Mount Prospect forcibly annexes 27 acres along Busse Road

Mount Prospect forcibly annexed more than 27 acres in unincorporated Cook County this week over the objections of property owners, who called for the matter to be postponed in hopes of working out a voluntary agreement.

The village board approved the annexation Tuesday night after already having deferred the matter twice. Officials say the move will allow the village to provide services to what they call an isolated pocket of unincorporated land, while eliminating county government inefficiencies.

The land sits along Busse Road on the southwest side of the village and includes several industrial and retail uses that front Busse Road, Imperial Court, James Drive and Kenneth Drive.

Representatives of the property owners disputed the village's reasons for the annexation, saying, for example, that Mount Prospect police are rarely seen in the area. They also voiced concerns over how the land's new "limited industrial" zoning would affect their businesses.

Attorney Joseph Gattuso said his client's concrete crushing operations would not be allowable under that zoning designation.

"We are simply an oblong peg that doesn't fit in your round hole," he said.

However, Village Manager Michael Cassady assured him the village would honor any agreements made by the county allowing the business to operate.

Gattuso said he would rather have the legal assurances provided by a voluntary annexation agreement.

"If we all get hit by buses tomorrow, what happens to my client and his operation?" he asked.

Lance Malina, an attorney for Mount Prospect, said efforts were made toward a voluntary annexation, but a deal couldn't be reached within the village board's deadline. Postponing matters any longer would get costly and complicated, he said.

Nicholas Standiford, another attorney for affected property owners, said his clients would prefer to work out a deal with the village but raised the possibility of going to court seeking deannexation. Roughly half the 27 acres are controlled by Gattuso and Standiford's clients.

"We could go forward with that petition if we want to," he said.