Barrington Hills denounces Longmeadow Parkway project
The Barrington Hills village board denounced the Longmeadow Parkway project at its meeting Monday night, saying the proposed four-lane tollway would harm residents and burden taxpayers during difficult financial times.
Trustee Brian Croll acknowledged that the board's opposition to Kane County's plan, which has been discussed since the 1990s, may be too late. But Croll said he felt it was important to raise concerns that he heard from Barrington Hills residents.
Croll said Barrington Hills resident Ed Fagan, who is part of an informal opposition group called Taxpayers Against Longmeadow Parkway, was among the first speak to him about the project this spring.
Fagan, who lives on Algonquin Road, said his property won't be directly affected by the work, but his neighbors' will.
“My objection is not that it is going to have an impact on my property; my objection is that as a taxpayer this is a project that is going to cost many tax dollars and I see little benefit to it,” Fagan said.
The Longmeadow Parkway project would create a 5.6-mile road between Huntley Road in Dundee Township in the west and Algonquin Road in Barrington Hills in the east. It would include a toll bridge over the Fox River.
So far the project, which will cost around $135 million, has received around $60 million in federal and state funding. Croll said he hopes Illinois' current financial state leads to some of that money being cut.
“We're hoping that because the state of Illinois is in such dire financial straits that perhaps Gov. Rauner, who is looking for places to cut the budget, might take a second look at his support for this project,” Croll said.
Until Monday, Barrington Hills had been considered one of the 10 communities that pledged support for the project. Trustee Colleen Konicek Hannigan said the board expressed that support back in 2006 and since that time all but one member — Trustee Fritz Gohl — is new.
Village Administrator Bob Kosin said that while Barrington Hills land has been purchased over the years for the project, no Barrington Hills residents have had their property purchased during phase 2 of the construction yet.
Village President Martin McLaughlin said even though it appears Kane County is likely going forward with the project, it is worth lodging opposition.
“(The Longmeadow Parkway) is certainly a recipe for a lot of misery for people in this community,” McLaughlin said.
The board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to oppose the plan.
The Carpentersville village board will vote on a similar resolution opposing the Longmeadow Parkway in the coming weeks.
Parkway: Barrington Hills initially supported Longmeadow project