Water park receives permit extension from Hoffman Estates

First delays stymied the construction of the Prairie Creek Amphitheater and now the economy has put the brakes to Hoffman Estates' proposed indoor water park.

Plans called for the $85 million SplasH20 WaterPark hotel and conference center to be built next to the amphitheater inside the village's Prairie Stone Business Park. However, the water park's developers have followed the lead of Prairie Creek officials.

SplasH20 officials asked the village to extend its zoning permit which was to expire on March 5. Crews have yet to break ground on the project.

Trustees on Monday granted a one-year extension to March 5, 2010. The move means water park developers don't have to go through the process of applying for another permit with the village.

A letter from Joseph Buralli, representing the Lakemoor-based water park group, cites the sagging economy as the reason why construction on the water park hadn't started. Last August, Buralli said he'd hope to open the facility, which would include 240 hotel rooms, by this Christmas.

"We believe an extension of one year will allow sufficient time to begin the construction phase of our development and allow us to open the facilities in more promising economic conditions," Buralli's letter reads.

SplasH20's plans had an expensive tweaking last year in conjunction with the amphitheater's planned construction to keep hotel rooms away from the path of sound coming from concerts. Prairie Creek officials also asked the village for an extension for its zoning permit, which was to expire next week. The board approved the request, with trustees Raymond Kincaid and Gary Pilafas voting against extending the permit by two years to 2011.

Kincaid and Pilafas have voted against the outdoor music theater in the past based on the opposition of neighbors who said they didn't want to deal with noise complaints.

A letter to the village from Prairie Creek's attorneys states "the owner remains excited about the potential for development and operation of the amphitheater." However, village officials remain skeptical that the $34 million, 8,900-seat venue will ever be built. Construction was supposed to start in 2007. Chicago-based Jam Productions would run the facility, hoping to evoke memories of the shuttered Poplar Creek Music Theater that once stood near the Prairie Creek site.