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Lake Bluff denies leaf-blower exemption for prominent local couple; ‘We take great pride in the appearance of this property’

The Lake Bluff Village Board has denied a request by a prominent local couple, known for making large financial donations to conservative political candidates, for a two-year exemption from the village’s new seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.

At their June 27 meeting, village board trustees unanimously supported the recommendation to deny a request from Liz and Dick Uihlein for a two-year exemption on the village’s newly instituted seasonal prohibition of gas-powered leaf blowers — which runs from May 15 to Sept. 30 — at their home in Lake Bluff.

Following a regional examination of the issue with participation from many North Shore communities, the Lake Bluff board instituted the seasonal ban earlier this year as the use of gas-powered leaf blowers have generated environmental concerns and the noise they make is considered an irritant by some.

Upon creating the gas-powered leaf blower ban, the village instituted a two-year exemption for public properties of more than 20 acres, such as public parks, school playgrounds and athletic fields.

The Uihleins, who also own property in Lake Forest, requested a similar exemption for their 22-acre private property on Sheridan Road.

“We have already come to learn from experience that battery-powered leaf blowers simply can not get the job done as well and are basically just as noisy as gas-powered ones,” they wrote in a letter dated June 2 to Village Administrator Drew Irvin.

The couple said they were requesting the two-year exemption, as they want to work with their landscape contractors as they adapt to the new regulations inside Lake Bluff.

“We take great pride in the appearance of this property and would like to continue to maintain its highest standards,” the letter from the Uihleins read.

Village President Regis Charlot referred the Uihleins’ request to the village’s Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee, which discussed it at a June 20 meeting. The committee members recommended denying the exemption, believing it would not work well with the goals of the seasonal ban.

“There are tools out there that can be used,” Trustee Marietta Hance said. “This is a private family asking the community to make an exemption for them. It doesn’t fit with what we have decided.”

Without taking a formal vote, the Village Board agreed with the Sustainability Committee recommendation at its June 27 meeting.

“The SEC is a trusted, intelligent, thoughtful committee and we have them to advise us, and I think we should listen to them,” Trustee Taryn Fisher said.

Attempts to reach the Uihleins for comment at the Uline office supply and packaging firm, which Dick Uihlein is the founder, were unsuccessful.

The Uihleins have contributed almost $91 million to largely Republican candidates throughout Illinois since 1998, according to data supplied by the Illinois State Board of Elections. In 2022, Richard Uihlein was a strong supporter of Darren Bailey’s failed gubernatorial bid, making just over $12 million in individual contributions.

Irvin said after the June 27 meeting most residents appear happy with the change in the leaf blower policy.

“It’s generally been very positive,” he said. “We’ve had residents say I can completely hear the difference, thank you.”

He added the village is set to do a formal re-evaluation of the policy in 2025.