No Development On LTHS Site For 9 Months

WILLOW SPRINGS, IL – Willow Springs has placed a moratorium on development for Lyons Township High School's wooded land until March.

Last week, the Village Board enacted an ordinance carrying out the moratorium.

This follows the high school's controversial effort earlier this year to sell the 71 acres to an industrial developer. Industrial uses are contrary to the village's zoning.

During the moratorium, Willow Springs will study the "highest and best use" for the site, similar to what the school did in 2005 and 2006, the village said.

If any changes are suggested to the existing planned development, the village said it would seek feedback from interested parties before making changes.

"The decision to adopt this ordinance was largely due to the lack of communication from LTHS during their recent attempt to sell the land with complete disregard for our zoning and community needs," Village Administrator Ryan Grace said in an email to Patch.

In March, the high school board abandoned the effort to sell the land. This was after objections from Willow Springs residents, the village and other local public bodies.

Grace said the village was told by the high school in March that it was not seeking developers or creating new terms for an updated bid request.

"Since LTHS had announced that they are no longer working to sell this land, the Village of Willow Springs has determined with the assistance of our special counsel attorney, Burt Odelson, that now is an appropriate time for us to complete this important study for our community," Grace said.

Last week, the high school board followed the attorney general's order to release closed-session recordings from January about the effort to sell the land. The attorney general found the board broke the law by discussing the issue behind closed doors.

In a closed session, board members agreed that industrial development would hurt neighbors of the school's property.

Relations between the village and the high school got so tense in February that Village President Melissa Neddermeyer publicly called for Superintendent Brian Waterman's ouster.