No 'Industrial Wasteland': Willow Springs Tells Lyons Township High

LA GRANGE, IL – Willow Springs officials don't want Lyons Township High School to repeat the experience of three years ago.

That's when the school board secretly tried to lure industrial developers to buy the school's 74 acres in Willow Springs. The land is next to houses and an elementary school.

Industrial uses are banned under local zoning. Only after a storm of opposition did the school back off in 2023.

Earlier this month, the school revealed the marketing plan for the property, which includes industrial as an option.

After two weeks of inquiries to school officials, the board's president, Tim Albores, responded Thursday.

He said the board is relying on the knowledge of MoHall Commercial and Urban Development, which is the school's broker.

Albores, who opposed industrial development on the land in his 2023 campaign, said the school has not discussed specific buyers or preferred types of development. Such conversations would be premature, he said.

"Rather, the Board relies on MoHall's professional expertise, while using relevant market conditions, to assess the full universe of potential purchasers who may have an interest in purchasing the property," Albores said in an email.

He said proposals for the land would be carefully reviewed through a public bid process under state law.

In his statement, Albores did not specifically address questions about whether industrial development is a possibility.

Such silence is prompting questions in Willow Springs.

Three years ago, the high school's then-lawyer told board members behind closed doors that they could go to court and overrule the village's zoning.

The attorney general later found such closed sessions violated the state's open meetings law. After that, the school changed law firms.

In response to a Patch inquiry this week, Willow Springs Administrator Ryan Grace said he has not had direct contact with the school about the land since last fall.

"It is unsettling that they are continuing to show that an industrial application is still a viable use for their property after clearly knowing the village board's position as well as the overwhelming voice of the community," Grace said in an email. "The Willow Springs Mayor and board of trustees remain firm in their position that our residential neighborhood will not turn into an industrial wasteland."

The village's attorney, Burt Odelson, pointed to a consultant's study that showed that the land's highest and best use was residential.

"I've talked to the village about it again because of what LT put out," Odelson said in an interview. "I thought LT would work with the village. At least that's what they said. We're willing to work with them, but not for industrial."

He added, "We're going to protect the residents and comply with the law. The village has had this zoned for a long time."

Arlene Cabana, an attorney and a former candidate for the Lyons Township High School board, told Patch that she would offer her legal services for free to residents near the land if the school pursues industrial development.

Cabana, who works for Odelson's law firm, said she would provide the services in her individual capacity.

Cabana was president of the Pleasantdale School District 107 board when the district was fighting the high school's effort for industrial uses.

Pleasantdale school officials said they were concerned about the effect of industrial development on the next-door Pleasantdale Elementary.