Annexation agreements that would allow the Romeo Shores property to be brought within Romeoville’s boundaries and developed as a golf course are just about ready to be finalized, according to the village attorney.
Two tracts, one owned by an engineers union and another by the Hartong family, must be annexed to make the Romeo Shores property contiguous and eligible for annexation, Village Atty. Ray Meader said during a recent work session.
The Romeo Shores property, a financial albatross since it was purchased at an inflated price in 1991, was sold to developer Brett Baarstad in March.
The 207-acre parcel, bought for $2.7 million, was appraised at $740,000 a year later and remained a drain on village finances until it was sold to the developer for slightly more than $1 million.
The sale eases some of the town’s financial burden by allowing some early payoff of some of the debt for the original purchase.
Baarstad’s plan to develop the 18-hole Mistwood Golf Course has been approved by the Village Board.
The land, owned by Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union, is slated to be used as a training facility, a use approved by the board.
The Hartong land, for which the family is seeking residential zoning for a planned unit development, concerns some village officials, who want to be sure they can exert some control over the development.
“I don’t want to lock myself into something I can’t get out of,” Mayor Fred Dewald said.
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Community Director Greg Anderson said the requested zoning is beneficial.
“The village benefits totally (with a planned unit development classification) because we have ultimate control over development,” Anderson said.