MCC land plan finally cleared

McHenry County College's plans to purchase 57 acres for a future expansion nearby came close to unraveling Tuesday night when the Crystal Lake City Council looked as if it would restrict how much the school could build on the property.

But in the end, the city council overwhelmingly approved a change in existing code, allowing the college to build impervious surfaces on 50 percent of the land, known as the Geiger Property.

After the meeting, the school's board of trustees authorized college officials to move forward with the $3.5 million transaction that's been two years in the making.

College officials say they will use the school's debt certificate bonds to finance the deal.

"Congratulations everybody, our future is bright," Trustee Barbara Walters said after the meeting.

But for a few moments, the future didn't look so promising.

After Councilman Dave Goss suggested that, to cover themselves, the city council amend language in the college's initial request that would cap impervious surfaces on the property at 50 percent, the MCC board held an emergency meeting in a nearby room to discuss the matter. This position ran counter to the majority of the city council.

MCC board Chairman George Lowe suggested that the school call the whole thing off if it couldn't get what it asked for.

"If we're going to be limited, I'm not going to buy it," he said. "We have to buy it now, or lose it."