Oak Brook re-establishes two village committees

As seen in the The Doings Oak Brook
After asking for ideas for commercial revitalization within Oak Brook, Village President Gopal Lalmalani and trustees have re-established two committees to work on economic growth.

During their Dec. 13 meeting, trustees established a streetscape committee and a commercial revitalization committee.

The new committees will meet on an as-needed basis, be advisory to the board and include residents and business community members.

The two committees were originally created in 2005 by the village board and approved two plans.

The Streetscape Plan was adopted in 2006 and the Commercial Areas Revitalization Plan was approved in 2008, but both were never fully implemented due to economic concerns.

“The purpose (of the streetscape committee) is to provide advice and recommendations to the village president and the board regarding implementation of the Oak Brook streetscape plan,” Lalmalani said. “The purpose (of the commercial revitalization committee) is to advise and make recommendations to the board regarding priorities of the implementation of the commercial revitalization plan.”

Oak Brook resident and former village trustee Jeff Kennedy will chair both committees.

The streetscape committee will consist of resident Harry Peters, Jeff Shay of Jones Lang LaSalle, Dan Wagner of Inland Real Estate Group, Oakbrook Center General Manager Chuck Fleming, Linda Hunt of White Lodging Services and resident Kathy Manofsky.

The commercial revitalization committee will consist of residents Peters, Bob Sanford and Raj Lal. Also serving will be Plan Commission Chairwoman Marcia Tropinski, Zoning Board Chairman Champ Davis, Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce CEO Tracy Mulqueen, Joe Endress of McDonalds Corp., Dennis Hiffman of NAI Hiffman, Shay and Fleming.

The board approved the appointees and ordinances last week, approving each committee’s purpose, membership, officers and proposed meeting schedules.

“I’m looking forward to these committees becoming active again,” Trustee Asif Yusuf said. “There are a lot of good people giving their time, effort and skill. This represents a partnership of our residents and our business community working together towards a common goal.”