West-Win Homeowners' Association

— dedicated to a rural lifestyle

News Items
August 26th — Mack Rd. Forest Preserve "Industrial" Complex Planned
  New Information: See Voice of the People  (FP ignores Citizens Petitions) (10/21/09)

  • 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  (8/24/09)

  • (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. (7/21/09)

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

    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, stormwater 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 10/21/09 04:30 AM ET   Hit Counter