Barrington taking measures to avoid maintenance bills

Village of Barrington officials are making sure that a new office development will be a good neighbor in town.

Trustees hosted public hearings Monday on the issue of creating special service areas for the new Flint Creek Corporate development, at 760 W. Main St, as a way to ensure that the village does not get stuck footing the bill for the maintenance of any water detention or sanitary sewer lines on the property.

Village manager Denise Pieroni said these special service areas will protect the village from paying any undue costs associated with the maintenance, repair, replacement or reconstruction of the property's water detention area and sanitary sewer lines.

"With a special service area, we can go in and recover those costs," Pieroni said.

A special service area levies a special tax on properties in a designated area. The money generated by the tax is then used for maintenance or enhancements of that area.

Pieroni said the special tax will be levied on the development only if the property owner comes across problems with the water detention or sanitary and sewer lines.

No residents spoke out against the plan during Monday's public hearing.

Paul Evans, Barrington's assistant director of economic and community development, said the village board must wait at least 60 days before officially creating the special service area.

The Flint Creek development calls for the initial construction of a 39,00-square-foot, two-story building at 760 W. Lake-Cook Road.

Located in downtown Barrington, the Flint Creek office campus will ultimately be comprised of up to 20 buildings, divided into three main components: Flint Creek Corporate View, Flint Creek Bridges and Flint Creek Reserve.

Officials representing the developers, the Wamberg Family Partnership and Great Lakes Principal, said the second floor of the first building would be home to a branch of Smith Barney financial advisers.

First-floor space is expected to be filled with other financial and legal businesses.

Construction began in November and is scheduled to be finished by the summer.