Title
Approval of an Ordinance for the Property Conveyance and Donation Agreement of Real Property Located at 13901 LaGrange Road
History
The Orland Park Open Lands Commission along with the Open Lands Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created with the goal of increasing the total amount of open space that is set aside to be permanently protected and preserved in the Village. To date, nearly 300 acres of open space throughout the Village have been permanently preserved. In 2012, the Orland Park Open Lands Commission purchased a 3.3-acre property located at 13951-13961 LaGrange Road (formerly Pebble Creek Landscape Nursery), bounded by Southwest Highway to the east and is directly across from FPDCC McGinnis Slough Preserve. The vision for the site is to restore and preserve the land for a Nature Center and eventually utilize the existing building on site. Additional public use features include trails, bird observation decks, and related amenities.
At the time of acquisition, the Pebble Creek Nursery site (Nature Center site) was in poor condition. In addition to construction debris, the site was largely vegetated by non-native invasive species, suffered from drainage issues, deteriorating retaining walls, and damaged curbs. In 2013, the Village received a $10,000 ComEd Region Grant to remove trash, debris, and dead plants left behind by the former user. In the interim, the Village cleaned out and replaced existing drains and stabilized a portion of the soil by adding an erosion control system and seeding the site with a prairie mix.
In March 2015, the Village Board of Trustees approved a conceptual master plan to guide the development of the Nature Center. The master plan was completed with input from the public, Village staff, a professional consultant (Planning Resources, Inc.), Orland Park Open Lands Commissioners, and elected officials. In early 2016, Upland Designs was hired in collaboration with Engineering Resources Associates to complete construction plans based on the approved concept plan. Construction bids have been let and contracts are under draft review. Construction will commence in the Spring of 2018.
Donation of 13901 LaGrange Road
The Village has been working with the Gianakas family on an agreement that would result in the donation of approximately 24 acres of land located immediately to the North of the proposed Village owned Nature Center. The majority of the property consists of high quality jurisdictional wetlands. The acceptance of this donation will allow use of the entire wetland area for hiking, biking and educational purposes. In exchange for this donation, the Village agrees to provide certain pre-development rights to another property located at 15460-15670 LaGrange Road (immediately South of Darvin Furniture and North of 156th Street.) These pre-development rights includes the following:
-- Waiver of tree mitigation fines in the amount of $135,200;
-- Use of Village owned regional detention pond, provided capacity exists;
-- Transfer of small parcel of unopened and unnecessary Village owned ROW, that is adjacent to this property;
-- Allow the farming of the vacant land, provided all codes are met, until such time the property redevelops; and
-- Public naming of the donated parcel the “George Gianakas Nature Preserves”; along with a public announcement and installation of a plaque or monument in his honor.
A deed restriction will also be placed requiring the perpetual use of the donated property for public open lands, preservation and learning. The property cannot be transferred or used for private or commercial uses in the future. Lastly, they will also receive a donation letter from the Village, for their tax purposes.
Financial Impact
The Village will receive a donation of 24 acres, which the family, through an appraisal, has valued at $6.7 million. In exchange for this donation, the Village is forgoing $135,200 in fines for unauthorized tree removal at the property located at 15460-15670 LaGrange Road.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to pass Ordinance Number 5248, entitled: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN ACQUISITION/EXCHANGE OF REAL ESTATE AND APPROVING A PROPERTY CONVEYANCE AND DONATION AGREEMENT FOR THE DONATION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 13901 LAGRANGE ROAD (GIANAKAS).
And
I move to authorize the Village Manager to approve and execute any necessary documents pertaining to this agreement and conveyance.