Downers Grove Council to Vote on Naturalization of Valley View Pond

After months of discussion and meetings with nearby homeowners, Downers Grove officials are maintaining their position that naturalization is the best option for the Valley View pond.

During the Downers Grove Council's Nov. 20 business meeting, village staff presented a recommendation to award a $548,740 contract to ENCAP, Inc. to "naturalize" the 2.5-acre, man-made pond, turning it into sustainable marshland with a flowing waterway.

The pond, located in the Valley View Estates subdivision west of Main Street and north of 75th Street, was man-made by the developer in the 1970s while building the subdivision as a way to meet detention requirements and as a feature that could be marketed to potential homeowners. The story goes that if the developer installed the pond to the standards the Downers Grove Park District demanded, the park district would take ownership of the pond.

When it was installed, there was a dispute between the park district, village and developer on whether or not those standards were met. Through litigation in 1988, the village ended up in control of the pond they had nothing to do with.

Over the years, the area has suffered from poor water conditions, odors, algae blooms and more as a result from sediment buildup, waterfowl presence and a lack of substantial vegetation, according to village officials.

In response to residents' complaints, the village installed and operated aerators to provide temporary relief, and set aside $450,000 for what was anticipated to be a dredging project.

However, the accumulated sediment tested in July 2011 and again in January 2012 indicated that the material does not meet the Environmental Protection Agency's standards for re-use on other sites, and would have to be brought to a landfill at at an estimated cost of $900,000. Because of the high cost, village officials began researching alternate options, and ultimately drew up a plan to naturalize the body of water.

A meeting was held with Valley View residents in May to discuss options for improving water quality at the pond. Village officials argued for naturalization, while the majority of residents expressed a preference for more open water.

The naturalization proposal went before the village council twice—first in June, then again in July. With residents still expressing strong opposition to the plan, the village council directed staff to continue discussions.

Despite another meeting with residents in September, village officials maintained their preference for naturalization, citing the high cost of maintenance associated with dredging.

In her memo to the village council, Downers Grove Public Works Director Nan Newlon said naturalization of the Valley View pond is "the most sustainable option, both financially and environmentally."

At past meetings, Valley View residents said they view the water as a pond, a selling point of their home, and a community gathering space where they can fish and ice skate. They also view it as a public area that everyone in Downers Grove is welcomed to enjoy.

However, village officials have indicated that they see the pond as a stormwater detention pond, and a private feature of the subdivision.

Diane Vida, a resident of the Valley View subdivision, spoke at the Nov. 20 meeting, reiterating her opposition to naturalization. One of the neighborhood's main concerns, she said, is that the area will become overgrown and ultimately an eyesore in their backyard.

"You know that we're all opposed to the naturalization, but what we really want to know is, since it has not been maintained all these years, what's our guarantee that this naturalization is not going to grow 40 feet tall and no one is going to touch it?" Vida asked.

Downers Grove Village Manager David Fieldman said the contractor is legally required to continually maintain the area.

In response to Vida's request to delay a decision on the pond, Tully said waiting has already caused the cost of the project to increase.

"The short answer is I don't think we can put this off forever," Tully said. "The real concern I have is we've already seen what waiting does in terms of increased costs. Eventually we're going to have to do something, and I think we're all being cognizant of the fact that we don't want to increase the cost."

Downers Grove commissioners did not publicly state their position on the proposal. They are scheduled to vote on the measure Dec. 4.

Should the measure be approved, construction could start in late 2013 or early 2014, Newlon said.

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