South Barrington Park District again gets voter permission to sell land
South Barrington Park District residents on Tuesday again approved selling 34 acres of undeveloped land near Bartlett Road and Route 59.
Voters approved the measure 411-290, unofficial results showed.
It was the fourth time the district brought such a proposal to voters. It was rejected in 2018 and 2019, and then approved in 2020 - but officials couldn't finalize a deal before a one-year window expired.
The district now will hold an auction to sell the property, which once was home to a tree nursery and sometimes is called "Area N."
The park district bought the land about 20 years ago as part of a lawsuit settlement. But because of its topography and other factors, officials determined the land isn't ideal for recreational activities and would be too costly to develop.
After voters approved selling the land in 2020, the district tentatively struck a deal with Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development in 2021 for more than $1.6 million, But the company's plan to build 50 houses there got a cool reception from the village board and the agreement fell through.
Trustees at the time questioned the proposed density of the housing development.
Other companies since have inquired about the land, park district Executive Director Jay Morgan has said. He anticipates a sale price of about $2 million.
The money would be used to renovate other district properties, including 5-acre Dunteman Park, the district's oldest park, Morgan said.