|
|
|
As the saying goes, time heals all wounds, but as the Bartlett Park District found out, that’s not always the case.
Steve Adams, attorney for the park district, was the sole representative for the park district at the village board meeting to discuss the annexation and rezoning of Villa Ollivia.
For the park district, passage of the $18 million referendum to purchase the property from the Corrado family was only half the battle. An annexation agreement was drafted by village attorney Bryan Mraz with cooperation from the park district. The village will then hold a public hearing on Dec. 21 to annex 107 acres of the property and rezone 31 acres.
Additionally, the park district is seeking a waiver of the hefty annexation fee of $107,000 from the village. Adams said they will agree to pay all other fees and expenses that come with purchasing the property including making immediate improvements to meet building code guidlines.
Among the park districts reasons for requesting the waiver, Adams said, included offseting the expense the park district is facing from purchasing the property.
The village board made no secret of its animonisty toward the Corrado family, who sued the village in 2005 after they upheld a 1987 protective covenant on the land that ensures it be kept open space until 2022.
The discussion turned heated as a verbal exchange between Adams and Trustee Michael Airdo sparked doubt whether the covenant would be extended at the end of 12 years.
“The reality is the park district can do what the Corrado family can do,” he said. “I really think that we have a lot of baggage here. It’s a deep issue.”
Adams argued that because the park district is a taxing body, it has rights to obtain property, but assured the board that the current board believes the property should be kept open space.
“The elected officials of the Bartlett Park District are going to listen to and obey what the people say,” Adams said.
Check back later as this story will be updated.
As the saying goes, time heals all wounds, but as the Bartlett Park District found out, that’s not always the case.
Steve Adams, attorney for the park district, was the sole representative for the park district at the village board meeting to discuss the annexation and rezoning of Villa Ollivia.
For the park district, passage of the $18 million referendum to purchase the property from the Corrado family was only half the battle. An annexation agreement was drafted by village attorney Bryan Mraz with cooperation from the park district. The village will then hold a public hearing on Dec. 21 to annex 107 acres of the property and rezone 31 acres.
Additionally, the park district is seeking a waiver of the hefty annexation fee of $107,000 from the village. Adams said they will agree to pay all other fees and expenses that come with purchasing the property including making immediate improvements to meet building code guidlines.
Among the park districts reasons for requesting the waiver, Adams said, included offseting the expense the park district is facing from purchasing the property.
The village board made no secret of its animonisty toward the Corrado family, who sued the village in 2005 after they upheld a 1987 protective covenant on the land that ensures it be kept open space until 2022.
The discussion turned heated as a verbal exchange between Adams and Trustee Michael Airdo sparked doubt whether the covenant would be extended at the end of 12 years.
“The reality is the park district can do what the Corrado family can do,” he said. “I really think that we have a lot of baggage here. It’s a deep issue.”
Adams argued that because the park district is a taxing body, it has rights to obtain property, but assured the board that the current board believes the property should be kept open space.
“The elected officials of the Bartlett Park District are going to listen to and obey what the people say,” Adams said.
Check back later as this story will be updated.
