Latest news with #Braiman
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Wilmette set to battle O'Hare airplane noise by joining commission
The village of Wilmette is looking to become the 61st member of the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, an intergovernmental group focused on lessening the impact of aircraft noise on residential areas and schools. The Village Board adopted an intergovernmental agreement with the ONCC on June 24 in its bid to become a sitting member on the commission. The full membership must still vote to approve the addition of Wilmette. Wilmette Village Manager Michael Braiman said complaints from residents regarding increased traffic and noise from O'Hare aircraft prompted consideration of the village joining the ONCC. Residents have also objected to noise from Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling due to new flight approaches, Braiman said. 'Over the past 12 to 14 months, we have received hundreds of noise complaints, the vast majority of which were related to Chicago Executive Airport, but we also saw an increasing number of complaints we hadn't seen before regarding O'Hare traffic,' he said. These complaints involved planes that could be seen lined up over Lake Michigan, waiting to land at O'Hare, largely in the late afternoon and early evening hours, Braiman said. Joining the ONCC will allow Wilmette officials to advocate for residents and become better educated about flight patterns and changes at the airport, he explained. 'I think there's a lot of value in having a seat at the table and ensuring our residents' concerns have an outlet,' he told the Village Board. Formed in 1996, the ONCC's mission is to reduce the impact of aircraft noise through residential and school soundproofing measures and by advocating for quieter aircraft regulations, explained Maura El Metennani, executive director of the ONCC, during her presentation to the Wilmette Village Board on June 10. There are currently 60 members, consisting of 34 municipalities, 18 school districts, six Chicago wards and two counties. Meeting monthly, the commission works collaboratively with agencies like the FAA, as well as aviation experts and community leaders. It also oversees the Fly Quiet Program, which is a recommendation to airline pilots to use specified nighttime runways and flight routes to reduce noise. There is no cost to members to join the commission. Homes and schools qualify for soundproofing based on the current noise contour map, which depicts areas of noise intensity and was created using data collected by dozens of noise monitors located in communities around the airport. Based on the current map, Wilmette homes and schools would not benefit from the sound insulation program, El Metennani said. Wilmette Trustee Michael Lieber acknowledged that the village does not have the same problems with O'Hare noise that communities closer to the airport have, and questioned how the village might be received as a member of the ONCC. 'Do other members of the commission …. want a community that is further away from O'Hare as a member?' he asked, suggesting that more impacted municipalities may wonder 'Wilmette, what are you complaining about?' El Metennani noted that Wilmette wouldn't be the only suburb 'on the outskirts' of O'Hare to have a seat at the table, pointing to northwest suburban South Barrington and west suburban Hinsdale as examples. 'It hasn't been an issue in the past that I'm aware of,' she said. 'We're all working toward the same thing.' As for noise complaints related to the smaller Chicago Executive Airport, which is located 11 miles from downtown Wilmette, the communities of Wilmette, Evanston and Glenview have submitted recommendations to the FAA for alternate flight paths and are awaiting a response, Braiman said.
Chicago Tribune
20-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Wilmette planner who led Wayfair, downtown, Edens Plaza projects to retire
After 32 years in a variety of positions spread over three different stints, John Adler is leaving Wilmette as its community development director of 25 years. Adler, 61, of Chicago, who left the village twice before but returned, said this time he is not certain of his immediate plans. 'I'm probably going to take the first three to six months to figure out what I'm going to do,' he said. 'I may consider doing some consulting. One of the reasons I kept coming back to Wilmette is it's a great community. Wilmette is fortunate, but really unlike any other community I've worked in.' Adler, who started in Wilmette in 1986 as an intern and returned in 1989 as a planner for seven years, also served as a planner in Bolingbrook and Hoffman Estates. He served as community development director in Wilmette from 1998 to 2005 and again since 2008. 'It's been a great 32 years,' Adler said. 'I've been back for a while. Wilmette's a great place to work. It seems like the right time (to go).' Adler's last day is April 30. Emily Egan, who previously served as development services director in Oak Park for one year, has joined the Wilmette staff to learn the ropes, and will succeed Adler. Wilmette Village Manager Mike Braiman praised Adler as 'one of the best urban planners in Illinois' and said Wilmette was 'incredibly fortunate' to have him guiding the village's development department. 'Wilmette is a vibrant and desirable community because of John,' Braiman said. 'John will be missed by all those in the Community Development Department, Village Hall and the community. We wish him the best in his retirement.' Adler attributed his success to fellow staff and village officials. 'That's very kind of him to say,' he said of Braiman's comments. 'That's all I want to say. Obviously, he must believe that, so I thank him for that. I'm proud of what happened during my 32 years, but as I mentioned earlier, that success is the result of the work of a lot of people.' Under Adler's leadership, Wilmette experienced 'historic economic development' that made it one of the most desirable communities to reside and do business, Braiman said. He said notable accomplishments under Adler include: Establishing downtown Wilmette as the 'premier dining destination' on the North Shore Development of the Marriott Residence Inn hotel Attracting Wayfair's first brick-and-mortar retail store Redevelopment of Edens Plaza Ongoing redevelopment of Plaza del Lago Implementation of the Village Center Master Plan, which led to the redevelopment of three key sites along the Green Bay Road Corridor. Adler said he is especially proud to be part of developing the affordable housing project Cleland Place, guiding the adaptive reuse of the historic Mallinckrodt building as affordable senior housing, and executing the Village Center plan. 'I'm proud of whatever my little part of it was,' he said of the Village Center. 'I'm also proud of the community and the Village Board supporting different things, whether changes to liquor laws or how we treat our dining or restrictive uses on first floors during recessions. When the recession ended, we had restaurants and other businesses open.' Adler said he is proud the village recognized the importance of sustainability, active transportation and diversity inclusion in the new comprehensive plan. 'Those were aspects of this plan that were not in previous comprehensive plans,' he said. 'I'm happy to see those elements included, furthering housing and preservation goals, trying to jumpstart areas that need a little help.'
