DuPage Forest Preserve District commissioners, in their aggressive bid to preserve valuable open space, have approved taking the first steps toward condemnation of several parcels whose owners have been unwilling to sell.
Commissioners approved targeting two parcels comprising 55 acres within the Oldfield Triangle in Darien. The district’s interest in the land has forced city officials to abandon plans for luring a hotel there.
In a divided vote, commissioners also approved condemnation of 204 acres in Wayne that had been earmarked for a housing development. And after heated debate, the commissioners delayed until Oct. 6 a decision on 35 acres between the Morton Arboretum and Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
“The power of condemnation–I don’t even have to tell you how great a power this is and how careful we should be in using it,” said Commissioner Robert Heap (R-Naperville), who questioned the value of the Wayne land, which is partly farmed, and the move toward taking the Wheaton property.
In other action, commissioners finalized the $500,000 purchase of 10 acres at the southeast corner of Lemont Road and 87th Street within the Oldfield Triangle. They also approved spending $1,570 on nearly two acres of flood way at Greenbrook Boulevard and Arlington Drive near the DuPage River’s West Branch.
The moves toward condemnation, though, generated the most debate.
The district may not follow through with its authorization to condemn the properties but could use the threat as a bargaining chip, said Commissioner William Maio (R-Itasca), who heads the commissioners’ Finance and Land Acquisition Committee.
“There are accommodations that can be made to further negotiating,” Maio said, referring to the Wheaton property. “You are not going to get anyplace on this property without condemnation authorized by this district.”
The land is owned by Helen and Vincent Bolger, who have vigorously opposed the district’s offers to buy their property since it was placed on an acquisition list 10 years ago. The couple live in a house on the grounds and own a popular horse stable there.
Helen Bolger has said that the couple’s only intention is to maintain the stable and keep the property within the family. But Forest Preserve District officials dispute that, saying the Bolgers have approached the district and Wheaton regarding development of town homes.
Maio said he believes some commissioners are intimidated by the Bolgers because of their influence within the community.
The Bolgers could not be reached for comment. Their attorney, Henry Stillwell, said he believes the dispute is based on a misunderstanding.
“They’ve had the capabilities (to develop the land) and they’ve never pursued it,” Stillwell said. “I think that speaks for itself.”
The owner of the Wayne property, Camille Hoffmann, has said that her land is not for sale.
After learning about the commissioners’ move, she said she hasn’t changed her stance.
“I’m flabbergasted that this even went this far,” Hoffmann said. “There’s going to be lots of problems, and, yes, lots of litigation.”
She had planned to develop 390 homes on 400 acres south of Army Trail Road. The district has offered to buy the northern half of the property so that Hoffmann could proceed with building homes on the remaining 196 acres to the south.
Wayne officials and residents for years have resisted Hoffmann’s plans to develop the land. Commissioners say the residents asked the district to buy and preserve the land, which did not receive a high rating for its current environmental state. The property, however, is valuable because of its size and possible restoration as prairie land, district officials said.
Also controversial were votes authorizing condemnation of two Oldfield Triangle properties, located east of Lemont Road, north of the Stevenson Expressway and west of Oldfield Road.
James McWethy, owner of 48 acres of the land, has reached an agreement with the district in which he was assured that the land would remain wooded and used for passive recreational use only.
Still, commissioners authorized condemnation of the land, if needed, because “they want to put pressure on people,” said Commissioner Wallace Brown (R-Downers Grove), who said he didn’t think the tactic was necessary when dealing with all property owners.
Brown voted for action regarding McWethy’s land, saying he felt certain the district would not need to pursue condemnation. But he opposed another move toward condemning a separate seven-acre parcel within the Oldfield Triangle that is owned by another man.
“I don’t feel we gave him enough time,” Brown said.
“He’s out of town. He went on vacation, so he didn’t answer our latest letter. They think a week is a lot of time. Well, he grew up there. They’re all in a big hurry to move this along.”
