Condo groups join Oakbrook Terrace fight against development
Two Oakbrook Terrace condominium associations have filed a lawsuit against DuPage County and a controversial developer seeking to halt a massive residential and retail project.
Similar to a suit filed in July by Oakbrook Terrace, Versailles at Oak Brook Associates and Versailles North Associates are suing to stop the controversial
Lakes of Royce Renaissance project. The suits ask a judge to overturn the DuPage County Board's unanimous approval and stop any work from going forward.
"It's our contention that the county did not appropriately consider the factors that the zoning was not reasonable and appropriate," said Oakbrook Terrace attorney Barb Gosselar.
She believes all the suits will eventually be combined.
The board's approval in April allowed Royce Realty to build up to 2,000 new residential units on 82 undeveloped acres near Butterfield Road and Ardmore Avenue. At least 500 of the residential units would be set aside for a seniors. The plan also called for a hotel, retail shops and other amenities. Officials from Royce anticipated construction costs for the entire development to run at about $750 million.
However, Oakbrook Terrace officials contend the parcel - which was voluntarily deannexed from the city in 2007 by owner Robert Krilich - doesn't have adequate stormwater or water utility plans, will increase traffic congestion exponentially and will strain police and emergency service resources. The neighboring condo associations argue the development, with proposals for two 18-story buildings, will negatively impact the Versailles properties.
The new suit names the county, Royce Realty, county board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom and Krilich. The county has filed a motion to be removed from the suit. The next court date is slated for Oct. 2.
Oakbrook Terrace and Krilich have been feuding for years over use of the property. Krilich sued the city from federal prison, where he spent more than a decade after being convicted of fraud and racketeering for rigging a hole-in-one contest to pay off a bribe. Krilich's lawsuit against the city was dismissed.
No one from the county returned calls seeking comment about the lawsuit, and officials from Royce Realty could not be reached.