You've done so much for us already, and we need just a little more help to protect our community from a dangerous industrial development! Illinois Senate Bill 990 will aid in the fight against industrial developers in our residential neighborhood! If you live anywhere in Illinois, fill out a proponent witness slip in support today. It takes 2 minutes and can make all the difference!
WHAT IS SB 990?
Illinois lawmakers have proposed an amendment to the existing school code that would protect nearby residents from schools from trying to sell land they own outside of existing zoning. It would require schools to get three property appraisals at current zoning from licensed appraisers before placing a property for sale, and also give municipalities and other entities such as parks or the Cook County Forest Preserve a first right of refusal to purchase the property.
It was just announced the bill will have a committee hearing on April 26, so we need as many witness slips in support of the legislation as possible before then. All you have to do is click the link, fill in the identifying fields, check the "Proponent" box under Position and click "Record of Appearance Only" for Testimony. It's that easy. Please ask every member of your household over age 18 to fill one out, as well as any friends and neighbors. Anyone in Illinois can submit a slip, so encourage everyone you know statewide to support this legislation.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The Lyons Township High School District 204 temporarily paused the sale of its 70-acre wooded parcel of land in Willow Springs, IL, after enormous public backlash. The Board priced and marketed the property, which directly borders an elementary school, park and residential neighborhoods, only to industrial builders in defiance of long-held zoning that prohibits industrial and heavy commercial uses on the land. They kept the sale going for weeks after residents and multiple governing bodies asked them to reconsider. They eventually relented, but this is only a temporary pause. The Board promises it will put the parcel back up for sale in the near future and has not ruled out selling it to an industrial builder.
Just to catch you up: In the process of selling this land, the board has admitted to violations of the Illinois Open Meetings Act due to closed door discussions of this sale, held secret meetings with a preferred industrial developer BEFORE publicly announcing it was exploring a sale, and even re-solicited bids from industrial developers AFTER the community and Village of Willow Springs spoke out against such a development on that land.
Passing SB 990 is an important first step in protecting communities from unwanted developments that would put the health of residents and children at risk, destroy green space filled with natural wildlife, and decimate nearby home values.
PLEASE HELP OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING SB 990 WITH A PROPONENT WITNESS SLIP TODAY!
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THANK YOU!