Council committee approves annexation of park-district parcel at 12551 W. Country Club Ave

The Community Development Committee voted to annex a parcel recently purchased by the Waukegan Park District at 12551 West Country Club Avenue and to vacate portions of adjacent rights of way, approving a nominal consideration for the Park District.

Noel Kisherlepper, director of planning, zoning and economic development, said the property is already owned by the Park District, is adjacent to other park parcels and that annexation will allow the district to merge the site with existing holdings. The planning and zoning commission had already held a public hearing earlier in June; annexation hearings come before the city committee.

Councilors then considered a companion vacation of rights of way along Country Club Avenue and North Garrick Avenue. Because the Waukegan Park District is a taxing body that serves the same taxpayers, the Park District requested a waiver of the customary conveyance consideration. The city attorney and counsel explained that intergovernmental conveyances typically include a nominal consideration; counsel recommended $10 as the customary token consideration for transfers between taxing entities.

A motion to adopt the annexation ordinance passed on roll call; a separate motion approving the right-of-way vacation with $10 consideration also passed. The committee recorded votes in favor by the aldermen present and the items will go to the full council for final reading and adoption.

The annexation and vacation will allow the park district to fold the parcel into adjacent park holdings and proceed with planned uses, including future integration with nearby Park District facilities.