Home | News Index | Southern Link | Northern Link | How to Oppose | Kane 2020 Plan | Kendall Plan

Kane County Chronicle
August 8, 2002

McCoy, Klinkhamer butt heads over beltway

By DAN CHANZIT
Kane County Chronicle

Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy lashed out at Sugar Grove officials Wednesday for the village's stance on the proposed Prairie Parkway.

The state wants to build a highway to connect Interstates 80 and 88. Opponents say the road is not needed, promotes sprawl and contradicts the county's 2020 Land Use Plan. Proponents say a north-south highway will ease county traffic and provide for future development.

"(Sugar Grove) wants this alignment out in Big Rock which is their neighboring community. They do not want it in their city," McCoy said. "They are a total NIMBY on this. They want it just so it is not in their community."

McCoy made the remarks during a half-hour debate on "Chicago Tonight" hosted by WTTW. He was joined by St. Charles Mayor Sue Klinkhamer, Illinois Transportation Secretary Kirk Brown and Brook McDonald, executive director of the Conservation Foundation.

The state last week announced its protected corridor for the beltway and began notifying affected property owners. The roadway likely would not be built for about 20 years.

Klinkhamer said she supports the Prairie Parkway and hopes the county can take advantage of state and federal funding to build it.

"Illinois has historically been at the bottom of the list (for funding)," she said. "This is just an opportune time for the Chicago region."

"If we could be proactive and actually have a road before we have the people, I think that's a good thing," she said.

McCoy said he opposes the route and he wants the state to spend money to improve Route 47 before another road is built.

"It's not something I would use," said McCoy, who lives in Aurora. "I think the access needs to be closer to Aurora."

McCoy had proposed an alternate route for a north-south highway he said is a better option. That road connects closer to Aurora, about four miles from his home.

"You can't accuse me of being a NIMBY," he said. "If we are going to have a huge amount of federal money coming into our area, it should benefit existing citizens."

Klinkhamer suggested rural Kane County should not build more subdivisions to attract residents.
"People are coming whether there are roads or not," she said. "If you ask people, 'Why did you move out to Kane County? Why did you move out here?' you'll never hear, 'Well, there was a road.'"

She mentioned Randall Road's explosive commercial growth as more rooftops appeared.

"We are moving farther west," she said. "The (2020) Land Use Plan is excellent, but unless you say 'no more subdivisions in unincorporated Kane County,' people are still coming. It's an attractive place to live."