Kenilworth’s beachfront referendum coasts to approval

Kenilworth voters made a strong Election Night statement in support of its lakefront.

A Village of Kenilworth referendum that will help fund the renovation of the decommissioned water plant and other beachside improvements passed by a nearly 3-1 margin, according to unofficial county results. About 74 percent, or 427, of the 583 votes went in favor of the referendum, which will allow the Village to sell $2.5 million in bonds.

The Village has estimated the borrowing would add $126 annually to the property tax bill of a Kenilworth home valued at $1 million.

The bond proceeds will help fortify Kenilworth’s beach and reimagine the town’s decommissioned water plant. Add in $3.3 million in village reserves and the project will improve accessibility to the beach, overhaul restrooms and landscaping, and add a multi-purpose room and renovated second floor in the water plant.

The beachfront project could still evolve as well if the Village decides to execute a fundraising campaign to support more improvements, such as a renovated first floor in the water plant that includes new concessions, storage lockers, recreation spaces and boat storage for the Kenilworth Sailing Club.

The Kenilworth Village’s Board’s decision on Dec. 11 to move forward with a referendum was significantly informed by the results of a communitywide survey on the beachfront plans. According to the survey’s early results, a vast majority of respondents considered the project important to the Village — 53 percent marked “extremely important” and another 26 percent “very important.”

A majority of respondents (55%) wanted the Village to pursue the most elaborate option, while another 13 percent preferred the second highest option.

Stay tuned to The Record as this story develops.