Welter Farm FAQ

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  – CURRENTLY THE TOWNSHIP VOTED IT CAN BE SOLD – 

Welter Farm - 50 Acres in the Village of Homer Glen

The Township is selling pieces of The Paul Farm, a different farm, to several adjacent landowners and we hear they have offered the same deal to some living adjacent to The Welter Farm. The sale of any portion of Welter Farm would reduce it to below 50 acres which violates the State Statute that says a purchased piece of Open Space land must be 50 acres.

Welter Farm 14858 S. Founders Crossing, Homer Glen (for navigation, not a mailing address) This will take you to the entrance of the Healing Garden. If you continue walking West through a slightly worn path it will lead you to the "Hero's Trail Bike Path". The land you view to the West of the bike path is the Welter Farm Open Space property. It is also adjacent to the south side of Golden Oak subdivision. This is the property that Homer Township is?/was? wanting to build a housing subdivision on for people 55 and older in violation of the State Statute for Open Space Property. 

Are Homer Township officials still planning to build a dense subdivision for people 55 and older on the 50 acres of Open Space known as the Welter Farm in Homer Glen? 

The Township wanted to turn the 50 acre Welter Farm into a dense subdivision for people aged 55 and older by agreeing to allow a private developer to build and sell houses and duplexes on the property. Land that was purchased by taxpayers for nature preservation or recreation and for public use would be put to private use in a de facto give away via a long term lease to private owners. One concern we have is Open Space lands that are improved should be accessible for public use. Lands that are leased and improved or developed for private use make them un-accessible to the community that paid for the land.

The development of Open Space Land into a subdivision goes against the Illinois State Statute which governs how such lands can be used/developed. Residents raised opposition to the current administration’s plan and told the township it would be legally challenged. At a Township meeting the Township Supervisor announced that the Welter development plan is “cancelled”, but then said they would go to a referendum to ask citizens to vote on their plan. No referendum is on the ballot for the upcoming election regarding Homer Township Open Space.

We do not know what plans the Township is making for the Welter property at this time other than they have given themselves the authority to put it up for sale. A resident living near the property reported that a survey company was surveying the property as recently as the week of June 20, 2022 suggesting this high density subdivision plan could resurface at any time or some other plan could be proposed. We really don't know what is being planned and that is why we are all paying such close attention to what Homer Township is doing with Open Space Properties 

The current Homer Township Board and Supervisor wanted to develop the Open Space Lands in a way that is not what people voted for when they approved an Open Space Program for Homer Township. Additionally, some uses that have been proposed violate the Illinois State Statute that describes how the land can be used. If not for residents raising concerns and objections these plans could move forward again. 

The Township's plan to develop a subdivision on The Welter Farm was stopped because residents came together to raise objection to it.

Now we have a new problem. Go to the Homepage tab "Stop the Sale" to learn more about it.