Lake Forest City Council Approves Woodlands Special Use Permit

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Lake Forest City Council approved an amended special use permit for Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest.

The 8-0 vote allows the merger of the private school's campus boundaries and the 23-acre Barat parcel, and also paves the way for the demolition of the early 1900s era Old Main building and reuse of the site for educational purposes.

No work can proceed on the property without the submission of a master plan by Woodlands, which would require City Council approval. The master plan would detail Woodlands' use of the 23-acre parcel for educational purposes.

"I know this has been back and forth for a number of months," said Lake Forest Mayor James Cowhey. "There has been a good amount of very positive interpretation and input on all matters."

Alderman Donald Schoenheider applauded the work of all parties in getting to this point.

"This gives a great deal of protection to city, and sees the property go back to Woodlands, which is what we wanted to see," Schoenheider said. "I say again, this is a great gift to the city."