by Carol Henrichs

A scheduled public hearing March 17 on the proposed annexation of a huge chunk of Green Garden Township property last week was postponed until next month. The reason – the accommodations were not large enough to contain all the people who had something to say. The Monee Village Hall is a decent-sized venue, but it was not enough to corral all the bodies that are interested in Monee's likely annexation.

According to attendees, the crowd was loud, upset, and wanted their voices heard. Police called for back-up and uniformed officers with K-9 units were stationed at the front door.

A new meeting will be scheduled for April 22, but no location has yet been secured.

Monee officials are attempting an uphill battle to annex 52 acres, apparently at the developers' request, of what was formerly known as the Belle Meade subdivision. The upscale housing development had already been approved in Green Garden Township. The original development, which would have fit more closely into the surrounding community, consisted of 171 lots. The lots contained plenty of open space. Horses were allowed. A riding facility which required a special use permit for the subdivision's developers, Chicago-based Emeritus Ventures was granted. Homes were to cost in excess of $750,000.

But, in 2008 after the housing bubble burst, developers Rod Yarling and Per Loseth revised the housing plan to include a much higher density – smaller houses on smaller lots.

It would not have been approved in Green Garden Township, so developers took their plan to Monee where annexation seems imminent despite loud voices against it.

The Citizens to Preserve Green Garden, which is made up of neighbors of the development, are vowing to continue to fight the proposal. They also have the backing of the cash-strapped Peotone school officials who continue to grapple with their own financial shortfalls. They can ill afford more students thrust into the already-bulging school district.

The Monee plan is clearly different than what Green Garden officials and planners had envisioned for their rural neighborhoods.

In related news, the developers have begun to sell lots in the former Belle Meade subdivision. Reports are that signs have been placed on the property, advertising, "Your home in Monee."

Putting the cart before the horse, the website at http://greengardenlots.com the site advertises the services of the Monee Fire and Monee Police departments. Building permits for the $155,000 lots are available at the Village of Monee, according to the website.

The lots are described as about 164 feet by 1327 feet to measure five acres. There are no restrictions on the lots, other than the ones that cover agriculture districts in the village.