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Lisle trustees agree to proceed toward sale of 922 School Street if buyer secures public pedestrian easement
Summary
The Village of Lisle Committee of the Whole gave staff and the purchaser direction to pursue closing on surplus village property at 922 School Street provided the buyer records a perpetual pedestrian easement to maintain public access to the adjacent cemetery; trustees voiced mixed opinions and no formal vote was taken.
The Village of Lisle Committee of the Whole on April 21 discussed the sale of surplus village property at 922 School Street and reached a consensus to pursue closing ahead of outstanding zoning entitlements if the purchaser prepares a perpetual plat of easement providing a pedestrian path to the cemetery.
Village Manager Erp Mode said the trustees previously approved an ordinance authorizing the sale and a first amendment extending the zoning approval period to April 8, 2025, but that extension had expired. "Back in April of last year, the, trustees had approved an ordinance that would authorize the sale of the surplus village property at 922 School," Mode said, adding that the purchaser submitted a "waiver of village zoning approvals" asking to move directly to sale and closing.
The nut graf: the issue matters because the parcel is part of a downtown redevelopment proposal that has been through portions of the planning and zoning review process and because the property borders a cemetery; trustees weighed development and zoning certainty against cemetery-adjacent residential concerns.
Manager Mode outlined two staff options: prepare a second contract amendment to extend the zoning deadline to a date certain, or direct the purchaser to prepare a plat of easement that would "perpetually provide a pedestrian path to the cemetery" and then proceed to closing ahead of zoning entitlements. The committee indicated support for the second option.
The petitioner's representative, Mr. Whitaker, told the board the buyer is prepared to proceed. "We're ready, willing, and able to move forward with the acquisition," Whitaker said. Trustee Olson said she favored the second option, noting it reduces concerns about financing or project viability: "I would be in support and would recommend, we move forward with option 2 and move forward towards closing as soon as we can." Several other trustees also voiced support for option 2.
Not all trustees agreed. Trustee Lesniak said he opposed placing residential units next to the cemetery, citing concerns about trespassing and the village's responsibility for cemetery maintenance. "I think it's in our downtown...we're putting residential right next to a cemetery, which I never think is a good idea," Lesniak said.
There was no formal roll-call vote on the property disposition recorded in the committee meeting; staff and trustees registered concurrence to pursue option 2 as described. According to the manager, if the easement and closing path are approved, the matter would proceed to whatever formal approvals are required before final closing.
Next steps: staff will work with the purchaser on the proposed plat of easement and return to the board for formal consideration and any required authorizing action before a sale is finalized.
