City Orders Chicago Landscape Contractor to Clean Site

CHICAGO – A West Chicago landscape contractor has been given three months to clean up his office site or risk the city shutting down his business and possibly fining him.

The city issued Chuck Strayve Landscaping a special-use permit in November 2000 for his office at 350 Elliot St.

Strayve began construction in October 2001.

He has since racked up a list of violations, including occupancy before passing fire or building inspections, filling in a flood plain and not constructing his project in compliance with his initial plan, city Community Development Director Joanne Gugliotta says.

City leaders gave Strayve 90 days to rectify problems at the site, and he is required to submit progress reports every 30 days until completion.

"If it is not completed, he will be out," says Alderman Mike Kwasman. "If you trip, you're going to fall. It's that simple."

Other alderman agreed that city laws need to be followed.

"I don't want to put anybody out of business, but on the other hand, we need to make sure our codes are adhered to," says Alderman James Beifuss.

Strayve, whose business has been in the city for nearly 20 years and focuses on commercial landscape maintenance, contends he had a temporary occupancy permit for his office.

He also says part of his land was not considered a flood plain until DuPage County engineers revised their flood elevations.

Strayve says the city's 90-day time frame was "very fair" and acknowledges he was lax and made mistakes.

"I'll admit that," he says, adding he and his civil engineer met with city planners Wednesday to go over changes to the site. "They'll have my assurance things will be done."

Some council members questioned why the city was giving Strayve more time to fix his problems.