Illinois Statutes Chapter 20. Executive Branch § 2705/2705-565. North Chicago property; study; conveyance

(a) The Department shall perform a study of property owned by the Department consisting of approximately 160 acres located in North Chicago, south of IL Route 137, between IL Route 43 and US Route 41. The study shall include, but not be limited to, a survey of the property for the purpose of delineating jurisdictional wetlands in accordance with the Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 and identifying threatened and endangered species in accordance with the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act, for the purpose of identifying property no longer needed for highway purposes.

(b) Upon completion of the study and for a period ending 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the City of North Chicago shall have an exclusive option to purchase for public purposes those portions of the property no longer needed for highway purposes for a consideration, which may be de minimis, negotiated by the parties. The Department of Transportation is authorized to convey the excess property to the City of North Chicago pursuant to this Section within 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, but may not otherwise convey or transfer the property during that period.

(c) Any conveyance to the City of North Chicago under this Section shall provide (i) that title to the property reverts to the State of Illinois if the property ceases to be used for public purposes and (ii) the City of North Chicago may lease the property but may not convey its ownership of the property to any party, other than the State of Illinois.