Politics & Government

More Than 300 Residents Expected at Tonight's Village Board Meeting

Members of the 'Keep the Village Green' committee say they are concerned about proposed redevelopment plans of the Village Greens Golf Course.

More than 300 residents are expected to attend tonight's Woodridge Village Board meeting. Members of the the "Keep the Village Green" committee say they are concerned about proposed redevelopment plans of the Golf Course.

Last month, the village announced plans to take a look at potential financial investment and land use options for the Village Greens, before including golf course improvements in the five-year capital financial plan that is part of the village's budget. The golf course is in need of several improvements, including a new irrigation system and maintenance facility, which could cost several million dollars, according to an Aug. 23 media announcement from the village.

“The staff is recommending this step as a means to be prudent,” said Village Administrator Kathleen Rush when the village announced plans to conduct a study of the golf course. “We want to ensure that, prior to making a significant investment in the golf course, the Village Board has sufficient data and an opportunity to weigh options and input received from the community.”

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Village staff recommended the hiring of a consultant this fall to look at future golf industry trends, golf course capital needs, financing alternatives and potential design reconfigurations, including a possible smaller nine-hole course tied to potential redevelopment.

The day the announcement was made, several residents attended that night's village board meeting to voice their concerns, according to the minutes from the village's Aug. 23 meeting.

Find out what's happening in Woodridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Resident Rob Wiess said Woodridge residents voted in 1973 to keep Village Greens as open space and a golf course. He told the board he's been a supporter of the golf course and has been for a long time.

Resident William Dooley said a Village Greens Master Improvement List was created in 2000 and approved by the and the Village of Woodridge.

Resident Jim Day said that he voted 40 years ago to keep the golf course open and asked that the village speak with residents prior to working with a consultant.

Mayor William Murphy said an outside perspective is needed to determine what would be needed to make Village Greens a competitive 18-hole golf course or to determine what other options may exist such as a 9 hole golf course, according to the minutes from the village's Aug. 23 meeting.

The mayor said the village board is seeking information from the consultant to determine the best way to proceed. The study will be provided to the public and there will be an opportunity for the public to provide feedback, he said.

Rush said the study would be completed sometime after the holidays, according to her recollection. The RFP for consultant services has not been issued yet, and review of the submissions would likely occur in September with a consultant selected in October. Rush estimated that results could be expected sometime in January or February.


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