Taxing bodies near the Carol Stream Park District are questioning its plans to build a four-season outdoor recreation complex on a 117 acres being planned for research and development and single-family housing.
Park district officials announced last week that the site under consideration is at the southwest corner of Lies Road and Gary Avenue.
The park has entered into an agreement with the land`s owners to purchase the parcel for $5 million, if voters approve in a March 17 referendum initiative.
The complex would include a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, clubhouse and banquet facilities, cross-country sking, zero-depth outdoor ice skating, tennis courts and athletic fields.
Park district commissioners maintain that voting for the referendum would help preserve open space.
The total cost of land acquisition and construction is estimated at $11 million and would cost the owner of a $150,000 home an additional $45 a year in property taxes, according to park district officials.
But questions are being raised by other taxing bodies, which stand to lose because the land would never be on the tax rolls.
The site is nearly twice the size of the 63-acre industrial site in Carol Stream on which the United States Postal Service is preparing to open a regional sorting facility. When the Postal Service announced its plans for the site, every taxing body supported the village in its early attempts to block the use, primarily because of the tax-free status the land would acquire.
Some village officials are concerned now about the park district`s plans.
”I consider the golf course a frill,” said Village Trustee Donald Sutenbach.
”If people vote for this, then they should be willing to pay a property tax for basics. The village was considering levying a tax late last year to pay for mandated pension programs; we did what we could so we wouldn`t have to do so.”
Village Trustee Thomas Vinson said that if voters approve the purchase of the 117-acre site, the balance of the village`s land-use plan will be upset.
”First the post office takes 63 acres, then the county intermediate processing facility takes 10 acres,” said Vinson.
”You start taking pieces like this, and the village`s long-term plan for a balance among industrial, commercial and residential is upset.
”The second issue is water. We have a limited allocation of Lake Michigan water. Are they considering private wells?”
Vinson also said that although the village does not levy a property tax, someday one may be necessary.
”What`s going to be our saving grace are values over there,” he said.
Mark Bodane, chief of the Carol Stream Fire Protection District, said the fire district also is concerned.
”The loss of this potential revenue, along with the 5 percent tax cap, is of real concern to us,” he said.
”The park district also stands to lose tax revenue.”
But the two taxing bodies that stand to reap the greatest tax benefits are not taking a stand on the issue.
Susan Barr, president of Glenbard High School District 87, which also is putting a referendum initiative before voters on the March 17 ballot to build a fifth high school, said she did not know enough about the park district`s plans to make a comment.
And Supt. John DiBuono of Community Consolidated School District 93 said, ”Every taxing body has a responsibility to the population it serves. It is up to that taxing body to determine what is best. If increases in taxes are going to benefit the majority, then the taxing body needs to consider that.”
