'No Strings Attached': Burr Ridge May Annex Country Club

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge is poised to annex the 170-acre Edgewood Valley Country Club, which an official said would mean more tax income for the village.

On Feb. 28, the Village Board is set to take up the issue. In November, the club's members voted to approve the move 119-3.

At Monday's board meeting, Trustee Guy Franzese read a statement criticizing a local Facebook page that he said mischaracterized the proposal by saying it was rezoning for single-family homes.

The page, he said, is run by a "persona non grata" Burr Ridge resident, whom he did not identify. He appeared to be referring to "The REAL Burr Ridge" page, which is run anonymously.

Franzese said the club had no plans to build single-family houses. But he said it would be annexed under the "R-1 Residential" zoning designation, which is for single-family, detached houses.

Under state law, Franzese said, annexed areas are automatically zoned to the most restrictive, least dense use. In Burr Ridge, such a use is single-family houses on 5-acre lots. The club has turned in no rezoning petition, he said.

"The zoning to residential is purely a matter of function of law, not an intent to develop the property to a residential use," Franzese said.

The country club, Franzese said, is planning phased renovations of its buildings and grounds over the next decade. It wanted to perform the work with a local government that is responsive to its needs, instead of Cook County, he said.

The group also reached out to Indian Head Park and Hodgkins. But it settled on Burr Ridge, where about 80 percent of its members live, Franzese said.

The annexation would have little impact to Burr Ridge, other than an increase in sales tax money from the club's restaurant, banquet facility and pro shop, Franzese said.

The village of La Grange provides the club its utilities, while Cook County would continue to maintain Willow Springs Road, he said.

The village's governance responsibilities for the county club would involve building permitting and liquor licensing, Franzese said.

"The petition for annexation is purely voluntary on the part of EVCC and comes with no strings attached for either party," he said.

The country club is to the east of Walker Park, which is part of the Pleasant Dale Park District. The club has been at its current site since 1926.