VIDEOS

Although the zoning change was passed in favor of Team Blonde, we will always have the following videos of that council meeting as a remembrance of 2010 Forest Park politics.


It Really Doesn't Matter
This video has the mayor talking about 'innuendo' and 'plethora' as quoted in the paper and by a few signatures on the forum.

The clip also includes Mayor Calderone strongly stating what was quoted in the FP Review and elsewhere about his thoughts on threats and Sturino. 



Around 3 min into the vid, the mayor said he wished he had a crystal ball to figure out
at what point TB “maybe tried to do some things they shouldn’t have been doing.”

Wasn't the mayor informed on May 29, 2007?

The mayor claims the village took action when they knew about TB being out of compliance with zoning laws. Actually, the village couldn’t bring Team Blonde within Illinois zoning laws without some type of variation for TB because they were to far out of compliance. Both the village and Team Blonde had their backs to the wall and legally could only do a zoning change to make them compliant for the stricter Illinois codes the village needed to pass. These stricter state codes just happened to get passed at the Village Council meeting on 5/24/10...only one meeting after the TB 'win.'

Doesn't this letter show the village actually knew in May of 2007 that Team Blonde was out of compliance with zoning laws?

Just a thought, if the village took all the great steps to enforce the zoning as the mayor mentioned, shouldn’t it had been done in 2007 before Team Blonde became a spa. 

Threats or Perception
How about the mayor's thoughts on threats in the village and how that couldn't have happened in the 11 years since he has been mayor. It ended with a very interesting exchange about threats with Commissioner Tellalian and Mayor Calderone near the end of the vid. 




Wow!

P.S. Thank you Commissioner Tellalian for standing up and asking the important questions! Good job!   

The Chair Lets This Popularity Contest Be Seen

I was looking over some old footage and noticed the Chairman of the Zoning Appeals Board let the plaintiff (Team Blonde) ask "who was there for Team Blonde?"  I thought about this and realized the poll was able to be taken for around 15 seconds before there was interruption and the Chairman called "Order".  Is that appropriate or even legal?

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Latest Investigative Report From Forest Park Review

Threats or requests?
Did former village official threaten Team Blonde critics? Sturino says, ‘No’

By Helen Karakoudas
Managing Editor

It's been said at the national level that government frequently has a problem recognizing perception versus reality. In Forest Park, how businesses sort perception of a government message from its reality is the latest wrinkle in the Team Blonde spa services debate.

The local version of this "What's really the deal here?" challenge surfaced at the last zoning board meeting and has been steaming since. At issue is what was meant during a critical call three years ago made by then-Village Administrator Mike Sturino.

A reference to the call's chilling effects was the shocker at the April 19 meeting of the village zoning board of appeals. Lee Conte, an owner of Chi Balancing Center at 7249 Madison, told the zoning board:

"Back in 2007 when we were in communication with the village about Team Blonde's spa activities, we were given the message from the village administrator at the time that, if we continued to question the issue concerning their zoning violation, the village would shut us down."

The Review had not, in last week's paper, reported on this allegation because people who knew of the call firsthand could not be reached for comment by the next morning's press deadline. In interviews since, the Review has sought to answer the following:

• 
  
  
  What was the reality of a call made from village hall to a Madison Street property manager in late 2007?
• 
  
  
  How was it perceived by the person taking the call?
• 
  
  
  How was that property manager's reaction to the call perceived by the tenant she then called?
  
  

"All I did was call Stacy Taxman (the property manager) and say, 'We need peace in the neighborbood,'" Sturino told the Review, noting he stated a general expectation but not any detailed steps toward it or consequences if it weren't met. Sturino, who left village hall in January 2009 to become president and CEO of Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, is now a lobbyist with a group headquartered in Itasca. He reached the Review office just before this newspaper put in a call to him.

A lawyer, Sturino told the Review he understands the accusation made at the hearing comprises an illegal action. He says he never met Conte and never had a phone conversation with her.

Taxman, the property manager Sturino does say he reached, is president of Skokie-based Taxman Corp. and one of the owners of Madison Street Commons-Commercial LLC, which owns the building known as Madison Commons. Chi Balancing Center does business in the building. Taxman recalls a particular conversation with Sturino.

"Mike Sturino called to make me aware of the situation - the global situation. No specifics," Taxman told the Review. "Solely and entirely, this is an issue the two businesses must resolve," she added, referring to Chi Balancing Center - a business she said she does not know - and Team Blonde.

"That was my position then. And that's my position now. It's a small community," Taxman said.

The business at 7249 Madison that Taxman does know is Skin Care Company, a spa owned and run by Brookfield resident Sandra Capizzi. Conte, the woman who addressed the zoning board about the perceived threat from Sturino, is an independent contractor in Capizzi's 1,200-square-foot space. Conte and her husband, David Riddle, are Oak Parkers who own and run Chi Balancing Center, a shiatsu massage business.

Taxman and Capizzi both recall a phone conversation about three letters Capizzi had sent village hall in May 2007 noting that Team Blonde's spa services were no longer the permissible once-a-month Girls' Night Out events. Taxman has a general recollection about making a call to Capizzi, whom she praises as "a model tenant." Capizzi recalls the call in some detail. Conte, who says she was sitting next to Capizzi when the call came, recalls other detail.

"I know Mike Sturino did call my landlord," Capizzi told the Review. "I remember her calling and saying they wanted peace on the street. And they wanted to see how we could resolve this."

Capizzi paused.

"If I didn't move on, I could potentially have problems," Capizzi said, choosing not go on the record with specifics.

"I remember that Sandra turned stark white and was shaking when she hung up the phone. She told me we had to stop pursuing the issue with Team Blonde, because Mr. Sturino told Ms. Taxman if we didn't back off, we would be closed down," Conte wrote in an e-mail to the Review.

In a later e-mail, Conte specified: "The exact words we were told was that they would 'pull our license.'"

Conte places the call in early August 2007, after, she says, coming across mention of the threat in an e-mail to a relative.

"I stopped. I let it go. I continued to run my business. I was afraid," Capizzi told the Review.

"From that moment on, we operated under a veil of fear," Conte wrote. "I remember all of us expecting at any moment that the village would come charging in and shut us down. At some point, David thought we could still pursue the issue since we had a valid business license, and he felt it was more likely that they just wouldn't give us the renewal."

Riddle, in his remarks last week to the zoning board, said he lost his spirit for Madison Street when he and his wife felt they lost their voice and their security.

"I put my fliers out in Oak Park and River Forest. I couldn't put them out in Forest Park anymore," Riddle said both during the zoning board meeting and to the Review afterward.

"The threat was real enough to us that we ceased all contact with the village," Conte said

Ms. Conte's Comments at Zoning Meeting 4/19/10

Hello Truthseekerfp:


Thank you for this forum, I found it very informative.  I know your space is limited, but I wanted to give you the speech I presented last night to the zoning board - as it looks like you might be interested.  Just a little background so it will make more sense - as a licensed massage therapist in Illinois, before we can even get our license, we are subjected to finger printing and a background check through the FBI database to make sure we don't have a criminal record, and have never been arrested for prostitution.  Any massage therapist will tell you how detrimental it is to our business every time some prostitution ring is discovered under the guise of "massage".  So, naturally, an ordinance that allows for hiding services away from the public sends up warning signals like crazy!

Here is my speech:


The original amendment was worded to allow for a super-retail/spa, but this new exception allows for any retail business that fits the criteria can offer at least one type of personal grooming service.  How much space does someone need to do a manicure or cut hair? 4ft by 5ft square?  Will this exception require a separate license from the village, or fall under the category of retail?  Even if the Village doesn't require a license, any space offering personal grooming is still subject to state licensing.  I didn't see anything in the amended exception that addresses any sort of window advertisements, so I can only assume that this would be allowed, which, I stated in my testimony in March, would still make the retail store look like a spa, and not keep with the look of the street.  What will shoppers think when they walk into stores to find every other one has some sort of personal grooming in the back.  This situation is happening on North Avenue right now, where these services are not regulated.


The other issue I have with this exception is that the treatments will be in back rooms, away from public view without any type of regulation.  As a licensed massage therapist, store fronts that offer massages in back rooms for purposes of prostitution is what we have been fighting against for years.  I'm in NO WAY saying anyone here would do that, but what about a new business run by people who may interpret the rules to their liking.  What's to stop someone from saying they offer "personal grooming services," but are actually offering something criminal.  The zoning enforcement is already under scrutiny here, and unless the Village plans to police this, this amended exception would provide the option to hide from view something illicit.  For example, in the 31st ward in Chicago, they are currently reworking the massage zoning laws.  The originally proposed ordinance suggested forcing all massage establishments out of retail zoning and into industrial zoning, so that "car dealerships that are open late at night could keep an eye on them and make sure they're not prostituting."  Obviously, their police do not have the resources to watch over these establishments.  The government would be naive in thinking Forest Park wouldn't be in a similar situation in the future.  That type of activity would hurt every legitimate business, and would ruin the reputation of the downtown.


On another note... back in 2007 when we were in communication with the village about Team Blonde's spa activities, we were given the message from the Village Administrator at the time that if we continued to question the issue concerning their zoning violation, the Village would SHUT US DOWN.  We now know that for a Village employee to threaten a legally operating business is not only an abuse of entrusted power, it is illegal.  But, at the time, we only know our livelihood had been threatened, and we immediately ceased all communication with the Village.  Had this issue been handled properly by the Village back in 2007, we would not be here now, trying to clean up the mess.


Thank you.  Lee Conte

Forest Park Review Editorial - 'Team Blonde Exception' Whitewash

I was very impressed with Helen's Karakoudas' report on March 16, 2010, the day after the first meeting of Zoning Board of Appeals.  Her writing and quotations of the testimony showed both sides of the story.  
However, the 'Team Blonde Exception' editorial shows how things can change at the Forest Park Review.
This blog was created in part due to the whitewash from the Forest Park Review.  The following paragraphs in arial style are from the Forest Park Review Editorial 'Team Blonde exception dated March 23, 2010. 

"It's going to come down to a matter of interpretation, this debate over the product and service mix of Team Blonde. And that's OK. Zoning regulations are intended as guideposts, not absolute markers of right and wrong. Zoning in a commercial district is created to foster a community's vision of its best self.  So let's use that vision of Madison Street to parse out a resolution to the zoning issue at 7442 Madison.

This is the day -  March 23, 2010 when the Forest Park Review has gone soft on zoning.  The zoning issues which have plagued and have been in the headlines for years are now just 'guideposts'.  The Review might as well have said - 'Forget the past.  Forget the the Mike Boyle letter.  Forget the Law.  It is just a matter of interpretation.'


Whatever!

The downtown zoning code was remade in 2006 and amended just months ago, at the close of 2009. The overarching goal of planners and the public officials who ratified the plan was to foster retail uses on the street that's become Forest Park's specialty shopping corridor. That's why new offices are prohibited on Madison Street. That's also why there's a 500-foot-rule that keeps "spas" - establishments that offer haircuts and nail treatments - from proliferating. And that's the rule that Team Blonde's owners Heidi Vance and Jayne Ertel have gradually but actively come to violate."


Although the zoning was recently amended, the zoning code regulating a separation of 500 ft. for personal grooming services has stayed the same...there were items that were amended, but no new law that would effect Team Blondes Spa except for the requirement that businesses which personal grooming services must now also be registered with the state of Illinios.
  

"In the business they started as straight-up retail years ago, these two smart merchants figured out, as shop owners across the country have, that just opening their doors in the morning to sell specialty items off the shelf wasn't going to earn them a living. Occasionally adding in specialty services was a hedge, and a sideline that made all the more sense in a weakening economy and after a move to larger space."


There is a difference between smart and clever.  Smart is following the rules...clever is trying to figure out how to get around them.  Should every retail shop have a spa in the back of their store?  There are plenty of other retail stores that did not need to build a spa in the back of their store these last three years.  This spa didn't just happen.  They had a letter from the village telling them not to expand and they went ahead and not only expanded in their location at Circle and Madison, but built a huge space (over 1500 square ft.) in their current location.  This happened in the boom times along with the current sluggish economy.

"Here's where the interpretation comes in.

Competitors of Team Blonde's sideline - other independent businesses in town that offer the hair, nail and skin care treatments now available all the time at 7442 Madison - want the 500-foot rule enforced because, it seems, the competition for customers opting for these specialty services is a concern. Zoning laws should never be created or enforced to protect a business from competition. It's un-American. Competition is good."

What is un-American is that Team Blonde knowingly violated the zoning laws they did not agree with them.  To top it off, the Village of Forest Park did nothing to correct the situation.  Competition is  good..but the problem is Team Blonde has never had permission to be competition.  
This is not being fought over competition, we are just tired of the preferable treatment given to the few in this village who feel they can do anything they please.

"Our interpretation is that the 500-foot rule was created so that, as you drive down Madison, you don't see a strip of nail salons and haircut places. Remember, the underlying goal of the zoning is to encourage retail. From its facade, Team Blonde is all about retail - a shopping anchor, in fact, on Madison that even its spa competitors don't question."

There was actually an objection at the zoning meeting on March 15, 2010 questioning how during the last 3 years there have been banners in their windows which advertise the same services other spas have.  To top it off their windows are tinted so it is impossible to see in their store from the street any further than around 4 or 5 ft. during the day which only makes the banners even more noticeable.  You won't find those banners in their windows today because the city ordered them to take down any advertising of personal grooming services until the zoning issue is resolved.  It is quite obvious the banners create a look similar to other established spas on the street.  

Whoever wrote the editorial must not have paid attention to the following testimony at the March 15, 2010 zoning board meeting:

"With spa services tucked away at the back of shop space 150 feet deep, their presence isn't the magnet that Team Blonde's clothing and accessories show windows are. The five small backrooms are space no modern retailer is going to use for merchandising stock. In fact, when the zoning was revised in 2009, office use was allowed in spaces 50 feet or more back from the street."

The back half of the building used to have office space before Team Blonde moved their spa into that building.  The 'five small backrooms' used to be independent viable businesses.  Team Blonde decided it would be better to eliminate many of the  business offices and make a spa rather than continue to collect rent from those offices.  Additionally, those 'small rooms' add up to over 1500 sq ft.  

So, we ask the village, get this resolution, too, on a fast track and let a retailer that's drawing people to Forest Park evolve into a hybrid business of mainly goods and a few services. But pay attention and sort through how to draw the lines responsibly so that retail in a 3,000-square-foot space remains primary. Forest Park's chronic inability to enforce its zoning and building codes, or to, at least, interpret them in a timely manner is unreasonable, unfair and exhausting.


Fluff.  Monday's meeting will likely include some type of 'restriction on size'.  The spa square footage will be shrunk.  How long before that restriction gets overlooked by the village.  With Team Blondes expansion record and the village's enforcement record, how will the village enforce anything regarding this spa in the next 3+ years?

Everything in Forest Park can't be decided individually. We need a moratorium on "special case" rulings.

This case shouldn't be decided individually either...we do need a moratorium...starting now.  Don't let this Team Blonde zoning pass!

Question - Answer Time

This part of the blog is dedicated to answering questions.  Due to the limitations in size of what can be posted, I will be able to take important specific questions and comments such as the following;

4/18/10

Anonymous said...

"The Forest Park Review has a history of favoring Team Blonde and whatever they do. In the newspaper's eyes, TB can do no wrong. Your comments are right on the money. It's the same old story of Team Blonde not following the rules that are laid down and doing whatever they please to suit their own interests."

4/16/10

By Anonymous

"Thank you for creating this discussion. You need to get more people to read this. It's amazing what people think that they can get away with. Especially if the village is in cahoots with them."

"Team Blonde has gone to the village in the past to get the zoning laws changed for their best interests. They did not do their research and it backfired on them."

Thank you for your comments.  We are looking at many ways to get the word out.  So far it has been with the www.forestparkforums.com and by hitting the neighborhoods with postcards directing them to this site.  If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

The videos and articles have links so they can easily be e-mailed.  If you have friends or family who would be interested some info, please send them a copy!  The more people aware of this situation, the better.  Together we can make a difference in this town.

4/15/10
By Anonymous -


'If you have taken the time to do any research, you will find that the 500 foot rule is absolutely ridiculous. Check with most of the shopping districts in the surrounding communities and you will find that a law like this is unheard of.'


Actually we have researched and found Chicago has 1000 ft. regulations while Berwyn, Oak Park (on Madison St.) and LaGrange have 400 - 500 ft. regulations.  These type of laws to keep more retail within the business district.  David King said at the last ZBA meeting that he gts 2-3 requests a week for personal grooming services.  This zoning is in place to prevent too many spa establishments from saturating the DBD.

FYI - The business community said they wanted to keep the 500 ft rule.  This was not the salons that were asking for this zoning law...it was the entire business community on Madison St.  The attempt of the change in zoning Team Blonde proposed at the first ZBA meeting would have loosened the ability of the village to have that zoning law stand.  Now Team Blonde has to tighten up what zoning proposal they are to present at the next meeting on Monday April 19, 2010.  


Do you think Ms. Vance, as a lawyer,  should have looked at the consequences of that proposal?  

Ms. Vance, Did You Read The Letter?

A highlight of this clip was when Ms. Vance insisted she did not knowingly violate the 500 ft. rule, but then a 2007 letter from Mike Boyle resurfaced during proceedings...

Mike Boyle Letter

The following are the words contained within the 2007 letter written by Michael Boyle former Director of Health and Safety which was presented at the Zoning Appeals Board meeting March 15, 2010.

May 31, 2007

Jayne Ertel

Heidi Vance

Team Blonde

7324 W. Madison Forest Park, IL 60130

Re: Pedicure, manicure and massage services

Ladies:

It has come to my attention that you have brought limited full-service pedicure, manicure and massage services to this business location.  This is a service activity that you do not have a business license for, and due to restrictions of the Downtown Business District, you will not be licensed for those services or permitted to provide those services.

The regulations for the DBD Downtown Business District allow personal grooming facilities, which this business venture incorporates, "provided that no such business is located within 500 feet of another business providing personal grooming services."  There are other businesses that have been providing personal grooming services within 500 feet of your location.  As a result, you may not expand these activities.

As I understand it, these services have been offered as a limited component of your "Girls Night Out" program.  This feature is an ancillary function of your main business operation.  The location of businesses offering these services as full-service options precludes you from expanding these functions.  To expand this service in the manner you have requires you to conform with the zoning standards, which, due to proximity of other full-service businesses, is not possible based upon the current zoning.  Therefore, you must cease providing these services in any fashion other than as an add-on feature of the "Girls Night Out" activities in which you previously offered them.

Additionally, you installed or had installed new plumbing and sewer drains for the pedicure station.  This was done without the required permits.  This plumbing needs to be taken out, and we must be called to inspect the removal when complete to assure it has been properly removed and capped off. If you desire to keep it, you may apply for the plumbing permits and have the installation inspected to determine if it was done in compliance with our regulations.

It is unfortunate that you did not call us prior to doing all this work, for you would have learned of these requirements and restrictions.  However, it does not release you of your need to come into compliance at this time.

I will be following up on this on June 15, 2007 to make certain that you have discontinued these services.  You must also address the plumbing that is used for providing these services by that time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (708) 615-6276.

Sincerely,

Michael Boyle

Director of Public Health and Safety

C: Michael J. Sturino, Village Administrator

Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk