The developers of a 19-acre parcel of land in unincorporated Du Page County who flirted with the idea of annexing into Wood Dale have apparently decided that Addison`s charms are more appealing.
After withdrawing their petition to annex into Wood Dale last week, M & M Land Co. representatives presented a rough draft of a pre-annexation agreement to a Village Board committee this week.
The plan, although vague, allows for the renovation of the old Moose Lodge at Illinois Highway 83 and 3rd Avenue.
As the agreement currently stands, the lodge could be converted to such uses as a banquet hall, restaurant, cocktail lounge, indoor theater, athletic facility and meeting rooms.
The adjacent land could be used for a business park containing three buildings. And construction of townhouses or condominiums on all or part of the land would also be allowed.
Richard P. Brandstatter, controller for the Westmont-based developer, said: ”This is a general conceptual presentation. We will commission studies or have staff members look into the best use of the property.”
Trustee Don LaPato asked that a time frame for development of the property be incorporated into any annexation agreement that is reached.
”I wouldn`t want to see the property sit there for umpteen years and not be developed,” LaPato said.
About 50 residents of Wood Crest, a 200-house subdivision west of the lodge, who received a letter from Addison officials last week asking if they wish to be annexed into the village, said they were wary of the offer.
”We don`t want to be annexed. We like it out there the way it is. It`s peaceful and quiet,” said Mary Barth, a subdivision resident. Residents cited such fears as increased taxes, crime, traffic and the fees for being annexed. Brandstatter said economic reasons such as the cost of laying water and sewer lines caused the company to withdraw its petition to annex into Wood Dale and apply to Addison.
In Wood Dale, the developer would pay about $325,000 in water impact fees. Addison has no water impact fees.
Wood Dale and Addison officials have been disputing which community has the right to annex the property. At issue is a 1973 agreement between the two towns that sets their boundary line at 3rd Avenue. Any land north of there, if eventually annexed, would go to Wood Dale; land to the south would go to Addison.
But a 1987 court ruling threw out that boundary line, and state statutes now section off annexed properties at the halfway point of the site, according to Wood Dale officials.
