It took additional debate, but Palos Heights City Council members on Tuesday night approved an ordinance annexing the 191-acre Westgate Valley Country Club for a planned upscale residential and commercial development.
The Palos Heights City Council approved amendments to an annexation agreement that had been worked out in a yearlong battle among council members, developer Don Jeanes, city residents and School District 128.
Jeanes has agreed to increase the impact fees for District 128 to $2,000 per unit from $1,800 per unit. Jeanes had proposed that any housing unit for a person 55 or older not be required to pay an impact fee, but council members voted against the plan.
Mayor Dean Koldenhoven said he was relieved the annexation was approved, adding, “It’s democracy in action. The way the council does things, we live with it.
“I wanted the city to have control over the development, rather than give control to the county.”
Opposition to the development initially centered on District 128’s insistence that funds would be needed to support the expected influx of 300 new students to the area over the next 10 years. The City Council had negotiated a school district impact fee of $1,800, which was three times the amount Jeanes first offered, as well as $327,180 from tap-in fees that were originally destined for the water and sewer fund.
But residents from adjoining District 118 questioned why their schools could not also receive improvement funds.
The Park Board and Library Board will receive $869,000 in tap-in and impact fees from the developer. The school district will receive $1.25 million per year in property taxes, in addition to the impact fees.
The city would have received about $2 million from the water and sewer tap-in fees, had the money not been earmarked for the school, park and library. Jeanes has agreed to pay $1.4 million upfront for water and sewer renovations needed in the new development. He would have received that money from the tap-in fees charged to his buyers but agreed to receive about $150,000 less.
The 861-unit development would consist of 160 single-family residences, which are expected to sell for $400,000 to $500,000. The land also would have about 700 townhouses and condominiums costing $150,000 to $350,000. Construction is expected to begin in June.
The golf course was built in 1929 by the late Tom Walsh, a former president of the Professional Golfers Association. The land lies in unincorporated Cook County at 131st Street and Ridgeland Avenue.
According to Ald. Jim Murphy, the city will receive about $555,000 a year in increased property taxes from the development.
Jeanes said the development would benefit the entire community by bringing in revenue that could help refurbish older parts of the city, as well.
“This subdivision would have been developed as part of the county (if the ordinance had not been approved),” Jeanes said this week. “Since people have to live next door to it, they might as well get the benefit of it.”
