Hoffman to wait on annexing Bridlewood

Following a detailed study of the impacts involved, Hoffman Estates officials Monday were leaning against making any immediate plans to annex the 265-home Bridlewood subdivision on the village's west side.

But they also made it clear an outpouring of support for the idea by Bridlewood residents themselves could cause them to rethink the decision.

"If they're not clamoring for it, I think taking the wait-and-see approach is the right thing to do," Trustee Cary Collins said.

While annexation would carry both pros and cons for subdivision residents and the village, the financial costs to Hoffman Estates - despite the increase in tax revenue - left officials without an overwhelming incentive to consider it.

"I'm not actively interested in anything that's going to cost us $4 million," Collins added.

Trustee Gary Pilafas, who chairs the village's planning committee, said he was not necessarily pro-annexation, but was merely passing along a request for action from three Bridlewood residents he spoke to at a block party.

Though they knew their property taxes would rise as a result of annexation, they felt the improvement in services - including a nearer fire department - was worth it, Pilafas said.

"That's three talking for several hundred," he conceded.

Bridlewood residents already contract for water service from Hoffman Estates, but get police service is from the Cook County sheriff's police department; fire protection from the Bartlett Fire Protection District and road maintenance from Hanover Township.

Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Robert Gorvett said he'd be uncomfortable with village residents having the response times Bridlewood now has.

However, to annex the 112-acre subdivision would require the village to reimburse the fire district $372,401 for lost tax revenue.

Village Manager Jim Norris suggested a better arrangement, bypassing that obligation, would be for Bridlewood residents to contract with the village just for fire service.

Considering infrastructure costs as well, Norris said annexations after a subdivision is built rarely work out in a municipality's favor financially. But they're sometimes done to create a coherent sense of community.