MCC expansion plan worth second look
Hard-pressed taxpayers are looking for innovative leadership, the sort that can deliver services and programs without asking for more money from them quite so often. That's why we think the McHenry County College Health, Wellness and Athletic complex plan deserves a second look.
When the Crystal Lake City Council split 4-3 on the $26 million plan for classrooms, recreation facilities and a baseball stadium north and west of the Route 14 campus, and then tabled further discussion, it effectively halted forward movement. Because the city's planning and zoning commission had opposed the plan, a super-majority of five votes was necessary to approve it.
Though not dead, the plan is now in limbo, providing the perfect opportunity for a re-evaluation and less emotional consideration of a plan that we believe offers merit. And let's forget the suggestion that the baseball stadium be eliminated from the plan. It's the stadium that makes it financially viable without tax hikes, making it the most appealing part to taxpayers.
That said, we see no reason that college, county, city and McHenry County Conservation District officials can't work out a deal amenable to all if each steps back from individual interests long enough to consider the potential beneficial impact to the entire college district and county.
No, a successful minor league baseball partnership isn't guaranteed. But one need only look at the Kane County experience with the Cougars to see it can work. Skeptics should check out that relationship and review how it was accomplished.
The stadium would also help finance about a third of the project, which includes recreational facilities for students and area residents in addition to additional classrooms for the nursing and sports medicine programs. The balance would come from facility rental fees.
Concerns about traffic flow and the protection of the watershed leading to Crystal Lake are legitimate. So study both some more and, if necessary, ask the baseball league to kick in some financial help for additional changes that might address them. The college has already agreed not to use pollution-causing phosphates on-site and has a storm water plan even a zoning commissioner called "very compelling." Is there more it can do to assure monitoring and maintenance, or will environmental opponents refuse to consider any plan for that property?
The city may indeed want to design a more well-defined comprehensive plan and watershed development guidelines for the area. But it's not the college's fault the city hasn't done so before this. It deserves fair and timely consideration, just as the city should expect the college to help it protect the watershed.
All in all, this is a plan with enough potential benefits to deserve serious and balanced consideration. If it can be made to work, the community college serving an expanding county will have addressed some of its needs, new health and recreation facilities will be available to all and taxpayers will have found what they're looking for in elected representatives -- leadership.