Belvidere Daily Republican
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
POPLAR GROVE - The Poplar Grove Village Board has voted 6-0 to deny issuing two special use permits needed to develop a 304-unit mobile home park on two parcels along South Poplar Grove Road.
But the issue isn't over.
Jim Hursh, attorney for the developer, said after Monday's March 10 board meeting that the next stop would be circuit court for a review of the decision.
Emotions ran high among many of those in a standing-room only crowd that packed two large rooms at village hall.
Village President John Neitzel more than once asked residents not to applaud when a speaker said something they liked.
He also admonished a man who criticized Hursh after the attorney said there were procedures to be followed and that they had clearly been met. He asked that emotions be set aside and that those procedures be considered.
"How dare you come to our town and say that," the man challenged. "You don't even live here."
Not in Poplar Grove, perhaps, but Hursh said he was a lifelong resident of Boone County and lived on Beloit Road.
Neitzel called for order and reminded those in the audience that no one had interrupted them while they were at the podium. He said the same respect should be shown the current speaker.
Eighteen people addressed the issue with 17 of them in opposition to the mobile home park. Petitions signed by more than 300 men and woman against the project were turned in to Village Clerk Martha Suhr.
Mark Petersen and others were concerned about the impact on the school district and public services. Others addressed the park being in a flood zone, further deterioration of Poplar Grove and damage to personal property by storm water.
"Protect our people, our taxes and our future," resident Glen Herrmann said.
Doug Clark said he had seen a drastic downturn in the village. His fear was that what he referred to as "a trailer park" would not draw the right kind of people.
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