State clears Land and Lakes landfill for development

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Updated: February 18, 2012 8:12AM

Buffalo Grove’s landfill may become Buffalo Grove’s next retail center.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that investigators have cleared the Land and Lakes landfill at 1300 Milwaukee Ave. for future development. The site closed in 1995 and completed the state’s required post-closure monitoring period to the IEPA’s satisfaction. Village Hall annexed the landfill in 2008, and leaders have spoken about seeing the land developed into a retail center.

James Cowhey Jr., Land and Lakes’ owner, did not immediately return a call for comment Friday. The landfill’s ownership did release a brief statement:

“Land & Lakes Co. is pleased with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s decision. We feel the decision today reaffirms our commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for the residents of Buffalo Grove, Ill., and the surrounding communities. Receiving the post-closure certificate allows us to focus on working with the Village of Buffalo Grove to redevelop the land and create new avenues for economic growth in the area.”

Cowhey has spelled out his intentions, however, in documents filed with the IEPA.

“We have a goal to develop the property into prime retail development, which would benefit the community by creating hundreds of new jobs, hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in tax revenue and millions of dollars in new infrastructure,” he wrote

Buffalo Grove Village President Jeff Braiman said he was excited to see what action Cowhey might take.

“It will be a financial benefit to the village,” Braiman said. “We’re much closer to development today than we were yesterday.”

Village Manager Dane Bragg and deputy village manager Ghida Neukirch said they had no timeline for bringing new businesses to Buffalo Grove.

“They’ve had communication, as have we, with a number of retailers,” Neukirch said. “Nothing has been formalized at this point.”

Former Buffalo Grove trustee Lisa Stone has for years urged the IEPA to investigate concerns from the landfill’s neighbors that the site was leaking the toxic chemical phenol into their water wells. Stone Friday said she could not comment immediately.

The IEPA’s 17-page explanation of its decision includes a detailed frequently-asked-questions section, some quoting directly from Stone’s open letters to the agency.

One statement from Stone that the release brings up: “The base liner is ineffective to prevent future releases of chemicals to groundwater.” The IEPA’s response: “The design of the … landfill meets or exceeds the … applicable landfill operating and design standards.”

† “There are 5 active gas flares on site that burn the gas generated by the landfill,” another question reads. “Assurances are needed that gas management will be continued either by Land and Lakes or any subsequent owner.” The IEPA’s response: The flares have been closed.

† “Are our wells and the others around the facility safe?” another question reads. “The private wells and the community water supply wells nearby (Pekara Subdivision, Buffalo Grove and Riverwoods) are not in the path of groundwater flow from the landfill,” the IEPA responds.

Braiman said that with the IEPA’s approval, the questions about water quality should end.

“I’m hopeful that the entire controversy is behind us,” he said.