Opposition to any development in Fabyan Woods grows

Kane County Board members already killed the idea of building a music venue in the eastern portion of the Fabyan Woods Forest Preserve. But several of Geneva residents tried to convince officials that even biking should be eliminated from any plans for the preserve.

The current vision for redeveloping the 700-acre Settler’s Hill campus, which includes the eastern section of the woods, involves the construction of a mountain bike trail. It’s a plan that has the both logistical and possibly financial backing from the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers group. The group is already involved with a bike trail at Raceway Woods and a park in Carpentersville.

But fans of the Fabyan Woods Forest Preserve have slowly begun to band together to keep any new substantive public use, beyond walking, out of the eastern section.

Geneva resident Sharon Jones and two like-minded neighbors petitioned a Kane County Forest Preserve Committee Thursday to keep nature preservation the top goal for the preserve.

“Remove the Fabyan Forest Preserve section from the Settler’s Hill expansion plan,” urged Jones. “For me, the greatest experience is walking in the woods, not playing golf.”

Just as when they nixed the idea of building a Ravinia-like concert venue in the preserve earlier this week, commissioners said they aren’t interested in creating controversy by redeveloping the Settler’s Hill campus. Forest District President John Hoscheit said a new version of the concept plan for the campus will reflect all the concerns commissioners have heard about the woods.

“There are a number of good components to the plan that I don’t think anyone objects to,” Hoscheit said. “I’m going to push to get those good components done.”