Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Farm, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Bicyclists, ComEd Four, Commercial Horse Boarding, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Longmeadow Parkway, Mad Cow, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Transparency, Unions, WTF on May 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold a, “Park Board & Decennial Committee on Local Government Efficiency,” meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
Posted in Agendas, Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Elections, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Mad Cow, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, The Other Half, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality on April 13, 2023| 1 Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold a special meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
Posted in Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Property Taxes, Topics Of Interest on March 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Hoffman Estates trustees on Monday approved construction of sewer and water utilities enabling development of the 185-acre Plum Farms property northwest of Higgins Road and Route 59. This view looks south toward Higgins Road, with Old Sutton Road at the center of the image.( Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer, 2019)
Hoffman Estates officials Monday approved the construction of sewer and water utilities enabling the long-sought development of the 185-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of Higgins Road and Route 59.
The site lies directly west of The Arboretum of South Barrington shopping center but has lacked the infrastructure needed to continue such development west along Higgins Road.
The right of the landowners to build utility connections was granted by an annexation and development agreement six years ago. But since then other preparations needed to be made, such as the negotiation of easements with neighboring property owners including the Hoffman Estates Park District and Canadian National Railway.
Though a 40-acre tax increment financing district was approved in 2020 to potentially provide some financial assistance in building utilities with property tax funds, there is not yet a specific agreement about which costs the district could reimburse, Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Peter Gugliotta said.
A separate building permit is also needed to construct the utilities, which the landowner must apply for within a year of Monday night’s approval.
Construction of the utilities would probably take only two or three months from the time work starts, Gugliotta estimated.
Read more here.
Posted in County, Going green, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Kane, Land Use, Longmeadow Parkway, Plan Commission, Politics, Real Estate, Road construction, Topics Of Interest on March 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Completion of the Longmeadow Parkway Corridor, which runs from Huntley Road in Carpentersville to Route 62 in Barrington Hills and includes the new toll bridge over the Fox River seen here, has been delayed by the need to remove lead-contaminated soil in the project’s final phase. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News)
Removal of the lead-contaminated soil that’s held up completion of the $115 million Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor is to begin this spring, Kane County Division of Transportation officials said.
The 5.6-mile regional road, which runs from Huntley Road in Carpentersville to Route 62 in Barrington Hills and includes a new toll bridge over the Fox River, is partially open but completion has been at a standstill because of the 60,000 cubic square feet of tainted dirt that requires special removal and disposal.
Kane County Board members approved a new contract in February under which the soil will be treated on site before it’s disposed of, said Steve Coffinbarger, division of transportation assistant director.
“We’ve made progress,” he said. “We’ll get started on that this spring.”
Once that work is finished in spring 2024, they can accept bids for the last stage of paving work needed, Coffinbarger said. If all goes according to plan, the entire roadway — including the bridge — will be open before the end of 2024, he said.
County and state officials have known there was contaminated soil on the site for decades. The former owner of the gun range site has been working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to remove the lead, Coffinbarger said.
Read more here.
Posted in Agendas, Audio Recordings, BACOG, Board of Elections, BOHICA, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Finance Committee, Financial Reports, FUBAR, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Mad Cow, OMA, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Roads and Bridges, TMI, Transparency, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President on February 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting tomorrow beginning at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:
A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.
Editorial note: Since the proposed 2023 Annual Appropriation Ordinance represents a 11.4% increase over the 2022 Appropriation, we’ll be sharing our thoughts on the largest contributor to that increase tomorrow.
Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, DARCHED, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on February 15, 2023| 1 Comment »
Barrington’s plan commission on Tuesday recommended a proposal for a four-story, mixed-use building in a part of the village’s downtown known as the “Golden Triangle.” The plan calls for 125 apartments, space for retail or restaurant uses and storage for high-end and classic cars. (Courtesy of Barrington)
Barrington officials believe a new mixed-use development that includes luxury apartments, restaurants and storage for high-end and classic cars offers a golden opportunity to redevelop the village’s “Golden Triangle.”
Barrington resident Joe Taylor, CEO of Compasspoint Development, is proposing a four-story mixed-use building at has plans for 200-300 Hough Street in the village’s downtown. The plan includes 125 apartments, 12,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space, and 37 car condominiums.
It means a complete overhaul of the 6.2-acre site, with the installation of utilities, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage, walkways, bicycle parking and a pedestrian esplanade along Hough Street.
After a positive recommendation Tuesday from the village’s plan commission, the plan heads to the village board for possible final approval.
Jennifer Tennant, Barrington’s assistant director of development services, said the project meets the planning goals and objectives of the village’s comprehensive plan.
“This has been a redevelopment site for the village since the early 90s,” she told the commission.
The site includes all the remaining property in the Golden Triangle area south of Liberty Street, which encompasses the former Market Center building and a former Volvo dealership.
Read more here.
Editorial note: Earlier today we updated plans at the Bell Works Chicagoland “metroburb” in Hoffman Estates to build 164 townhomes within District 220 boundaries. There are also plans to add 361 apartments.
Adding 125 apartments to the “Golden (Seigle’s) Triangle” in Barrington would represent a total of 650 housing units withing District 220 borders.
We all witnessed enrollment declining in District 220 for years except recently. However, our property taxes did not go down. These housing units will obviously bring an significant influx of students and likely a significant increase our taxes.
Related: “Hoffman Estates project reaches for a Lincoln Park vibe”
Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Bicyclists, Big Brother, Cellular Service, Commercial Horse Boarding, Countryside Elementary School, Elections, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, Friends of Forest Preserves, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality on February 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District will be hosting a special meeting tonight with the Cook County Forest Preserve District to discuss the Master Plan for the Horizon Farm property. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Riding Center located at 361 Bateman Rd, and will also be available for participation via Webex remotely.
The meeting agenda for the Forest Preserve District portion of the discussion includes:
Then, the 2023 Horizon Farm master planning priorities follows including:
Conspicuously absent from the agenda are topics such as hiking and walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and birding.
After this portion of the meeting, Park District Commissioners will vote on the proposed (and clearly confidential), “Combined Budget & Appropriations Ordinance 2-08-2023-01.”
A copy of the agenda can be viewed here, and instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
Related: “Park District hosting February 8th Cook County Forest Preserve District discussion,” “Grazing livestock can provide habitats for disappearing grassland birds”
Posted in Agendas, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Big Brother, Commercial Horse Boarding, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Fundraisers, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Lighting Ordinance, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Transparency, Unions on February 8, 2023| 1 Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District will hold a public hearing this evening at 6:45 PM regarding their, “Combined Budget & Appropriations Ordinance 02-08-2023-01.” As has been the case in previous annual hearings of this type, no, “Budget & Appropriations,” documentation has been provided by the District for taxpayers to review and comment on prior to the hearing.
Since it’s likely some members of the Riding Club and Trainers played a significant role in the drafting of the ordinance, they’ll have copies, and some might even share with those requesting a one (for a nominal fee, of course).
To view what little the District has posted in advance of the hearing, click here.
Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on February 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Editorial note: The, “Bell Works Townhomes,” will be located at 1705 Lakewood Boulevard according to last night’s Hoffman Estates Village Board meeting agenda. Assuming the District 220 Boundary Map is current, these proposed developments are within the 220 boundary (Barbara Rose Elementary).
Hoffman Estates officials have granted approval to the construction of 164 high-end townhouse units on the east side of Bell Works Chicagoland. New Jersey-based Somerset Development is also planning 300 apartments on the same 20-acre site. (Courtesy of Hoffman Estates)
Nearly five years after the redevelopment of Hoffman Estates’ former AT&T corporate campus into the Bell Works Chicagoland “metroburb” was proposed, village board members on Monday approved 164 high-end townhouses to begin the project’s long-promised residential component.
The board also granted preliminary approval to a concept plan for about 300 apartments to follow on the same nearly 20-acre site on the east side of the 152-acre property.
The approved townhouses are planned to be priced in the mid-$400,000s, each with three bedrooms and an option for a fourth. Each unit would have three floors, with a two-car garage on the ground floor and the living areas above.
Though the project was long anticipated, there was discussion about the lack of some usual details that troubled the planning and zoning commission before it gave its recommendation.
Commission Chairman Eva Combs said she was the only member who manifested her frustration as a “no” vote, but others among her colleagues voiced similar sentiments.
As a result, the lack of such details as a homeowners association charter led to the commission’s recommending an unusual number of conditions.
Read more here.
Related: “Remaking white elephant suburban headquarters: Is a ‘metroburb’ headed to Hoffman Estates?” “Developer filing plan for townhouses, apartments at Bell Works in Hoffman Estates”
Posted in 220, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Property Taxes, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Topics Of Interest on January 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The former Woodland Elementary School in Carpentersville will be the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township’s latest impact center. The center will provide STEM programs and other services to about 300 middle and high school students. (Paul Valade | Staff Photographer)
When the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township’s CEO headed to Washington last year to seek funding for a new center in Carpentersville, he figured $250,000 was the most his organization would get.
At the time, most community project grants topped out at $250,000. Drew Glassford made his best pitch and returned to D.C. with some of the youth his organization serves to make his case a second time.
It worked — in a big way.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi stopped at Perry Elementary School in Carpentersville to see one of the organization’s impact centers and deliver a $2 million check to help build out a new center at the former Woodland Elementary School, located a few blocks away.
“Because of the compelling nature of this program, because of the needs of this program, because of the incredible positive blessings that it confers on the community, I decided to go all out,” the Schaumburg Democrat said during Friday’s presentation.
Last fall, the Dundee Township Park District agreed to purchase the former school from Barrington Community Unit School District 220. The park district will keep the land around the school, but the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, which is paying for the property, will keep the school building and the parking lot for the new Woodland Impact Center.
Read more here.
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