Garden Room Owner Aims to Bolster Support before Village Considers Rezone Proposal

owner Deb Kern said she is taking some time to bolster support and address the concerns of neighborhood residents before she goes in front of the village for approval of a rezoning request, in hopes of razing a Shorewood home and constructing a "green" customer parking lot.

"I'll be meeting with residents to hear their concerns on the project," she said.

aimed at having the home at 3940 N. Frederick Ave. rezoned and razed, Kern said she removed her request from an Aug. 27 Plan Commission meeting. She didn't remove the request from a Sept. 25 agenda, but it will finally reach the commission for consideration on Oct. 23.

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Meanwhile, Frederick Avenue resident Sue Witas said the campaign to disrupt the proposal via a petition drive is still ongoing — they will continue to go door-to-door on weekends. The campaign was in full swing in the week leading up to an Aug. 27 meeting; it's lost a little of its vigor with the delay, but that will pick up as the meeting draws closer.

The community group wouldn't disclose how many petition signatures it has collected thus far.

"There's a general consensus against the project," Witas said.

Until the Plan Commission convenes in late October, Kern will continue to circulate her own petitions and encourage those patronizing her Shorewood garden and antique shop — which houses a greenhouse and — to phone the village manager's office and Village Hall and voice their support for the project.

Kern said she will meet with the police chief to inquire about any problems they have seen in the parking lot next to the house Kern is requesting be rezoned.