Kane forest district buying land near proposed Campton Hills development
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the entity the forest preserve district would exchange 67 acres with.
The Kane County Forest Preserve District plans to acquire more than 400 acres of land in Campton Hills, near where a 900-plus-home subdivision may be built.
The forest preserve commission unanimously voted Tuesday to buy 340 acres, at a cost of $9.52 million, from the Shodeen development company. Shodeen will also donate 75 acres.
The land is south of Route 38 and just west of private properties on the west side of Brundige Road.
The forest district then intends to exchange about 67 acres of land with Campton Township. The township has purchased and preserved land since 2001. The site in question abuts a Campton Township parcel on three sides.
Last week, the Campton Hills village board annexed 962 acres of land, including this acreage, for a residential development called the La Fox of Campton Hills.
It also approved an annexation agreement with the land’s current ownership and Shodeen, which is the contract purchaser.
Last year, a different developer asked St. Charles to annex the land and approve the construction of roughly 2,000 residences. Residents of the unincorporated La Fox area protested that plan.
The La Fox Civic Association, which has fought off several development proposals, supported the annexation by Campton Hills.
The forest district’s purchase was on behalf of a consortium that included the Conservation Foundation, the Campton Township Open Space Foundation, and the nearby Garfield Farm Museum, according to a letter of intent the forest district and the Campton Township supervisor have signed.