Palos Heights Council Accepts Westgate Settlement

After a court battle that lasted more than three years the City of Palos Heghts and various homeowners associations that make up the Westgate Valley development have reached a settlement.

The agreement . On Tuesday the Palos Heights City Council voted to approve the settlement in a 7-1 vote. The lone dissenter was first ward .

The disagreement stemmed from an annexation agreement that the associations contend signaled that upon completion all the roads in the development would be dedicated and maintained by the city. That would include snow removal, maintenance and various city services.

The city has maintained that like other subdivision in Palos Heights, the roads were always intended to remain private.

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Once the settlement is signed by Mayor Bob Straz and representatives of the Forest Ridge, Keystone Crossing, Westgate Valley Townhomes and Condominiums and Laurel Glen Condominiums homeowners associations it will be officially recorded. 

The details of the settlement are as follows:

• Palos Heights will pay $27,701 to the associations.
• The city will assume responsibility for the repair, replacement and inspection of the water mains, storm water mains and sanitary sewer mains. This does not include the lines going into individual homes or buildings.
• The associations will be responsible for landscaping, water quality and water depth of all retention and detention ponds. The city will be responsible for the water drainage pipes. 
• Palos Heights accepts responsibility for the sidewalks on the west and east sides of Ridgeland Avenue, north side of 135th Street. The associations will maintain the landscaping around those sidewalks. 
• The homeowners associations will be responsible for maintenance of the streets including snow removal and salting. 

To read all of Patch's coverage of this issue and court case visit the Westgate Lawsuit topic page.