A bunch of residents plan to object to a 55-year-old and older group being proposed on Homer Township-owned land at a workshop later this month in Homer Glen.
Some residents stated the 40 acres of land, simply west of Bell Street close to the present Homer Township Founders Crossing senior housing group, was designated as open area greater than 20 years in the past and will stay undeveloped.
Final month, Homer Township officers introduced they need to work with Homer Glen officers and developer John LaFlamboy of Midwest Property Improvement to construct Autumn Ridge, consisting of 93 single-family houses and 20 duplex buildings on the Welter Farm property, which was purchased by the township for $2 million in 2001.
Earlier than Homer Glen had included as a village, Homer Township voters in April 1999 accredited a referendum to difficulty $8 million in bonds to purchase areas throughout the township as a part of its open area plan. About 65% of residents accredited the bond sale.
So far, the township has bought about 200 acres, lots of which continues to be farmed.
“In gentle of speedy residential development it is very important put aside open land that may be preserved for all residents, wildlife, and nature alike,” the township’s web site stated.
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Some residents stated they’ve been blindsided by a possible growth and plan to take their considerations to the Homer Glen Village Board on Could 25. The land is inside village boundaries, which must approve any growth. The township board voted in April to maneuver ahead with the challenge.
“Lots of people labored very lengthy hours and really lengthy days to get this on the poll,” resident Stan Wolak stated. “Voters voted for open area. They handed bonds for this. We voted for one purpose solely, to cease growth and protect open area in Homer Township.”
Wolak stated the land belongs to all of the individuals of the township and to make use of it for houses feels as if these residents are subsidizing a developer. If the township have been to buy a vacant 40 acres at as we speak’s costs, it will value a number of instances as a lot, he stated.
As soon as houses are constructed, the open area is misplaced, Wolak stated.
“It’s such an exquisite piece of land,” he stated. “There’s no changing it. As soon as it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Mike Campabello stated residents will not be towards having a 55-year-old and older group, however they’re towards having the event constructed on open area land.
“The individuals ought to have a proper to vote on what occurs to this property,” Campabello stated. “In the event that they need to undergo with a growth, let’s put a referendum again on the books.”
Resident Keith Grey, a former Homer Glen trustee, stated when residents protest potential developments to the Village Board, that land is owned by a developer who has a proper to develop the land inside village ordinances. This land, nonetheless, is owned by the individuals, he stated.
“You take what is actually group owned land and creating it,” Grey stated. “To me that’s mistaken. We did, as a group, purchase the land. We put it in a lock field and thought it was open and guarded.”
A referendum is all the time a tough promote to the group, and the outcomes ought to be revered, Grey stated.
Close by residents additionally stated they’re involved with diminished property values, cut-through site visitors and potential for flooding as a result of a few of the open area is on a flood plain.
“We as taxpayers paid for that land 20 years in the past,” resident Debbie Laskowski stated. “To me what they’re attempting to do is egregious.”
Township officers, nonetheless, stated they imagine the proposal can be a win for space companies, taxing our bodies and senior residents.
Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich stated the property taxes from Autumn Ridge may generate about $407,000 for Homer Elementary District 33C and about $190,000 for Lockport Excessive Faculty District 205 with out burdening the college system with extra college students. Companies would additionally recognize extra rooftops in the neighborhood, he stated.
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Senior residents in Homer Township are in want of reasonably priced housing, Balich stated. There are about 440 individuals on the ready listing to stay within the Homer Township Founders Crossing senior housing group, which has 30 houses, Balich stated. An estimated 10,000 seniors stay within the township, and lots of of them want to downsize to a smaller residence with cheaper property taxes whereas nonetheless being near household and buddies, he stated.
“The township is required by statute to maintain seniors,” Balich stated. “To me, this challenge will assist the seniors.”
Balich stated Homer Glen zoned the land from agricultural to residential in 2002.
At a particular city assembly final fall, the electors accredited transferring six township-owned parks and sports activities fields to the village of Homer Glen and accredited the township board to buy, promote or lease township property. The 55-year-old group was not but identified on the time, Balich stated.
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Township officials said their authorized groups don’t imagine the event is breaking any open area legal guidelines or ordinances. The township’s open area program additionally states it may be used to advertise orderly suburban growth utilizing the township’s land use plan, Balich stated.
Balich stated rumors circulating on social media that the challenge is low earnings or Part 8 housing are false. He stated every residence can be about 1,200 or 1,300 sq. toes and begin at $250,000.
Township Trustee Mike Bonomo stated the brand new subdivision would profit companies on the town and contribute to the tax rolls. Extra income would circulation into village coffers by extra gross sales and gasoline taxes, he stated.
Whereas there’ll all the time be some opposition, Bonomo stated the township board has to consider all residents.
A workshop is deliberate for the Homer Glen Village Board assembly a 7 p.m. Could 25, at Village Corridor, 14240 W. 151st St.
Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich stated the village has not obtained official plans for the challenge, however when it does, it will undergo the identical course of as different potential developments.
Michelle Mullins is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.