BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge calls itself "a very special place."
It's a place with large lots, mansions and a median home value of $700,000.
On Monday, Burr Ridge joined many other towns in opposing a state bill, known as the BUILD Act, that aims to make housing more affordable.
A key part of the legislation would allow condo or apartment complexes of up to eight units on any residential site more than 2,500 square feet.
As a practical matter, the measure would threaten every single-family house in Burr Ridge, where the smallest lots are 9,000 square feet, Village Administrator Evan Walter told the Village Board.
He said imposition of multifamily housing would remove the village's powers over stormwater, infrastructure, off-street parking and wastewater.
"Being that we are a very residential community, this would change, if approved, quite a bit what we do here in the village," he said.
Mayor Gary Grasso, a lawyer, said the legislation may be unconstitutional.
"It takes away your right to petition the government," he said. "Zoning is one of the key things that happens in a community like ours."
Trustee Guy Franzese, who served on the village's zoning panel for years before being elected to the Village Board, said the town's zoning laws help make the village special.
And he contended that a state such as Illinois, which is drowning in pension debt, is in no position to manage local zoning.
In Illinois and across the country, homeowners have enjoyed a surge in their home values in recent years. But the rising values often price out young families and older residents, particularly in wealthy towns such as Burr Ridge.
Nationwide, the median age of first-time home buyers has hit 40.
At Monday's meeting, some officials noted the lack of affordable housing in Illinois. Only one, Trustee Anita Mital, offered a possible solution to the problem.
"If Springfield wants to do this, they need to let the municipalities know that we would like to add this many units to your village. Please figure out where you can add them," Mital said. "That would be the proper way of doing it."
The Village Board voted unanimously for a resolution opposing the state bill.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Burr Ridge, IL Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.