LA GRANGE, IL – The Lyons Township High School board is continuing with its new approach on the Willow Springs property – keeping the public in the loop.
This is unlike two years ago. Then, the board strategized behind closed doors to keep other public bodies out of the loop.
This was proved true after the attorney general’s office ordered the board to release the closed-session recordings.
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At Monday’s board meeting, President Jill Grech reported that she and other officials met late last month with their counterparts at Pleasant Dale Park District about the wooded property at 79th Street and Willow Springs Road. A park is next to the land in question.
“It was a successful meeting,” Grech said. “The key takeaway is that they want to be involved if the Willow Springs land is developed.”
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She also said the park district hopes any development aligns with the village’s zoning code.
Two years ago, the board secretly focused on selling the land for industrial development, which would draw a much higher price. This was despite village zoning that bars industrial uses in that area. When the board’s intention became known, residents protested.
In late August, school officials met with Willow Springs officials, a meeting that was described as positive.
On Friday, Grech and others are set to get together with officials from Pleasantdale School District 107, which has an elementary school next to the land.
The land issue was on Monday’s board meeting agenda. But the discussion only lasted a few minutes.
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School attorney James Levi, managing partner for Itasca-based Hodges Loizzi, attended for the land issue. But he was not called upon to speak.
Later in the meeting, Fred Whiting, who lives next to the land, acknowledged the board’s new approach. But he said the high school has yet to meet with Pleasantdale residents about the property.
“How can you justify avoiding talking with all the taxpayers in Pleasantdale, while they spent over a year fighting your illegally executed plan to put industrial in our neighborhood?” he said.
He said residents are staunchly for the current zoning.
“I hope you take this to heart – I really do. I recommend scheduling a town hall meeting with the Pleasantdale community in Pleasantdale and encourage you to propose some dates when this can take place,” Whiting said.
Following its public comment policy, the board did not respond to Whiting’s statements.
Board members hope to use the money from the property’s sale to improve the school’s two campuses.
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