Neighbors argue against preserve plans
Having the Lake County Forest Preserve as a potential neighbor has raised the ire of several Long Grove residents.
The neighbors relayed their concerns to the Long Grove village board Tuesday, saying they feel that their privacy is being threatened. They also expressed anger that the board seemed to be turning its back on its constituents.
The forest preserve plans on buying 95 acres of land from CF Industries -- which is moving out of town -- that abuts the Heron Creek Forest Preserve. The preserve, at Route 22 and Old McHenry, would go from 144 acres to about 240 acres with that and another purchase.
The Long Grove board happily backed the impending purchase, touting it as a great way to bring more open land into the community.
Board members said they've also heard what the other proposals have been for the CF property and said those uses would be much more dense uses of the land than the current office or a forest preserve.
However, residents said that the village had an agreement with CF for care of the land and Salem Lake, and they are concerned the property will not have that same care under Lake County.
There have also been talks of putting a trail and picnic benches in the area, and residents have balked at the idea of picnickers and fishermen literally in their backyards.
"Any public use is going to cheapen the area," said Susan Klein, a former village trustee and a resident of the area.
She said the area is zoned for office use or homes and a residential complex would be much preferable.
However, board members reiterated that nobody has offered to build homes there; the only offers out there were for office buildings that had much more intense uses than now, according to trustees.
Trustee Ted Lazakis said the forest preserve has turned into a white knight that protected the property from turning into something the village and residents don't want.
Michael Talbett, a forest preserve commissioner, said that the board has no set plans yet for the area and wants input from residents on what to do there.
"We intend to be a good neighbor," he said. "This property was seen as a needed benefit for this part of the county."
However, residents said that they'd prefer not to have anything done that would make the lake a public area and would allow strangers to come right up to their backyards.
"We need you to fight for us," Gary Lundgren, a developer and resident of the area, told village board members. "All the security of our area is gone. We have quiet enjoyment that will be ruined."