The Chicago City Council ratcheted up the battle over the expansion of O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, passing measures that authorize acquisition of property for the $6.6 billion project.
Mayor Richard Daley, who choreographed the action, said the city will abide by a DuPage County circuit judge’s ruling that bars the purchase of homes and businesses in Elk Grove Village and Bensenville. But Daley said he wants to move quickly if a higher court throws out the ruling.
“If they accept our appeal, then we can move ahead,” Daley said. “You just can’t be delayed. . . . This is such a huge project, it takes years to build.”
The council’s action will permit City Hall to proceed with acquiring 125 acres in Des Plaines, Chicago and unincorporated Cook County that are not covered by Judge Hollis Webster’s preliminary injunction. The 125 acres represent one-third of the land sought by the city.
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“We want to start construction as early as mid- to late 2004,” said John Harris, the first deputy aviation commissioner. “We want to have completed the land acquisition process so we can begin construction immediately upon receipt of all the necessary approvals.”
More than 130 owners in the area not covered by Webster’s order “have indicated to us in writing that they are interested in discussing with us the sale of their property,” Harris said.
A growing number of owners in Elk Grove Village and Bensenville also want to sell their property to Chicago, Harris said.
“Frankly, who else are they going to sell to now?” Harris said “We have identified the parcels as those we are interested in. We are a viable buyer.”
When Webster issued the temporary injunction July 9, some believed it barred the City Council from taking any action on land acquisition. But city officials said Wednesday that when Webster put the order in writing, she made it clear she did not intend to tie the council’s hands.
“If the city wants to pass an ordinance like this without statutory or constitutional authority, that’s its prerogative,” said Joseph Karaganis, an attorney representing anti-expansion plaintiffs. “It is our position that the ordinance is void.”
Bensenville Village President John Geils said Bensenville is prepared to fight the city if it attempts to compromise Webster’s decision.
“We’re going to look to enforce the letter and the spirit of the law,” he said.
Last week, the Daley administration filed an emergency motion asking the Illinois Supreme Court to hear the city’s appeal in the case. The court has not ruled on the request.
Also Wednesday, Gov. George Ryan announced that the state is filing an application with the Federal Aviation Administration for $5.9 million in funding for the next phase of engineering on the proposed Peotone airport. The work would include preliminary engineering for construction of facilities that include runways and terminals.