ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A key step took place Monday night on a proposal to build a new home for the Chicago Bears at the former site of Arlington Park.
The Arlington Heights village board approved a pre-development plan on the Bears' possible relocation.
"This is not a binding obligation on either part, but it is a good faith agreement to work together," Bears senior vice president Cliff Stein said.
"We've got a long, long way to go, but this is a very important and necessary step to move this re-development forward," Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes added.
At the meeting, residents spoke out. Some, like Keith Moons, are worried about taxes.
"If the billionaire Bears can find $5 billion to build a stadium for them to lose in, as they can lose out here just as easy as they can lose in the city, they can find the funds for the rest of their project," Moons said. "They don't need our piggy bank."
More spoke out.
"It is now crystal clear that the village fully expects to pay for part of the development and to subsidize the Chicago Bears," resident Martin Bauer said.
Some residents claim the village hasn't been transparent enough about its dealings with the Bears. Hayes pushed back, saying everything is out in the open.
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