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Kane County Chronicle
September 3, 2002

Editorial: County officials should steer clear of lawsuit

It is a bit disheartening to know opponents of the proposed Prairie Parkway intend to sue the state in an effort to block the sorely needed roadway. It is completely appalling, however, that some Kane County government officials are toying with the notion of joining the lawsuit. Stop yourselves. Now.

Federal and state officials want to protect a 400-foot- wide corridor from development so the road could be built when the money becomes available. The interstate-type highway would connect Interstate 88 near Kaneville to Interstate 80 near Minooka in Grundy County Officials had hoped to identify a route from 1-88 north to Interstate 90, but shelved those plans in deference to opponents. Doing so allows officials to focus on one leg of the route.

The corridor protection plan is designed to save the state - and by extension, taxpayers - time and money when the road is built. That could be two decades from now. The savings come by ensuring major development does not occur so the roadway would either have to change - causing more money - or that structures would have to be razed - causing more money.

Citizens Against the Sprawiway are readying to challenge the process in court. It is their right. But many comments from critics are misleading. The Illinois Department of Transportation is not prohibiting anyone from building anything within the corridor. Rather, it requires landowners to notify IDOT of the plans. IDOT then has the opportunity to purchase the land at fair market value.

The corridor does include current slow-growth townships. That however, does not indicate the roadway is not needed there. The corridor was selected for future growth. In addition, if roadways only were built through populated areas, it would be impossible for Central Kane County residents to get to Springfield or Champaign, let alone DeKaIb or Rockford. Building the road does not mean subdivisions and mini-marts and strip malls must follow. That development will happen ouly if the county board approves die zoning. People, not asphalt or concrete, decide what goes where.

The Prairie Parkway is a contentious issue. It is regretful citizens feel the need to use the court system. However, Kane County officials have no business in joining this lawsuit.