La Grange's Village Board voted unanimously Monday to create a task force on affordable housing, ending weeks of public clashes between trustees and Village President Mark Kuchler over whether the panel was even needed.

The task force was championed by Trustee Beth Augustine along with trustees Glenn Thompson and Shawana McGee. Augustine has described the effort as resident-led, with members drawn from across the village.

The unanimous outcome marked a sharp turn. In March, Kuchler and Augustine sparred publicly over the proposal. Kuchler defended the village's existing record, pointing to developments like Uptown Apartments and Mason Point and the village's support of the BEDS Plus shelter on Ogden Avenue.

"What village is doing more?" Kuchler asked during the March debate.

Augustine pushed back, warning that the village's current cushion on state affordability requirements could erode.

"Illinois statute requires 10% of our housing stock to be affordable. La Grange is currently in compliance and will hopefully stay that way, but new developments may chip away at it," Augustine said during earlier board discussions.

About 13% of La Grange's housing stock currently meets the state's affordability threshold — three points above the minimum. Augustine and her co-sponsors argued that new market-rate projects could narrow that margin.

Kuchler had initially preferred an advisory council that would work directly with developers, rather than a task force. But by Monday, all six trustees and Kuchler backed the proposal. Creating such a panel was among the goals listed in the village's 2024 comprehensive plan.

The task force's exact membership, timeline for recommendations, and detailed scope have not yet been announced.