Conservation Foundation land purchase only temporary protection from gas station complex
Signs were put up at the northeast corner of Route 53 and Butterfield Road imploring voters to "save this land" in support of the Butterfield Park District's Open Space referendum to permanently preserve the land from development.
If voters don't pass the Nov. 4 referendum, the land would be put back on the market for sale. And that could put the development of a large convenience store and 10-pump gas station at the location back in play.
The Butterfield Park District is holding a public information meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at their offices at 21W370 Butterfield Rd., Lombard to answer questions residents may have about the referendum.
The Conservation Foundation stepped in to help park district residents find a way to purchase the land at the corner of Route 53 and Butterfield Road, after a request was presented to the DuPage County Board for permission to build what would become DuPage County's largest gas station complex.
The non-profit organization has agreed to hold onto the property for a year while the district works out a way to buy it.
In August, the Butterfield Park Board agreed to place a referendum on the ballot for $2,850,000 to purchase and improve the land, and to make other needed improvements on their remaining six park sites.
The area in question sits across from Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, is adjacent to existing open space and the park district headquarters.
"We often do this sort of thing to help park districts and other agencies purchase the land for preservation," Conservation Foundation President/CEO Brook McDonald said. "But it's not a done deal. If the referendum doesn't pass, we will be forced to put the land back on the market to recoup our costs. We can't afford to take that kind of financial hit."
The Conservation Foundation took out a loan and paid $1.5 million for the land after a request was made to the DuPage County Board by Buck's Inc. to build a mega-gas facility on the empty lot.
The company filed a lawsuit in April against the county when it denied that request. The lawsuit was dropped after The Conservation Foundation's purchase.
McDonald predicted it would be difficult for the county board to deny another request for the development on that piece of land if the referendum fails.
"This isn't a done deal," McDonald said. "This land is not yet protected. The voters in the park district will have to decide on Nov. 4 whether they want it as open space or a mega development. It simply boils down to that."
The question voters will see on the ballot reads:
Shall the Butterfield Park District, DuPage County, Illinois, acquire, maintain, improve and protect the land at the Northeast corner of Illinois Route 56 and Illinois Route 53 for nature areas, open space and park and recreation purpose, improve trails, outdoor parks amenities, gardens and passive recreation areas, accessibility, safety, and programming space for children and adults through said Park District and issue its bonds to the amount of $2,985,000 for the purpose of pay the costs thereof?
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The Conservation Foundation is one of the region's largest and oldest private conservation organizations -- with more than 4,000 members and donors, and more than 500 volunteers who contribute 20,000 hours per year.
Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.