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South Barrington park board votes to halt land sale to Plymouth Brethren Christian Church after clash with residents and being sued. A park commissioner quit amid the vitriol, citing ‘nonsense.’

Posted in Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Politics, Property Taxes, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Uncategorized on September 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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The South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners voted at its meeting Sept. 27, 2023 to cancel the land sale it was in the middle of with Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. The meeting was held at the Park District Community Center in South Barrington. (James C. Svehla/Pioneer Press)

By Pioneer Press staff | Pioneer Press

The pending sale of land by the South Barrington Park District to a small, relatively unknown church group grew into a resident upheaval that included a lawsuit, but ended Wednesday with cancellation of the purchase, uncertainty about what’s next and the resignation of a park board commissioner.

At issue had been the sale of Park District-owned land to Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, a faith organization that, according to its website, started in England in the 19th century and currently has 50,000 members worldwide.

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Pete Perisin, president of the South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners, speaks during the park board meeting Sept. 27, 2023, at the Community Center in South Barrington. (James C. Svehla/Pioneer Press)

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Shelby Elias, who had been vice president of the South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners, resigned from the board Sept. 27, 2023, just hours before the board meeting at the Community Center in South Barrington where commissioners voted to stop a land sale to Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. (James C. Svehla/Pioneer Press)

The official purchaser, Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc., with an address in Schaumburg, was set to buy the approximately 34 acres of land located at Bartlett Road and Route 59/Sutton Road — also known as “Area N” — for $1.7 million. The sale had been expected to finalize last month.

But Wednesday, the park board voted 4-0 to cancel the sale.

The decision came during the board’s regular meeting. But a special meeting had been held immediately before the regular one, and it was mostly closed session. While it is unknown exactly what was discussed in that executive session — which the board is not immediately required to disclose if it is to talk about such things as pending litigation, acquisitions or personnel matters — it is believed commissioners reviewed the land sale.

“The park district will refrain from additional comments due to ongoing litigation,” read a Park District statement issued Thursday morning.

Read more here.

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South Barrington parks board cancels sale of land to religious group

Posted in Barrington United Methodist Church, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Organizations, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest on September 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

South Barrington Park

The South Barrington Park District board on Wednesday canceled its planned sale of 34 acres at Bartlett Road and Route 59 to a religious group. (John Starks | Staff Photographer, August 2023)

By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald 

After weeks of public pressure, the South Barrington Park District board has decided not to sell 34 acres of undeveloped land to a religious group.

The board on Wednesday night voted 4-0 to cancel its pending contract with Maywood-based Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc., a nonprofit operation that’s owned and operated by a local congregation of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

Fourth Avenue representatives intended to build a house of worship and a school.

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, offering about $1.7 million for the property near Bartlett Road and Route 59.

Last month, people opposed to the plan — including many residents of the nearby Woods of South Barrington development — demonstrated against the deal at park district headquarters. They’ve cited the proposed use of the land and some of the church’s practices among their concerns.

Read more here.

Related: “After public outcry, South Barrington Park District might scrap plan to sell land to religious group,” “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”

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After public outcry, South Barrington Park District might scrap plan to sell land to religious group

Posted in Barrington United Methodist Church, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), South Barrington, Topics Of Interest on September 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

SBPD Property

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”

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Proposed flood insurance rate maps reflect changes to local flood risk; 90-day appeal period for filing appeals and comments underway

Posted in BACOG, FPDCC, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plan Commission, Real Estate, South Barrington, Spring Creek Watershed, Topics Of Interest, Village Director of Administration, Well Water Quality, Zoning Board on September 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Flood Zones

Excerpt from FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel 0178 in Hoffman Estates | Courtesy of Illlinois State Water Survey on behalf of FEMA

Submitted by Shelly Fuller

Updates to portions of Cook County’s and Kane County’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are nearly complete.

The new maps will provide both counties with up-to-date flood risk information and tools that can be used to enhance local mitigation plans and help officials and residents make better decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

Areas of revision are within the Poplar Creek and Spring Creek watersheds and include portions of: Barrington Hills, Cook County (unincorporated areas), Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Streamwood, Kane County (unincorporated areas) and South Elgin.

The mapping project is part of a nationwide effort led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce those risks.

The work has been led by FEMA Region V, in partnership with local community officials and the Illinois State Water Survey.

Before the new Flood Insurance Rate Map is finalized, a 90-day appeal period will give residents and business owners a chance to provide additional technical data or non-technical comments for FEMA’s consideration.

FEMA encourages residents and business owners to review the proposed map changes, learn about local flood risks and potential flood insurance requirements, and share any concerns or questions.

If members of the affected communities notice incorrect information that does not involve changing the flood hazard-related information-such as a missing or misspelled road name or an incorrect corporate boundary-a written correction, or “comment,” can be submitted.

If members of the communities have concerns about certain areas of the map and have technical and scientific information-such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data-that can be used to improve the maps, they may file an appeal during the 90-day appeal period. All comments and appeals must be submitted through the local officials. Because submitting an appeal requires some time and effort, we encourage property owners and renters to review the updated flood maps now.

If you are interested in submitting an appeal, we highly recommend that you first discuss it with your local officials so they can provide guidance on the process. For more details about this process, visit www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp.

Read more here.

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Why South Barrington is investigating getting drinking water from Lake Michigan

Posted in BACOG, South Barrington, Well Water Quality on September 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald

A plan to provide South Barrington homes and businesses with drinking water from Lake Michigan is in the works.

The village board on Thursday agreed to extend a contract with a firm investigating whether dumping the current well-based system in favor of water from the lake is feasible.

The extension will allow a Chicago engineering firm, Greeley and Hansen, to continue its preliminary research, which will give village officials more information about what is needed to connect to the lake, Village Administrator Robert Palmer said.

The board is considering joining the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency, a consortium of Cook County towns that buys Lake Michigan drinking water from Chicago.

South Barrington officials are eyeing that system because it already serves nearby suburbs along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Palmer said.

South Barrington’s current water system serves about 400 homes west of Bartlett Road, the Arboretum of South Barrington shopping center and other customers, Palmer said.

Homes elsewhere in town have their own wells.

Read more here.

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Watch out! North suburban haunted houses are here to scare you

Posted in Entertainment, South Barrington on September 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Photo-Jul-10-2023-3-39-45-PM-scaled

South Barrington

Terror Roulette: Hours are 7-11 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays, 6 p.m.-midnight Saturdays and 6-11 p.m. Sundays Sept. 29-Oct. 29 plus Oct. 30-31. Tickets: $29.60-$69. At The Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road. terrorroulette.com.

The “Terror Pass” is general admission; the “Psycho Pass” gets you a T-shirt and a commemorative photo. A “Full House” VIP experience is $199 and is at 9:45 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays only and includes a behind-the-scenes tour plus T-shirt, pin, photo and sticker pack. It’s limited to 16 people each night.

The best deal is a group of eight; not only are the ticket prices reduced but you’re guaranteed to be with your group.

Guests must be 16 and older to enter Terror Roulette without a parent; those 13 and older must be with a parent or guardian over age 21. While guests are not permitted to touch the actors, Terror Roulette is a fully immersive attraction and visitors may be touched, guided, held back, set on a different path or even removed from their group. There is a safe word if the experience gets to be too overwhelming.

Find more here.

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Attorneys for South Barrington Park District, church tell judge they want to complete land sale

Posted in Barrington United Methodist Church, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Property Taxes, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest on September 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald

Attorneys for the South Barrington Park District and a church trying to buy 34 acres of park district land said Tuesday they want to move ahead with that deal despite legal action being taken by local residents.

But the lawyer for the residents trying to stop the deal gave no indication during a brief discussion before Cook County Judge Claire J. Quish that his clients are willing to relent.

Rather, plaintiffs’ attorney Mohit Khare requested — and got — more time to amend the complaint and a request for a temporary restraining order that aims to quash the sale. Changes could include dropping the village of South Barrington from the complaint, attorneys indicated.

The Plymouth Bible Baptist Church wants to buy the land, which is south of where Bartlett Road and Route 59 meet and sometimes is called “Area N,” for about $1.7 million.

Church representatives have said they intend to erect a house of worship and a school on the property, which is just north of the Woods of South Barrington neighborhood.

However, during Tuesday morning’s virtual court appearance, attorneys revealed the actual prospective buyer is a Maywood nonprofit called the Fourth Avenue Gospel Building.

Read more here.

Related: “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”

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Suburban pumpkin patches offering fall fun

Posted in Entertainment, South Barrington on September 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Pumpkin Patch

Half the fun of going to pick out your pumpkin in the fall is finding a place that offers hayrides, mazes, food galore — the whole fun on the farm experience.

Here are five suburban pumpkin patches offering autumnal family-friendly activities. Check the websites for the most up-to-date hours.

Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch

Pingree Grove: 42W813 Reinking Road, (847) 464-5952
South Barrington: 40 W. Higgins Road, (847) 428-6727

Goebbertspumpkinfarm.com

The Goebbert’s family has been running the fall festival at their South Barrington location since 1973. The family purchased the Pingree Grove location in 1985 and opened both to the public for pumpkin season. Both locations have animals, mazes, wagon rides, pig races and more. The South Barrington location is where the massive fiberglass pumpkin and mascot “Happy Jack” resides.

Details: Goebbert’s Fall Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Sept. 9 through Oct. 31. Tickets are $18 on weekdays; $24 on weekends, Labor and Columbus Day; free for kids 2 and younger. Weekend tickets are $2 cheaper if purchased online. Animal rides, gem mining and turns on the jumping pillow cost extra.

4 others mention in the Daily Herald piece are located in McHenry, Aurora, Maple Park and Lockport.

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Opponents of the South Barrington Park District land sale to Plymouth Brother Christian Church protest outside meeting, confront commissioners

Posted in BACOG, Barrington United Methodist Church, Deception, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Organizations, Politics, Property Taxes, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest on September 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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Some residents of South Barrington protest before the South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners meeting at the South Barrington Park District Community Center Aug. 30, 2023 in South Barrington. Residents attended the meeting to protest a pending land sale to Plymouth Brothers Christian Church. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Demonstrators showed up to a South Barrington Park District board meeting Wednesday night, first protesting outside the community center where the meeting was held, then going inside as proceedings started, and lambasted commissioners over a recent attempt to sell a parcel of land to a church.

“Are we going to sit here and let the sale close?” South Barrington resident Steve Janowiak posed to park board commissioners. “No.”

At issue is the sale of Park District-owned land to Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, a faith organization that, according to its website, started in England in the 19th Century and currently has 50,000 members worldwide.

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Steve Janowiak, of South Barrington, speaks out at the South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners meeting Aug. 30, 2023 in the South Barrington Park District Community Center. Residents attended the meeting to protest a pending land sale to Plymouth Brothers Christian Church. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

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Members of the South Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners, including board President Pete Perisin, center, listen to members of the public as they spoke out during the Aug. 30, 2023 board meeting in opposition to a pending land sale to Plymouth Brothers Christian Church. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

The official purchaser, Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc., with an address in Schaumburg, was set to buy the approximately 34 acres of land located at Bartlett Road and Route 59/Sutton Road — also known as “Area N” — for $1.7 million with a closing date of Aug. 29, the day before Wednesday’s meeting.

Residents were irate over the date change, which some said was initially to be in September, calling it a sneaky move by the Park District. They also took issue with other aspects of the sale.

Read more here.

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Proposed sale of South Barrington Park District land to church is headed to court

Posted in Barrington United Methodist Church, Deception, Ethics, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest on August 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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Demonstrators gather Wednesday outside the South Barrington Park District headquarters to protest the proposed sale of park district land to a church. (Russell Lissau | Staff Photographer)

By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald

The battle over the potential sale of South Barrington Park District land to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is headed to court.

A request for a temporary restraining order filed by residents opposing the sale could be heard by Cook County Judge Claire J. Quish on Tuesday, Sept. 5, the district’s attorney, Scott Puma, confirmed Thursday.

The hearing will be held virtually at 10 a.m., Puma said.

The church is set to buy the 34-acre site, which is south of where Bartlett Road and Route 59 meet, for about $1.7 million. It wants to erect a house of worship and a school there.

District leaders postponed a real estate closing scheduled for earlier this week after receiving copies of a legal complaint and a request for a temporary restraining order seeking to block the sale.

The complaint — targeting the church, the park district and the village — was brought forth by anonymous South Barrington residents, documents indicate.

People demonstrated against the deal at the park district’s community center before Wednesday night’s board meeting and then spoke against the plan during the meeting. Many are residents of the Woods of South Barrington neighborhood, which is just south of the property.

Read more here.

Related: “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”

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