Title
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT A CONSULTATIVE APPROACH TO LAND ACQUISITION WITHIN MUNICIPAL PLANNING AREAS
Body
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has the statutory authority to acquire, restore, protect, and preserve lands for the purpose of education, pleasure, and recreation of the public; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, with over 68,000 acres in land holdings, is the largest forest preserve district in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Orland Park is surrounded by over 5,000 acres of Forest Preserve District holdings; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Orland Park is a supporter of the vast existing holdings of the Forest Preserve District, and is furthermore a supporter of open lands, as evidenced by the Village’s own Open Lands Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Orland Park is the corporate authority for the nearly 60,000 residents living in Orland Park and charged with paying taxes to the various taxing bodies serving Village residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Village is charged with purposeful, responsible development that expands the tax base within Village corporate boundaries, and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District recently published its 2012 Land Acquisition Plan that calls for additional acquisitions throughout Cook County, including “focus areas” within Orland Park; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District recently acquired “Grasslands South” without any consultation with the affected taxing jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, said acquisition will cost the affected taxing jurisdictions over $60 million in present value tax revenues that could help expand the jurisdictions’ tax bases; and
WHEREAS, additional land purchases outlined in the Land Acquisition Plan could have a devastating impact on taxing jurisdictions throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the level of Forest Preserve holdings in Cook County are reaching a sa...
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