as a good neighbor, and because we know that the District community is far better served by a speedy resolution than by a lengthy court battle at the cost of our taxpayers and the Village's taxpayers.

 

We will take every opportunity to demonstrate to the Village Board that this compromise is in everyone's best interest. We will seek your support as we urge the Village to reconsider its position.

 

Cordially,

 

Board of Education

District 208