Welcome to CRADL

Latest News: Watch this location for links to the most current news and events.

"The community has shouted, 'We don't want (Meijer) here. They (Meijer) said they wanted to be a good neighbor. They always said they wanted to be where they are wanted." Joe Broda, Lisle Sun, April, 1999.

November 16, 2004 Meijer DID NOT appeal the appellate court decision. They will have to start over at the village level to get the store built. Come on Friday to celebrate all together for all the hard work and time spent for the last six years! (Fundraising will continue until attorney fees are paid.)
October 12, 2004 The Second District Appellate Court ruled that Judge Bonnie Wheaton properly entered judgment in favor of Robert Klaeren, Carle Wunderlich and Frieda and Izaak Chernobrov regarding the substance of their claim that procedural deficiencies in the zoning process invalidated the approval of an annexation and zoning for a Meijer superstore in Lisle. The Second District also affirmed Judge Wheaton’s ruling that Meijer was not required to pay the attorneys’ fees and expert expenses in the litigation. Read full Press Release (PDF). Be sure to attend the Nov. 19th Annual Fundraiser! Information & Order Tickets
12/04/03 Regarding the Grading at the Meijer property, the County has advised that the work field work was done by the person renting the land for crops. He was grading to maximize his ability to plant. The County inspected today and they are going to check to see what extent, if any, wetland has been disturbed.
07/24/03 Meijer has asked a state appeals court to overturn a DuPage County judge's decision that stopped plans for a new superstore on Maple Avenue. Lisle Residents brought a lawsuit to stop Meijer in 1999. The controversy changed the makeup of the village board and ended the political careers of several local leaders, including Ron Ghilardi, whose support of the store weighed heavily in his mayoral loss to Joseph Broda.
If Meijer loses the appeal, the company still has two options. They may reapply to the village board. Meijer also may seek permission from DuPage County since the judge's decision reverts the property back to county jurisdiction.
07/10/03 Judge Bonnie Wheaton's final order in the Meijer case (Word doc).
06/27/03 Great News Continues!!! Judge Wheaton signed an order granting CRADL summary judgment and denied Meijer's motion to reconsider her earlier ruling. She found that the Illinois Supreme Court decision would still be applied in this case. Meijer has 30 days to appeal.
04/03/03 Judge Bonnie Wheaton's ruled to invalidate 1999 village board decision supporting a Meijer superstore on Maple Avenue. It means the property will revert to county jurisdiction once the judge's decision is officially entered as a court order. Meijer has 30 days to appeal. Judge Wheaton also ruled that Meijer and the village were not responsible for the plaintiffs' legal costs.
12/03/02 "The Illinois Supreme Court has had enough of Meijer." Meijer loses appeal in lawsuit with Lisle - Justices rejected a request from Meijer to rehear arguments in a lawsuit filed to stop a Meijer development on Maple Avenue in Lisle. DuPage County Judge Bonnie Wheaton issued a preliminary injunction halting construction of the store. Meijer appealed. On Oct. 18, Illinois State Supreme Court Justices issued an opinion agreeing with Wheaton. Meijer officials asked for a rehearing. The Supreme Court denied the request without explanation. (source: Daily Herald, Dec. 3, 2002)
11/04/02 3rd Annual Cradl Poinsettia Sale
10/18/02 This morning, the Illinois Supreme Court filed its decision and opinion regarding the Village of Lisle/Meijer case. They affirmed the decisions of the appellate and trial courts and said that because of procedural flaws in the public hearing conducted at Lisle Junior High School's auditorium in July, 1998, the annexation and rezoning of the property at the South East corner of Maple Avenue and Benedictine Parkway in Lisle is void. JUSTICE KILBRIDE delivered the opinion of the court.
07/14/01 There is no significance in the fence being removed from the Meijer site. It's cheaper for Meijer to remove the fence opposed to properly maintaining it.
04/04/01 Congratulations to Joe Broda, the new Mayor of Lisle!
JOSEPH J. BRODA . . . . . . . . . . . 2,666 - 61.27%
RONALD S. GHILARDI . . . . . . . . . 1,685 - 38.73%
01/30/01 According to The Daily Herald: "In a one-sentence order that gave no details, the Illinois Supreme Court on Monday decided to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to stop Meijer Inc. from building a store in Lisle. It automatically goes to a briefing schedule. After that, it will be scheduled for oral arguments which could take several months.
The Meijer debate has scarred the Lisle community and may define the political landscape in the April 3 election. The fallout from Meijer caused two trustees to lose their positions in the 1999 election and is expected to play a role in the April 3 contest."
Plaintiff Carle Wunderlich said, "We're more united than ever now."
10/26/00 The company that promised not to build where they are not wanted now claim they will appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court to try to force their way into Lisle. The company plans to file petitions on Nov. 3 to the Illinois Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the Appellate Court ruling.
10/13/00 Meijer LOSES appeal in Illinois Appellate Court - 2nd Appellate District 2000 Opinions, Docket #2-99-1256, 10/13/00.
Mayor Ron Ghilardi (lost his campaign for re-election in spring 2001), previous Trustees Judy Yuill, Nancy Early and Ousted Trustees Bob Pakenham and Michael Hackleman were responsible for voting Meijer into Lisle against overwhelming opposition from residents, Lisle Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.