Controversial Roberto's Project Reaches Council Panel

ELMHURST, IL — For the first time, Roberto's Ristorante and Pizzeria's controversial request for two new parking lots is formally going before aldermen.

But aldermen have dealt with the issue on the side. In the heat of the mayoral campaign last spring, the parking lot matter took center stage for a time.

On Monday, the City Council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee plans to discuss Roberto's request.

In early March, Elmhurst Neighbors United, which opposes Roberto's plan, gave $5,000 to then-Alderman Mark Mulliner's campaign for mayor and publicly endorsed him a week later. His campaign called the donation a "pleasant surprise." At some point in the next day, the campaign returned it.

The contribution had come under fire by mayoral candidate Scott Levin, an alderman who ended up defeating Mulliner and Alderman Michael Bram in the April 6 election. Levin said there was at least an appearance of impropriety when Mulliner, a member of the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, accepted money from a group involved in a zoning issue that is set to go before the panel.

"Would it not appear that Ald. Mulliner favored the neighbors after receiving such a donation if he in any way denies Roberto's zoning request?" Levin said in an email in March.

Mulliner said in an email at the time that he was not involved in any quid pro quo. The group, he said, gave him the money because he was willing to work with its members to address their concerns. He said he returned the money because Neighbors United found itself in the middle of a controversy, which he contended was unfair to the group.

After the election, Levin and Mulliner put aside their differences. Levin kept Mulliner on the committee.

Besides Mulliner, the other committee members are Chairwoman Dannee Polomsky and Emily Bastedo.

In May, the Zoning and Planning Commission approved the parking lots in a 5-2 vote. The commission imposed some conditions, which have since drawn objections from Roberto's attorney.

Neighbors said the parking lots would increase traffic and flooding and hurt their property values. They also contended the restaurant had done a poor job maintaining the houses on the sites of the proposed parking lots.

Restaurant representatives said they were proud of their relationship with the Spring Road business district. They said the parking lots would increase the safety of their customers and the neighborhood.