Illinois § 5

§ 5.

Legislative findings. (a) The General Assembly finds that there has been a dramatic change in the area known as "Fort Sheridan", a former federal reservation, and that failure to make the most economical, efficient, environmentally sensitive, and properly planned use of the land available for development in the Fort Sheridan area will result in (i) blight, deterioration, and decay; (ii) destruction of irreplaceable natural, recreational, housing, and commercial resources; (iii) diminished opportunity for the private home building industry to operate at its highest potential capacity in providing good housing needed for those who live in the area and those expected to move into the area in the future; (iv) the need for costly and effective public facilities and services at all levels; (v) inefficient and wasteful use of land resources; (vi) a failure to make the most economical use of the land available for development; (vii) decreasing employment and business opportunities for the citizens of the area; and (viii) the decreased effectiveness of public and private facilities for urban transportation. (b) The General Assembly finds that better patterns of development and revitalization of Fort Sheridan are essential to accommodate future population growth; to prevent further deterioration of the Fort Sheridan properties and the people's physical and social environment; and to make a positive contribution to improving the overall quality of life in the Fort Sheridan area of Illinois. The General Assembly finds that the health, welfare, morals, and safety of its citizens require the encouragement of well planned, diversified, and economically sound community development, including major additions to Fort Sheridan, while simultaneously preserving open space and historic areas. The General Assembly finds that desirable community development on a significantly large scale may be prevented by difficulties in (i) obtaining adequate financing at moderate cost for enterprises which involve large initial capital investment, extensive periods before investment can be returned, and regular patterns of return; (ii) the timely assembly of sufficiently large sites in economically favorable locations at reasonable costs; and (iii) making of necessary arrangements among all private and public organizations involved, for providing site and related improvements (including streets, sewer and water facilities, and other public and community facilities) in a timely and coordinated manner, and (iv) facilitating the transfer of title to certain lands to the Forest Preserve District of Lake County. (Source: P.A. 89-149, eff. 1-1-96.)