La Grange trustees are at odds over a plan that could change what kinds of housing get built in the village — and who can afford to live here. At the March 23, 2026 Village Board of Trustees meeting, a proposal to create an affordable housing task force sparked sharp disagreement, ending without a vote and sending the idea back to village staff for further work.
Housing Task Force: Who Wants It and Why
Three trustees — Trustee Beth Augustine, Trustee Glenn Thompson, and Trustee Shawana McGee — brought forward the proposal to form a La Grange Housing Task Force. The panel would study ways to increase affordable housing options in the village. Creating such a task force was a specific recommendation in the board-approved 2024 Comprehensive Plan, the village's long-range guide for growth and development.
According to a memo Trustee Augustine sent to the full board on March 5, 2026, the push for a task force grew out of two years of community feedback. Residents had raised affordable housing questions repeatedly — through public comments at board meetings and through community engagement sessions tied to the Comprehensive Plan. The board had already acknowledged that feedback by including task force language in the final Comprehensive Plan document.
The proposed task force would also look at whether the village should offer incentives — such as zoning exceptions — to encourage developers to include affordable units in new projects.
Pushback From the Village President and a Fellow Trustee
Village President Mark Kuchler questioned whether the board had been clear enough about what it wanted the task force to do. He pointed to La Grange's existing affordable housing rate, asking, "Why shouldn't we be recognized as an absolute leader in the western suburbs with 13 percent affordable housing?" Kuchler also raised concerns about property values, saying, "I'm not trying to make La Grange affordable by having our equity go down. I'm not suggesting anybody is."
Trustee Lou Gale joined Kuchler in raising objections, questioning how many people would serve on the task force and how they would be chosen. "Is it just going to be a line out the door, and we just take the first 10?" Gale said.
Trustee Augustine pushed back, saying the details Gale was asking about were already covered in her March 5 memo. "We did what you asked," she said. "A lot of what you're referencing, Trustee Gale, is in the document." Gale replied, "I disagree."
Trustee Thompson suggested the task force would have between 10 and 15 members and accused Village President Kuchler of trying to "kill the whole process" — a characterization Kuchler denied.
Several residents spoke during the meeting in support of the task force.
No Vote — Staff Directed to Develop a Plan
The board did not take a formal vote on the task force. Instead, trustees agreed to have village staff put together a written plan and present it at a future meeting. That presentation is expected sometime in April 2026, though a specific date has not been confirmed.
$25.4 Million Capital Budget Hearing
The March 23 meeting also included a public hearing on the village's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, which runs from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. The proposed budget calls for $25.4 million in capital spending — money set aside for major projects and improvements. Planned investments include flood mitigation work, replacement of lead water service lines, a new financial software system, and a full update of the village's Zoning Code. The budget aligns with priorities in the village's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
Also at the March 23 meeting, the village's annual audit for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 was presented.
What's Next
The La Grange Village Board of Trustees holds its next regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road. The housing task force staff plan is expected to be presented at an upcoming April meeting, though the specific date has not been confirmed. Meetings are livestreamed on the village's YouTube channel and are also available on Facebook and the village website.
Residents can find agendas, meeting recordings, and more information at villageoflagrange.com.
