Forest Park's Planning Consultant Muse Fires Village

Firm cites stalled zoning, comprehensive plan, and Altenheim property as reasons for ending 8-year relationship

Mar. 10, 2026 at 5:33pm

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After an 8-year relationship, the urban planning consulting firm Muse has fired the village of Forest Park, Illinois, citing a lack of progress on key planning initiatives like updating the zoning code, comprehensive plan, and plans for the village-owned Altenheim property.

Why it matters

This highly unusual move by a consulting firm to end its contract with a client highlights the frustration with the lack of leadership and action from Forest Park's elected officials on critical planning and development issues that could unlock new revenue for the financially-strapped village.

The details

Muse principal Courtney Kashima said the firm is ending its work for Forest Park on March 31 because the 'all stalled out' - referring to updates to the zoning code, a 12-year-old comprehensive plan, and plans for the Altenheim property. Kashima said 'there isn't planning for us to do' since the village government has failed to make progress on these key initiatives.

  • Muse has been Forest Park's urban planning consultant for 8 years.
  • Muse will end its work for the village on March 31, 2026.

The players

Muse

An urban planning consulting firm that has worked for the village of Forest Park for the past 8 years.

Courtney Kashima

The principal at Muse who cited the lack of progress on key planning initiatives as the reason for the firm ending its relationship with Forest Park.

Rory Hoskins

The mayor of Forest Park, who has been criticized for a lack of leadership and action on important planning and development issues facing the village.

Forest Park

The village in Illinois that has failed to make progress on updating its zoning code, comprehensive plan, and plans for the Altenheim property, leading its longtime planning consultant Muse to fire the client.

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What they’re saying

“We're an urban planning firm. There isn't planning for us to do.”

— Courtney Kashima, Principal, Muse

What’s next

The village of Forest Park will need to quickly find a new planning consultant to help address the stalled initiatives around zoning, the comprehensive plan, and the Altenheim property. Voters may also hold elected officials accountable for the lack of progress on these key issues.

The takeaway

This highly unusual move by Muse to fire its client Forest Park underscores the frustration with the lack of leadership and action from the village's elected officials on critical planning and development priorities. Forest Park now faces the challenge of finding a new planning consultant willing to work with a government that has struggled to make progress on important initiatives.