Paid Advenement AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SOUTH BARRINGTON COMMUNITY AREA N DEVELOPMENT LLC Why We Have to Leave South Barrington This week we filed a legal petition to remove our 32 acre property from the jurisdiction of South Barrington This is an extraordinary step, but we have no choice. Even though the property's zoning allows for a church and a school, we have found ourselves stuck in the morass of South Barrington Village politics. We're following the path blazed by Allstate, one of Chicagoland's most prominent hometown companies. Facing the same barriers and frustration with the Village bureaucracy that we've encountered, Allstate recently removed its 65 acre property from South Barrington jurisdiction through de annexation. Allstate's petition to de-annex, which the Village opposed, was recently granted by court order. Now, Allstate is seeking substantial monetary penalties in its suit against the Village for "demonstrably false" assertions made to the court. As Allstate's attorney testified at a recent Village meeting: "Delay, followed delay, followed delay. It did not appear to us at any time that the Village was acting in good faith." This is almost exactly what we are facing. It has not always been like this. When we started dealing with Village officials two years ago, we were initially met with enthusiasm and a collaborative spirit. We enjoyed a good working relationship with everyone from the mayor to the plan commission We accommodated both neighborhood desires and Village requirements around building and landscape aesthetics, traffic management, wetland management, and emergency access. We took steps to ensure almost 75% of the property would remain green space. All along this path we were led to believe by Village officials our project was moving steadily toward approval. Over the last six months, everything changed. First came a baseless lawsuit against the Parks District about their management of the auction. That litigation became an excuse for the Village to delay progress on our approvals. Those delays that started as weeks then turned into months and now look like years. Hearings and filings were postponed, sometimes at the last minute without a legitimate explanation. Requests were made for information already provided or changes already addressed. New issues were invented to require more documents to be filed. Given Allstate's experience, we believe our only option is to pursuede-annexation from the Village and seek approvals for our development through Cook County. We remain committed to build a beautiful development where our fellow members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church can worship and our children can learn in a comfortable and modern environment that is designed for all our members, including those with special needs. Our design plan will integrate perfectly with the neighborhood and drastically improve a blighted property. We will be a good neighbor to the citizens of South Barrington. We just won't be part of the Village. For more information on our plans visit www.futureofarean.com Paid Advenement AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SOUTH BARRINGTON COMMUNITY AREA N DEVELOPMENT LLC Why We Have to Leave South Barrington This week we filed a legal petition to remove our 32 acre property from the jurisdiction of South Barrington This is an extraordinary step , but we have no choice . Even though the property's zoning allows for a church and a school , we have found ourselves stuck in the morass of South Barrington Village politics . We're following the path blazed by Allstate , one of Chicagoland's most prominent hometown companies . Facing the same barriers and frustration with the Village bureaucracy that we've encountered , Allstate recently removed its 65 acre property from South Barrington jurisdiction through de annexation . Allstate's petition to de - annex , which the Village opposed , was recently granted by court order . Now , Allstate is seeking substantial monetary penalties in its suit against the Village for " demonstrably false " assertions made to the court . As Allstate's attorney testified at a recent Village meeting : " Delay , followed delay , followed delay . It did not appear to us at any time that the Village was acting in good faith . " This is almost exactly what we are facing . It has not always been like this . When we started dealing with Village officials two years ago , we were initially met with enthusiasm and a collaborative spirit . We enjoyed a good working relationship with everyone from the mayor to the plan commission We accommodated both neighborhood desires and Village requirements around building and landscape aesthetics , traffic management , wetland management , and emergency access . We took steps to ensure almost 75 % of the property would remain green space . All along this path we were led to believe by Village officials our project was moving steadily toward approval . Over the last six months , everything changed . First came a baseless lawsuit against the Parks District about their management of the auction . That litigation became an excuse for the Village to delay progress on our approvals . Those delays that started as weeks then turned into months and now look like years . Hearings and filings were postponed , sometimes at the last minute without a legitimate explanation . Requests were made for information already provided or changes already addressed . New issues were invented to require more documents to be filed . Given Allstate's experience , we believe our only option is to pursuede - annexation from the Village and seek approvals for our development through Cook County . We remain committed to build a beautiful development where our fellow members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church can worship and our children can learn in a comfortable and modern environment that is designed for all our members , including those with special needs . Our design plan will integrate perfectly with the neighborhood and drastically improve a blighted property . We will be a good neighbor to the citizens of South Barrington . We just won't be part of the Village . For more information on our plans visit www.futureofarean.com