Public review regarding the potential sale of Lake County Forest Preserve property for a proposed $186 million safety improvement project at Waukegan National Airport now is pending after overwhelming support to get the process moving.
Opponents dispute that saying even a nonbinding agreement shouldn't be needed before public review and the district is advancing the process without knowing the potential environmental impacts. The forest preserve district expects to receive the assessment by the end of the month and will have 30 days to review it, according to Ty Kovach, executive director.
The forest preserve is involved in the plan because the Waukegan Port District needs 52 acres of the 774-acre Waukegan Savanna Forest Preserve to build the longer runway. Kovach said commissioners are"in no way committed" to selling the property at this point. Any potential negotiation is a"long way away" and any sale would involve a detailed binding agreement subject to public review and board approval, he added.