After more than three decades of public service in Wilmette, Reinhard Schneider passes the gavel

Reinhard Schneider came to the United States with a passion for public service and then proved it for 33 years in Wilmette. In his retirement, Schneider leaves a lasting impact with the Village. 

Schneider officially retired from his latest role as the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals and was honored during July 24’s Village Board meeting.

Schneider joked that after hundreds of zoning cases and discussions, he’s learned nearly everything possible about Wilmette.

“I think I could be a cab driver in the village,” Schneider said. “I’ve gotten to know every nook and cranny of this place.”

Joined by his peers and several previous village presidents, Schneider collected nothing but praise. Former Village President Bob Bielinski joined the meeting to thank Schneider for all he has done for the village.

“Thirty-three years, that makes my head explode to even think about 33 years of service,” Bielinski said. “Reinhard really deserves the entire community’s thanks.” 

Current Village President Senta Plunkett reiterated a sentiment shared by many. Plunkett views the zoning commission as an essential connection between residents and the village, and she’s grateful that Schneider has been a welcoming face for many residents for several years.

“I’m just so proud to live in Wilmette with people like you, who are selflessly devoting their time, and work day in and day out and welcoming people,” she said, calling Schneider kind, thoughtful and a great listener. 

At age 12, Schneider and his family moved to Chicago, leaving behind their lives as refugees in Austria and holding a sense of gratitude for the United States.

“I think I always felt an obligation that this country had given me a lot,” he said. 

He went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study architecture, and after graduating, he entered the Peace Corps. He later returned to Chicago to practice architecture and went back to school for business.

Schneider moved to Wilmette in the 1980s, and after years of banking, he decided to become involved in his community as he had always intended. He joined Wilmette’s plan commission in 1991, according to a resolution passed during Tuesday’s meeting to honor all of Schneider’s work. 

“I think my background helped me be curious, understanding, taking the position of the other side, looking at it from the other side, and taking all of that into account and making what I think were always, or most of the time, reasonable conclusions and recommendations,” Schneider said.

He spent eight years overseeing countless requests and discussions with the plan commission. As chairman, he oversaw the drafting of the 2000 West Village Center study. He also helped review the mixed-use development at 1919 Lake Ave. and led the commission to update the comprehensive plan for the village.

From 2003-2009, Schneider worked on the Business Development Advisory Group, helping with projects that improved local commerce, such as the Shop Wilmette marketing campaign.

Schneider said his favorite memory from the 33 years was helping to pick the logo that would go on to represent the Village of Wilmette to this day. The Business Development Advisory Group made the selection and stands today as a lasting impact of Schneider’s work.

In 2014, he started on the zoning board and was named chairman in 2019. In his 10 years with the board, he heard approximately 554 cases and attended 186 meetings.

As a testament to his dedication to the village, he attended every meeting for five years.

With the zoning board, Schneider assisted with approvals for many community favorites like Torino Ramen, St. Roger’s Abbey bakery and the Backyard Barbecue Brew Club. He also saw many approvals that supported the community, including improvements to Westmoreland Country Club, West Park, Loyola Academy and St. Francis School.

After leading the board through the pandemic, Schneider continued to oversee significant approvals, such as recent projects like EvaDean’s Bakery and Cafe and the in-development Small Cheval. 

During the July 24 meeting, Schneider thanked the village staffers John Adler and Lisa Roberts and his peers from different Wilmette commissions. He hopes that his years of service will exemplify what one can do to provide for their community. 

“I’ve worked with a number of village presidents that gave me this opportunity, beginning with John Jacoby and ending with Senta Plunkett,” he said.

He appreciates that they can see him as the “potential for contributing.”

During the meeting, Schneider was presented with a plaque and a standing ovation from the board and the audience. 

“The Village Board of Trustees and the community-at-large wish to recognize the excellent and dedicated services that Mr. Schneider has given during his 33 years of service with the Village of Wilmette,” the resolution concludes.

Plunkett appointed Marcia Sullivan to the Zoning Board of Appeals. She has lived in Wilmette for more than 40 years and is a retired real estate attorney, having been a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman. She worked on the Plan Commission from 1998 to 2002. Her term on the zoning board will expire in July 2029.

The board’s new chair is Maria Urban.

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