As the Chicago Bears continue to face massive hurdles in Springfield over plans to build a domed stadium next to Soldier Field, the team said Monday it has reached an agreement over property taxes for the 326 acres of land it owns in Arlington Heights that has tripped up plans to build a new stadium in the northwest suburb.

After about a year of wrangling with local school districts over the size of the team’s suburban property tax bill, the Bears say their memorandum of understanding opens the runway for them to land in Arlington.

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes told CBS News Chicago that the village and three school districts reached a tentative deal with the team over property taxes, though the team says it is still focusing on a new stadium in the city of Chicago. "I am encouraged about the significant progress we have made in recent weeks," Hayes wrote.

The Bears announced they reached an agreement on the Arlington Heights property tax issue, but maintain their focus is building a lakefront stadium.

The Bears have been focusing their plans on a new stadium in the city of Chicago for some time now, but they have also just reached a deal with the Village of Arlington Heights on property taxes for the old Arlington International Racecourse property.

The Chicago Bears issued a statement Monday after reaching a tentative agreement with the village of Arlington Heights and local school districts in a longstanding property tax dispute.