Concerns over site visitors, noise, property taxes, the impression on colleges and the village’s thriving downtown, topped the record of issues expressed by a half dozen Arlington Heights residents Monday night time a couple of proposed Chicago Bears stadium and neighborhood improvement on the Arlington Park Racecourse property.
In a particular assembly of the Arlington Heights Village Board, assembly as a Committee-of-the-Whole Monday night time within the theater at Forest View Educational Center, village workers introduced an summary of the village’s discussions with the Chicago Bears group officers concerning the group’s plans for Arlington Park. Staff additionally outlined subsequent steps within the course of.
“We’re off to a great start with the redevelopment of Arlington Park,” stated Mayor Tom Hayes, “but there is a long way to go in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redevelop 326 acres of prime real estate within the village of Arlington Heights. From Day 1, the village board’s goal with the redevelopment of the property is to ensure it is put to its highest and best use and befitting of the legacy of Arlington Park.”
The group’s plans name for “a multi-purpose entertainment, commercial/retail, and housing district that will provide considerable economic benefits to Cook County, the surrounding region and State of Illinois,” in line with a public assertion from group officers.
All village trustees have been in attendance on the COTW assembly Monday night time however didn’t take any motion on what workers introduced. Chicago Bears representatives weren’t current. Anticipating a big crowd, the village modified the assembly venue from the same old Village Hall to training middle, however solely about 30 folks attended – in comparison with the greater than 700 on the Sept. 8 assembly hosted by the Chicago Bears at Hersey High School.
Hayes assured neighborhood residents and stakeholders they are going to have alternatives all through the method to supply enter on the venture — which may take as much as 10 years to completely develop.
Last September, the Chicago Bears signed a $197.2 million buy settlement to purchase the previous racetrack. Then final Thursday, group executives introduced a conceptual plan for the redevelopment, illustrating a big stadium situated within the northwest nook of the property closest to Route 53. The plan doesn’t provide element on the quantity of housing or site visitors patterns.
“Despite these significant steps, the Bears have not closed on the property just yet,” Village Manager Randy Recklaus stated, stating {that a} potential settlement might be finalized in late 2022 or early 2023. He stated the village doesn’t but have a proper proposal from the group and the Bears can’t develop the property with out village approval.
“Tonight is a very early step in likely a very long journey,” the village supervisor stated.
That journey begins this fall with the primary two initiatives deliberate by the village: approval of a street map outlining all of the zoning, planning and design steps of the venture, together with an modification to the brand new zoning overlay district to permit particular use for a sportsbook waging facility requested by the Bears, officers defined.
At its common assembly Sept. 6, the Village Board accepted hiring two consultants to help with the venture. Hunden Strategic Partners will conduct a monetary financial market evaluation, and Sam Schwartz Engineering will do a site visitors and parking evaluation across the venture.
Meanwhile, Recklaus stated, village leaders have related with leaders in Inglewood, California, and Las Vegas, each of which have launched NFL franchises into their communities, to discover the constructive and unfavourable impacts of these strikes.
“We haven’t heard about the negative impact, traffic, noise, specifically for people bordering the property,” stated resident Tom Loch, who stated he’s in favor of the Chicago Bears transfer from Soldier Field to Arlington Park. “They’re talking about residential development, what will the impact be on the schools?”
He stated he was involved in regards to the high quality of life for residents and the colleges.
Village leaders stated these have been of main significance for them, as effectively, however now could be too quickly to find out that impression. Arlington Heights has greater than 77,600 residents, in line with U.S. Census knowledge. Township High School District 214, primarily based within the village, has practically 12,000 college students enrolled throughout six colleges. And the elementary college district, Arlington Heights School District 25, contains 9 colleges and has some 5,200 college students enrolled.
“Quality of life is my No. 1 priority,” the mayor stated. “We’re still in the preliminary stages. We don’t know how many residents will be in this development and we don’t know how many schools will go into the district. We have an open dialogue with all of these stakeholders.”
Resident Brenda Popovic, a Rolling Meadows High School instructor – which is a part of SD214 – stated she was joyful to be taught in regards to the village’s preliminary steps.
“You’re talking to counterparts in other places and taking all of these steps, [that] makes me feel a lot better,” Popovic stated. “My concern is property taxes and how that will impact people in our community. We already struggle with affordable housing … I would be concerned about losing members of our community.”
Recklaus acknowledged that paying for the Bears’ proposed venture is a high concern for residents.
“The Bears stated publicly they are not planning on requesting any village funds to pay for a stadium,” Recklaus stated. “We understand they may ask the village for assistance, contributions for public improvements, roads, water mains, other pieces of infrastructure. The Bears have not asked the village to pay … and the village has not agreed to pay for anything at this time.”
Theresa Jordan, a member of the village’s Environmental Commission, stated she hopes the venture will incorporate sustainability, citing different stadiums which make the most of photo voltaic panels for electrical energy technology.
Hayes stated the conceptual plan highlights inexperienced area, parks and water options.
Trustee Robin LaBedz shared her issues about sustaining the viability of the village’s vibrant downtown space and the Arlington Alfresco out of doors eating area born out of the pandemic that’s now a village mainstay..
“We want to preserve the specialness of downtown,” LaBedz stated. “It is a jewel. We have an award-winning downtown, it is a reason people move here.”
Some residents additionally raised that concern and Hayes stated the “Bears are fully committed to making sure whatever they do complements our downtown and existing businesses. They don’t want to do anything to harm our businesses.”
Trustees agreed this can be a venture that should make sense for your entire neighborhood.
“This should not increase our property taxes because they come to town,” Trustee John Scaletta stated.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com