By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald
After a public outcry, the South Barrington Park District board on Wednesday will consider scrapping a controversial plan to sell undeveloped land to a religious organization.
A motion to cancel the pending $1.7 million sales contract for a 34-acre site near Bartlett Road and Route 59 is on the agenda for the evening’s board meeting. The would-be buyer is Maywood-based Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc., a nonprofit operation that, according to one of its websites, is owned and operated by a local congregation of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Park District Executive Director Jay Morgan said he doesn’t know if a majority of the five-member board will vote to stop the sale, which has been publicly opposed by dozens of local residents. At least two commissioners wanted the issue on the agenda, he said.
“I think they wanted to put it on there so the residents don’t feel like we’re not listening to what they’re saying,” Morgan said.
Commissioners couldn’t be reached Tuesday.
The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. at South Barrington’s Community Center, 3 Tennis Club Lane. It will follow a mostly closed-door meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m., during which the board will discuss pending litigation stemming from its plan to sell the land.
Park district voters in November approved holding an auction to unload the property, which sometimes is called “Area N.” Fourth Avenue Gospel Building was the lone bidder.
More here.
Related: “Attorneys for South Barrington Park District, church tell judge they want to complete land sale,” “Opponents of the South Barrington Park District land sale to Plymouth Brother Christian Church protest outside meeting, confront commissioners,” “Proposed sale of South Barrington Park District land to church is headed to court,” “Why the South Barrington Park District has halted land sale to church, (Part 2),” “Why South Barrington Park District has halted land sale to church,” “South Barrington Park District proposed property sale updates include request for support,” “Hearing on controversial church plan canceled in South Barrington, but opponents still have their say,” “Why some South Barrington residents oppose plan for new church, school,” “Nearby South Barrington Park District property sale concerns neighbors”
Leave a Reply