§ 115-10 — Open space plan; petition

(a) A board desiring to enter upon an open space program may do so only after adoption of an open space plan under Section 115-15. The board shall commence preparation of an open space plan under that Section only upon the filing with the township clerk of a petition signed by not less than 5% or 50, whichever is greater, of the registered voters of the township (according to the voting registration records at the time the petition is filed) recommending that the board commence preparation of an open space plan. Within 5 business days after the filing of the petition, the township clerk shall provide public notice of the existence of the filed petition in the same manner as notices of meetings of the township board are provided. A hearing shall be conducted no less than 30 days after the filing of the petition to determine the validity of the petition, which may be challenged in accordance with the general election law. (b) A proposed open space plan shall (i) identify all open land within the township that the board deems necessary to acquire in order to accomplish the purposes of the open space program; (ii) state the ways in which the acquisition of open land will further open space purposes; (iii) state the estimated costs of implementing the proposed plan; (iv) state the approximate tax, per $100 of assessed value, that will be levied to provide the necessary funds for implementing the proposed plan; (v) state the estimated timetable for implementing the proposed plan; and (vi) establish standards and procedures for establishing priorities for the acquisition of parcels identified in the plan.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 94-622, eff. 8-18-05.)