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July 4^th — Mack Rd. Forest Preserve "Industrial" Complex Planned

Forest Preserve Public Meeting on Blackwell Industrial Complex
SAVE THE DATE & PLAN TO ATTEND

The DuPage County Forest Preserve Board is planning to spend $7.5 million of your tax dollars to build a 28,000+ sq. ft., three story high industrial fleet maintenance facility in the McKee Marsh area of the Blackwell Forest Preserve.  We have uncovered that this is just the start of a much larger planned industrial complex.

We requested an evening meeting with the Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners so that we can voice our concerns about this project.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND & BE INFORMED!  We have strength in numbers — it will send a powerful message if many people show up for this meeting.

Date:	July 21, 2009
Time:	7:00 PM
Place:	DuPage County Forest Preserve Headquarters Offices 3S580 Naperville Rd., Wheaton, IL  60189

 

Ø  What can you do now? Attend, Contribute & Volunteer – Help is needed in many areas, especially $$ to continue to keep everyone informed.

Please send Donations to: W-W FoF, PO Box 367, Winfield, IL 60190-0367

The DuPage County Forest Preserve Staff seems to be committed and entrenched to their 35-year old plan to industrialize the northern section of the Blackwell Forest Preserve – all without considering the changing neighborhood or Forest Preserve Customer demographics.

Forest Preserve District Commissioners appear not be asking the appropriate financial questions or soliciting input from their constituents, especially the neighbors who will have their property values significantly diminished by this industrial development next to their homes.

The Forest Preserve Staff and Commissioner's response has been "you need to accept change" and "this is going to happen" (verbatim quotes).

More details can be viewed here.

• (Feb 11^th '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, 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

  • (Feb 13^th '09) The Chicago Tribune: "DuPage board rejects plan for Winfield church"   .
  • (Feb 11^th '09) The Daily Herald reports: " DuPage County rejects plans for massive church complex. "  Read it here
  • Click here to get all of the details and history of this Mega-Church development project.

• Summary Survey Results for Annexation, Commercialization, Water & Sewer  - more details of the 10/24/2006 meeting with our public officials will follow.  It was an informative and interesting meeting.  Thanks to all who participated (and paid their dues to keep this web site and organization in existence).  (10/06)
• General Meeting to address commercialization and annexation issues with public official panel discussion Tuesday, October 24, 2006  (10/06)
• Special Annexation & Commercialization Newsletter  (9/06)
•     EPA announcement of thorium cleanup site @ Rt. 59 and Mack Road & August 22, 2006 information meeting  (9/06)
• Read newspaper articles, DuPage County, and other EPA information regarding the West Branch DuPage River radioactive thorium cleanup project  (8/06)
• Read older News postings