After two previous failed attempts, unofficial election results from Tuesday appear to indicate the South Barrington Park District referendum asking to sell property has passed.
The Park District was seeking permission through the referendum to sell a 34-acre piece of property, known as “Area N,” on the southeast corner of Bartlett Road and Route 59.
“It only took three times, but we did it,” said Jay Morgan, executive director of the Park District. “We’re feeling great about it.”
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The referendum is not expected to impact taxes, but park districts are required to ask taxpayers through a referendum about selling property, according to Morgan.
Voters were asked, “Shall the South Barrington Park District, Cook County, Illinois, sell the following described real estate: that approximately 34-acre parcel of real property consisting of all of the land, commonly known as “Area N,” located at the southeast corner of Bartlett Road and Route 59 in South Barrington, Illinois?”
According to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office, 56% responded ‘yes.’
The Park District previously attempted to get this permission by referendum in the November 2018 and April 2019 elections. Morgan attributes those failed referendums to voters not understanding the question or the Park District’s intentions.
“I think finally we were able to get the word out to enough people to be successful,” he said.
Morgan said the currently vacant land, which the Park District has owned for about 10 years, has some wetlands areas. He said the district wants to sell it because it’s not ideal as a Park District facility, though it may work as a different development.
He said the Park District plans to put the proceeds from the sale toward decreasing its outstanding debt on the land and work on projects to enhance its other parks.
Now that the referendum appears to have passed, the South Barrington Park District plans to move forward with an appraisal of the land and auction of the property. If a potential buyer places an offer, they would most likely have to get village approval to rezone the property for use, Morgan said.
Several interested developers sparked the initial referendum question in 2018, but Morgan said the Park District doesn’t currently have a buyer in mind .
Because of the new coronavirus pandemic, Morgan said the property sale will “sit on the back burner for a little while.”
He said he’s grateful, though, that the funds from the eventual sale might be able to help the Park District offset some of the reduced revenue issues it’s facing as a result of closing its facilities amid the pandemic.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time for us, given the climate of what’s going on today,” he said.
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist