West-Win Homeowners' Association

— dedicated to a rural lifestyle

News Items

 

January 24th, 2012 – Forest Preserve Requests Water Service from the City of Warrenville to Continue Construction of Fleet Maintenance and other Buildings in Opposition to Local Residents Objections

December 10th, 2011 – Coyotes ─ Invasion or Neighborhood Friend? ─ Meeting on January 31, 2012

October 10th, 2011 –  Newsletter Published - Blackwell Forest Preserve Mack Rd. Fleet Maintenace Building Update

December 3rd 2010 – Forest Preserve Fleet Maintenance Building "Study" Results Updated @ Planning Session

August 26th 2009 – Mack Rd. Forest Preserve "Industrial" Complex Planned
     See Voice of the People  (FP ignores Citizens Petitions) (10/21/09)

  • (11/9/11)  Our research, with respect to the Forest Preserve District's proposed Fleet Maintenance Building in the Blackwell Forest Preserve, shows and alleges that the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and DuPage County entered into an illegal Intergovernmental Agreement to exempt the Forest Preserve from County Zoning Ordinances in violation of the requirements of State Statues that require a public hearing when Zoning Ordinances are changed.  Several other violations of Citizen rights are also explored and backed up with citations from legal case law, including Illinois State Supreme Court decisions that show that the Forest Preserve is not unconditionally exempt from County Zoning Ordinances.

    We have had this research reviewed by several attorneys, one of which was involved in aspects of contributing to the State's Zoning Statutes.  We are attempting to solve these issues out of Court in order to save tax payer dollars and therefore we have contacted both the Forest Preserve and DuPage County Board Chairmen.  We are making some progress with the County Board Chairman, Dan Cronin.  We have also contacted the Illinois Attorney General, and our State Representative, Mike Fortner, for their help.

    These efforts are being led by the West-Win Forest Preserve Fleet Maintenance Building Subcommittee Chair, Shannon Burns, and by West-Win President, Dennis Clark.  Hundreds of hours have been spent by these volunteers to help protect your neighborhood from being turned into a Forest Preserve industrial complex.  The Forest Preserve has already made significant progress toward this outcome with the latest addition of a CNG (compressed natural gas) station in a residential neighborhood along Mack Rd.

  • (12/4/10)  At the November 9, 2010, Forest Preserve (FP) Board meeting – the 1st meeting after the Nov. 2nd FP Board General Election – the FP Board presented the results of their "study" of alternate sites for the proposed Blackwell Fleet Maintenance Building near McKee Marsh on Mack Rd.  The study was presented despite the fact that the FP Board announced - just weeks earlier - that the study had not been undertaken due to time constraints associated with (among other things) answering Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from our members of our Association.  We have requested a copy of the study and the criteria used for the study from our District Commissioner - but, to date - we have not received a response.

    As far as we can tell, there was no set of objective criteria developed for the "study" even though we suggested many criteria in open session with the FP Board and offered to work cooperatively with the FP to develop criteria BEFORE a formal study was undertaken.  The FP Board just doesn't seem willing to engage with the Public in a meaningful dialog that could culminate in a mutually beneficial solution for all of DuPage County residents.

    During the presentation a representative of Knight Engineering – who was contracted for the initial "Needs assessment" study – basically stated our case for us.  They state that the neighbors near the car dealerships they investigated don't want the increased truck traffic or the repaving that would be necessary every two years because of the loads.

    Yet the FP tells us that Mack Rd. won't need repaving even though it is rated at only 5-tons by the Township.  Mack Rd. is in unincorporated DuPage County, thus the local residents will have to pay for this DuPage County-wide expense.  It appears that the FP is speaking out of "both sides of their mouths."  Just listen to the testimony for yourself in the following audio clips.  After listening to this presentation there is no way you could conclude that the proposed Blackwell expansion is not an "Industrial Complex."

    Just listen to the rhetoric of these entrenched politicians and decide for yourself what is the truth.

    In the interim to our requests for information, you can listen to 5 audio recordings of the FP Board discussion of the "Study" presented at the November 9, 2010 at the following links:

    • (13 min.): FP Staff Report :
      • Alternative Locations
      • Cost of moving facilities to one location
      • Suitability of gas stations
      • Centralization vs. Decentralization
      Interestingly, this report basically supports our assertion that the Blackwell site will become an "Industrial Complex"  because currently available vacant car dealerships are too small for what they want to construct and they couldn't find neighbors of current car dealerships that would welcome the FP Fleet Building. 

      Put another way, do you think it is reasonable to put a facility that is larger than a car dealership in "your backyard in a residential neighborhood?  During the presentation the FP Staff person stated that an alternative location at Mack Rd. and Rt. 59 was not appropriate because of the intersection congestion that would be caused.  This is the same intersection that will be used if the current proposal is implemented!  Do these people even visit the neighborhood?  Listen to the audio recording and look at a map for yourself and judge.

      Again, "Not in my (or your) backyard NIMBY" is EXACTLY what we request.  The FP is taking an area originally zoned "Residential" and turning it into "Commercial/Industrial" land use without "due process."  Up to this point their slow incursion into a residential neighborhood has been modest and acceptable and unopposed (except that they once tried to turn it into golf course!).

      But with the construction of regional refueling "gas station" and other construction of Industrial facilities (with no public notification) ... it's time to request a full Public Hearing on their plans.

      If the FP were constrained by DuPage County Zoning Ordinances - and associated hearings - then our Neighborhood Association could abide by such a process and outcome.  But as it stands now in DuPage County, the Forest Preserve can basically do "what ever it wants without regard to Neighborhood input" ... and this is exactly what they are doing ... and under the guise that they have a "mandate" to do it by the last election.  Yes, it is actually stated in these recordings that the results of the recent National & DuPage County elections actually supports and repudiates the West-Win position on Blackwell ... Listen for yourself!  We are not making this stuff up!

    • (10 min.): Safety Concerns Comments by Knight Engineering and Q&A from Board : Safety concerns at Blackwell make you wonder how the FP has been exempt from basic building codes and OSHA inspections.
    • (5 min.): President Pierotti Comments : "Changing from Blackwell site" will cost "substantially more money."  Yet he admits he doesn't have the data.

      "The Homeowners' Assoc. [West-Win] represents just a small number [sic] of people." Actually West-Win has over 700 households and over 1200 potential voters on its member roles.  Note that West-Win is only requesting the same consideration that they would be afforded by DuPage County Zoning Ordinances.  The FP Commissioners further state that our Association has a "pre-determined" position.  On the contrary, we have only requested a study based on a citizen-based set of criteria.  A careful inspection of the FP Board members positions will likely lead you to the belief that it is the FP Commissioners that have the "pre-determined" position.  Why else would they wait until only 1-week after the election to address the issue?

      Just listen to the FP President on this issue and other issues before the FP and judge for yourself.  His statements speak for his uninformed views ... unbelievable! 

      Again, we are not making this stuff up ... just listen to his audio statements.  He states that "unlike other Governmental entities" that the FP takes into consideration the concerns of the people in the area."  Is this a joke?  First, the County Board holds Zoning hearings on such changes in a neighborhood.  Second, the FP Board has never held hearings or addressed our concerns in an open and documented public forum.  None of our comments presented during the Public Comments "agenda" of a FP Board meeting have ever been reported or published in the FP public record.  Take a look at our website and the letters/comments sent to the FP Commissioners, and then compare this to the statements of the Commissioners.
    • (5 min.): Commissioners Formento & Kotecki Comment : Commissioner Kotecki elicits the fact that several FP locations that our members requested be included in the study were not.
    • (2 min.): A neighborhood resident voices her opinion on the recent election and hopes for the future of the FP : During the public comments section of the meeting (which are not recorded in the official minutes) one of the neighbors, Francine Manilow, presented comments.  She urged the board not to forget that while this was the first election in which they were ever opposed, that 40% of the electorate voted against them and that there was significant opposition to the current Blackwell Fleet Maintenance Building plans that should be seriously addressed.

  •   (8/24/09) At the August 18, 2009, Forest Preserve Board meeting an important announcement was made regarding the proposed Fleet Maintenance Building at the Blackwell Forest Preserve.  After 5 months of research by the West-Win Friends of the Forest sub-committee, numerous presentations, a booth at the County Fair, pressure to have an evening meeting to inform the public of the full master plan for Blackwell, and attendance at Board meetings, President Pierotti "officially" announced – on the record – that construction of the Fleet Maintenance Building at Blackwell is being postponed while alternative sites are being considered.  Dennis Clark and Shannon Burns presented signed petition letters – over 1750 letters – to the Board!  We also presented the Board with yet another site suggestion as an alternative to the Blackwell proposed site.

    While this is cause for cautious optimism, there is a need to maintain vigilance to be sure that the search for alternate sites is legitimate, that a list of criteria is developed and used this time, and that due diligence is conducted in planning for the Maintenance Facility – wherever it is located.  To this end, we will continue to monitor the Forest Preserve Board.  Check back periodically to this website to see if additional information on the status of the Fleet Maintenance Building has been added.

    At the July 21, 2009 evening meeting about 125 people attended to learn of the full master plan being considered by the Forest Preserve.  The proposed Fleet Service Building is just the start of what was to have been a multiple building complex.  Despite reassurances by President Pierotti that the evening meeting was to present this valuable information to the public and that the item was listed on the official agenda, President Pierotti took it upon himself to change the agenda and not include the presentation of the full master plan.  Instead he provided a 50-minute history lesson of the voting records of all the past and current members of the Board.

    Submitted by West-Win Friends of the Forest Preserve Committee.

  •  (7/21/09) The outpouring of citizen comments at the 7/21/09 Forest Preserve Commission Board presentation meeting on the future of the proposed Blackwell Fleet Service Maintenance Industrial Complex was spectacular.   We had approximately 150 to 200 concerned citizens in the audience and about 15-20 speakers from all over the County.  Thank you one and all for your show of support.  We definitely made an impression on the Board of Commissioners by your professional and factual presentations. 

    We requested the FP Board to vote to reconsider their plans and to consider the many alternatives that you presented tonight.  The President stated that they have to schedule any such vote for a future meeting.

    Stay tuned to this channel and to the Forest Preserve website for upcoming news on this issue.

    Thank you to the FP Commission and Staff for scheduling this 7/21/09 meeting during the evening so that working citizens could attend, and for providing - in advance - overflow seating and a video feed for those who couldn't get into the main meeting room – EXCELLENT JOB – hopefully we are on our way to a positive resolution of this issue.

    To read more about this Blackwell Industrial Complex Forest Preserve issue click here.

  •  (Feb 11th '09) REZ Voted Down by County Board

    At its meeting on February 10, 2009, the County Board voted 14 to 3 to NOT approve the proposed Mega Church on Purnell Rd. in unincorporated Winfield Township.

    In a final statement, a Church of the Resurrection representative referred to the concessions they had made, stated that they had just two business days earlier met with DuDOT and been requested to provide additional information, and requested more time to evaluate the nine conditions to be amended to the resolution.  In response to the Church representative’s request, a Board Member moved to table the item, but that effort resulted in a resounding defeat, indicating that the Board Members were ready to deal with this issue.

    The issue was brought to the Board, and District 6 Board Members added amendments which were then unanimously adopted.  In the end, County Board Members realized the complex was too massive and would have too many adverse operational impacts to the neighborhood to allow approval.

    The West-Win Homeowners’ Association would like to thank all of its members for a solid show of unity in preserving our neighborhood.  Our objective has been to provide relevant facts to County officials who were making the decisions.  Those facts clearly pointed to the errors by Petitioner in the areas of traffic, noise, light, storm water management, and property values.  Proposed construction items were not in line with the standards, and Petitioner never overcame the burden of proof that their proposed development would not severely and adversely impact the neighborhood.

    Special thanks go to several County Board Members who thoroughly reviewed all information from both parties and were able to see the flaws in the proposal offered by Petitioner.  Special thanks also goes to the West-Win subcommittee assigned to this task.  The group did an outstanding job of research, fund raising and presentation of information at various meetings. We were consistent in taking the high ground in pointing out the errors and omissions in Petitioner’s information.  It was a long and difficult journey, but we have learned that if we work together and show determination and persistence, good things do happen.

    Thanks again to our neighbors and to the County Board.

    Dennis Clark
    President
    West-Win Homeowners’ Association
 
Contact the West-Win Homeowners' Association at eMail: West-Win@comcast.net

Updated 01/24/12 02:32 AM ET   Hit Counter