A Message from Mayor Shapiro

This summer brought us the Paris Olympics and two national political conventions. Sam Juda, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles, among all the athletes, reminded us of the importance of perseverance, hard work and sportsmanship. They, like the entire Olympic community, showed us how common themes can bring us together rather than focus on what divides us. Our two national conventions reflect our continued faith in democracy and tell us that passion, when harnessed in a positive manner, can bring about thoughtful exchanges of differing agendas.

This fall, we are looking forward to exciting new changes and developments in our community. The Park District will soon complete its improvements at Jewett Park and is under the leadership of new Executive Director Annemarie Flaherty. Dr. Chala Holland is the new Superintendent of School District 113. I have had the great pleasure of meeting her and am excited about the direction her leadership will take the District.

The Village Board and I are especially proud of some recent actions we have taken. For example, we voted to approve final development plans for Continental Developers for a transit oriented development in the rear 10.79 acres of Deerbrook Shopping Center, consisting of a multi-family residential rental development with 254 units. The residential development will include 25 affordable units in compliance with the Village’s Affordable Housing Ordinance. Additionally, the development will include first-class amenities, pedestrian connectivity to the Lake Cook Metra Station, a gated resort-style swimming pool and more.

Currently, the Village lacks an administrative adjudication process, resulting in all offenses, including minor local ordinance violations, such as building code infractions, being directed to the appropriate County Circuit Court. This process is often time-consuming and expensive. To address this issue, the Board approved establishing a local administrative adjudication process at Village Hall. Administrative adjudication involves resolving certain disputes or violations of the Municipal Code through an administrative, rather than judicial, process. This means a designated hearing officer within the municipality, instead of a court of law, will conduct the proceedings. Violations that could be addressed by the Village’s hearing officer include parking violations, building code violations, stormwater violations and zoning code violations. The Village will still retain the option to refer violations directly to the appropriate County Circuit Court, if necessary. Implementation is underway and is expected to be completed with the first administrative hearing in early November. Implementing administrative hearings will significantly expedite violation enforcement and reduce the expenditure of tax dollars. 

Lastly, in 2022, the Village Board passed an ordinance allowing the Deerfield Office Center property on Lake Cook Road to operate as a supportive living facility—an alternative to nursing home care for low-income seniors and individuals with physical disabilities under Medicaid. Since then, new owners have taken over the property, and the Village Board has approved the demolition of two existing single-story office buildings. The site will be redeveloped into a new four-story supportive living facility with 147 affordable rental units, providing seniors with limited incomes a place to live and access essential services.

These actions, along with other positive developments in our Village will continue to make our community welcoming and attractive destination for everyone.