Written by Katherine Yanney
Friday, 17 July 2009 11:11
Plans to centralize DuPage County’s Forest Preserve maintenance operations with the construction of a 28,000 square-foot, 16-bay facility inside Blackwell Forest Preserve are scheduled for discussion at the regular meeting of the district’s Board of Commissioners on July 21.
The project has the residents of the West-Win Homeowner’s Association (West-Win), as well as residents from other areas of the county, mobilizing for action. West-Win is asking as many county residents as possible to attend the meeting.
“We’ve formed a committee of board members and homeowners,” says Dennis Clark, current President of the West-Win Board. “Our goal is to analyze the impact this project will have on the area.”
As this paper has previously reported, the district’s project involves the construction of a multiple-story maintenance garage at 29w400 Mack Rd., next to Blackwell’s McKee Marsh. This single structure would replace the district’s two aging, outdated and undersized facilities. The Mack Rd. location currently holds one of those facilities. Built in 1978, the building at Mack Rd. houses the district’s heavy-duty vehicles, much of its equipment and 50 percent of its fleet.
According to its Plans and Projects page of the forest preserve website (www.dupageforest.com), the site already functions as the primary developed complex for the district’s Grounds Maintenance and Natural Resources departments. The district proposes building the new structure 350 yards from the existing one. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2009. The estimated cost for this project comes in at $7.5 million.
West-Win’s membership includes residents of 700 homes and spans over 1200 acres of unincorporated Warrenville, Winfield and West Chicago. The area borders Blackwell Forest Preserve. West-Win’s website motto reads, “dedicated to a rural lifestyle.” Due to its unincorporated status, West-Win residents pay particular attention to issues yielding a direct impact on daily life, taxes or safety. These issues include road traffic, well water and sewer systems and zoning issues. And they are paying attention to what’s happening at Blackwell.
West-Win’s committee meets regularly. With its goal of analyzing the impact on the surrounding area, members have spent hours combing through forest preserve records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In addition, the organization has contacted neighboring counties for their research. Much time has been spent writing letters to raise awareness. West-Win’s committee is planning a booth at the DuPage County Fair, where it will pass out information on the district’s maintenance garage project, and where it will have a petition ready to collect signatures.
Residents of DuPage County are encouraged to attend Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners meetings to take part in the discussion surrounding key issues.
West-Win wants to see evidence that district’s Board of Commissioners is addressing the questions posed. It wants to see the district conduct traffic studies, discuss its obligation to contribute to future road maintenance, or ask questions about water percolation.
According to Clark, West-Win wants to get the word out about the project so that the district will take West-Win’s call for transparency seriously. The ultimate goal, he says, is to ensure residents can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the district’s plan is the best possible option for the residents of DuPage county.
This is not the first time West-Win has had to apply its resources to zoning questions. When the Church of the Resurrection wanted to build a new facility on a 21-acre piece of land off Indian Knoll Rd. south of Roosevelt Rd., West-Win residents went to bat, eventually proving that the construction of the church facility would be detrimental to the area.
After initially looking favorably upon the project, the DuPage County Board eventually voted against the petitioning church 14-3.
“We’ve seen some success in the past by doing our homework and being professional,” says Clark, who reiterates his plea to residents to attend the July 21 meeting
The meeting is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. at the DuPage County Forest Preserve Headquarters Offices, 3s580 Naperville Rd., Wheaton.