How would you feel about standing at your kitchen window or getting out of your car at Pasquesi Home and Garden on a clear day and hearing the roar of a chopper flying low over your head?
It could be an emergency rescue mission landing at Lake Forest Hospital, or a police copter scouting for a lost child or a fugitive.
But what if it's a wealthy non-resident who just wants the convenience of accessing his Ferrari dealership from Michigan?
The Issue
In the charming towns of Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, and Knollwood, Illinois we are facing a ridiculous issue that threatens the peace, safety, and character of our communities.
The new billionaire owner of Lake Forest Ferrari in Lake Bluff wants to construct a helipad at his Ferrari dealership because he wants to fly in on his Bell jet helicopter from his home in Michigan over our homes and community to check on things at his new Ferrari dealership once a month—and land right next to Pasquesi Home and Garden, the Knollwood Club, and homes along Waukegan Road.
Forget the fact that he owns a private plane and could easily fly private into Waukegan Airport 10 minutes away and drive to work in one of his fancy cars—he wants his helipad.
Are we going to sit back and let him take what he wants?
Why This Matters
Noise & Disruption
This isn't about his convenience—it's about altering the peace, serenity, and character of our local environment for the marginal benefit of a single individual. Introducing a helicopter landing area in Lake Bluff would disrupt the harmony we treasure. The noise pollution alone is enough to disturb both wildlife and residents and nearby shoppers.
Safety Concerns
Helicopters pose real safety concerns, with potential risks of accidents—approximately 100–120 happen every year—that could endanger lives and properties in our neighborhoods.
Community Character
Our community shouldn't be transformed to serve the desires of someone who can already fly a private jet to nearby Waukegan Airport and drive a Ferrari to his new Ferrari dealership.
Key Objections from the Village Board
At a recent Lake Bluff Village Board meeting, trustees and residents raised serious concerns:
No Public Good
Saving time for one executive is not a “public good” or “community benefit” for which the village should grant zoning exceptions. This variance serves a single individual—not the community.
Noise Standards Already Set a Clear Bar
Lake Bluff has widely and strictly enforced noise restrictions. Gas-powered leaf blowers and pickleball are both restricted due to noise. If those don't pass muster, helicopters for executive convenience don't come close.
A Dangerous Precedent
Approving this opens the floodgates. Any “busy executive” with enough land could request the same variance for their own convenience. Where does it end?
Alternatives Already Exist
AbbVie already operates a helipad nearby. A board member offered to facilitate introductions so this CEO could use that pad and drive five minutes to his dealership. Waukegan Airport is ten minutes away. The applicant's own presentation inadvertently made this point—showcasing AbbVie's elaborate facility next to the spray-painted circle they plan to put on an existing parking lot, as if to minimize the impact of their proposal.
Children and Families at Risk
The proposed location is the grass strip beside the car storage building and the Lake Bluff Racquet Club, where children attend summer camp on the adjacent grass. A children's therapy center is also nearby—helicopter noise would be deeply disruptive to kids in therapy sessions.
We recognize the importance of businesses and wealthy individuals contributing to our economy and tax base, but the owner bought his business without a helipad—he can operate it without one too.
Let's stand together to protect the character and serenity of Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, and Knollwood. We urge the Lake Bluff Village Board of Trustees to reject any official proposal he submits for his helipad and to preserve the essence of our communities.
This should be a no-brainer—but billionaires hire attorneys and consultants to get what they want. We need you to act!
Take Action
Please sign this petition to voice your opposition and join our effort to keep Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, and Knollwood peaceful, safe, and welcoming places for all residents and businesses.
Sign the Petition