A judge has reportedly determined that bleachers at a northwest suburban high school, which have been the target of controversy between the school and area residents, must be dismantled.
Judge Michael Chmiel’s decision follows his previous ruling that Crystal Lake South High School violated local laws by not going through the city’s zoning process before building a new set of bleachers.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Chmiel ordered the school begin tearing down the bleachers beginning Dec. 1.
Area residents sued over Crystal Lake South High School’s renovated stands for their football field, because they said the school didn’t seek permission from the city to build the bleachers. School officials, however, claimed they didn’t need to.
The new bleachers were built over the summer after school officials said the old stands were deemed “structurally unsound.”
The bleachers were reconstructed to eliminate gaps under fans’ feet and now stand just over 47 feet tall and 192 feet wide, officials said. That marks a 5-foot increase in height and more than triples the width of the old bleachers.
The school claims the construction plans were discussed during an “open meeting process” and permits were approved by the regional superintendent.
Local
“We sought permits in the way we always have and received those permits,” said Jeff Puma, director of communications for Community High School District 155.
Puma said the school typically seeks permits from with the city for projects related to utilities or roadwork.
But attorneys for the residents and city argue the district acted improperly when it built the $1.18 million expansion without going through the city zoning ordinance process.
