January 2006 United City of Yorkville Newsletter
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United City of Yorkville Published by the United City of Yorkville January 2006 HIGHLIGHTS... From Mayor Art Prochaska PAGES 2-3 •Mayor’s message Development decisions, thorough •Yorkville celebrates 170 •Downtown Vision plan process revealed PAGES 4-5 •Library expands Happy New Year! little detail. It is at this time, that I, or staff, •City’s facade program explain the appropriate city ordinances and policies that apply. open to all It seems lately I have been asked about the process of development in Yorkville. In my tenure as mayor, several times, large PAGES 6-7 What is involved and how long does it take developers who have also worked in neigh- •Historical Street Naming for a development to move through the boring communities have been turned away Program process are two questions that I am asked at this point. There are times when develop- •Census participation frequently. ers request items that are beyond what is appreciated allowable in the United City of Yorkville. •News you can use Unfortunately there is no single answer to Many times it is a density issue for most these two questions but there are many fac- •Nicor Financial assistance developers. program information tors influencing the process including: After the initial meeting, should the requester PAGES 8-9 • Is the property annexed and zoned? decide to continue, they must officially sub- •Public Works News • Does the zoning allow for the mit their applications and pay the required requested use? fees and deposits. The fees are applied to PAGES 10-11 • How does the use fit into the city’s cover the cost of city staff and consultants •Coffee with the Mayor comprehensive plan? that may be required for the process to con- •Community Events • Are their adequate utility services in the tinue. These costs include but are not limited •Red Cross Heroes Program area? to administrative, legal, engineering, envi- •Building Safety and Zoning • What impact will the development have ronmental review and planning review costs. on roads, schools, parks, and fire and PAGES 12-13 police protection? Placement on the Planning Commission •Parks and Recreation • Are there any features on the property agenda is the next step in the process. •Winter ordinances that need to be addressed? At this meeting the Planning Commission •Overnight parking reviews and comments on the concept, but These are only some of the questions that ordinance there is no official vote. The Park Board and need to be answered during the process. PAGES 14-15 City Council will also go through the same process. During this process, it is advised •Community Services Initially the requester will ask to meet with that the requester begin discussion with the •Passed ordinances staff to explain the proposed development. school district. Sometimes, but not always, they will ask to (continued on page 2) meet with me. At this first meeting, ideas are discussed in generalities, usually with very The United City of Yorkville City Hall: 800 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560 • Hours—M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 630.553.4350 • Fax: 630. 553.7575 • www.yorkville.il.us Mayor’s message continued Also, the community is allowed to make development adheres to any existing Moving forward in the process, the any comments about developments, PUD, annexation, or development next step is for the requester to meet whether negative or positive known at agreements. with the city’s Planning Council. This the public hearing. council consists of city staff from various As the requester continues in the departments and also includes consult- The purpose of these hearings is to process, the City Council now reviews the request. When reviewing, the City ants and legal advisors, in addition to allow the public to give comment, staff invited from the various city dis- Council takes into account recommen- testimony, or even question the dations from the Planning Council, tricts—fire, sanitary and school. This requester before a vote is taken. It group reviews a proposed preliminary Planning Commission and Park Board as plat from a technical point of view tak- also allows for any comment or well as staff, the Sanitary District and ing into account city policies and ordi- question to be cross-examined in legal council. At the City Council level nances, as well as, those of the repre- public where all can hear. as mentioned, public hearings must be sented agencies. Any recommendations held for any agreements entered into. made are then passed along to the I know as volunteers, the Plan Commission, as well as the City One would ask why must we have Planning Commission and the City agreements? Why don’t we just make Council. Council, want to make an as informed decision as possible and the public the requester do what we want? If annexation and zoning or rezoning is hearing allows for this to happen. The answer to those questions are that required for the development, the the city is obligated to follow state law requester is required to notify the city. Following the public hearing, the Plan that states a non-home rule community As a result, a public hearing is sched- Commission will have the opportunity (population under 25,000) cannot uled. The notice in the paper and post- to review the plan again and take into create any tax or fee other than those ing of signs on the property are done by consideration any questions or concerns specifically allowed by state law. the city using the prepaid fees required raised. In the event that a requester has Unfortunately development, transition, in the first phase of the process. The the question of annexation of zoning, and impact fees are not specifically developer is responsible for providing each question is voted on separately, allowed by state law. Therefore, the only the city with a list of property annexation, and then zoning. It does not way municipalities, like Yorkville, can owners that fall within the notification necessarily follow that if annexation is get fees for parks, schools, and police distance required by law, as well as, the approved that zoning will be approved. and fire is by including them in an certified mail receipts verifying notifica- In fact, there has been a number of agreement that the requester signs as tion in writing. If it is proven that the times in recent years where the annexa- part of the city allowing the annexation requester did not notify all those tion has been approved but not the ini- or development to happen. Even with required, they are required to renotify, tial request for zoning. Since the Plan this, there is case law that requires the as well as pay for reposting the notice to Commission is an advisory board, the city and other agencies to justify these reschedule the public hearing. City Council ultimately votes on the fees. final decision taking into account that It is important to note that public recommendation. Back to the development process, the hearings are held before the Plan requester must first go before the city’s Commission for annexation, zoning and Likewise, if annexation and zoning are Economic Development committee rezoning. Public hearings are held approved, that does not automatically which consists of one alderman from before the City Council for Planned Unit mean that a preliminary plat will be each ward. That committee then makes Development (PUD) agreements, and approved. There are many issues from a recommendation to the City Council annexation and development agree- design concerns to more specific issues at the Committee of the Whole meeting ments. Platting—preliminary or final, are raised by staff or the Planning Commission where the request is further discussed. not required to have a public hearing which could cause a plat to be tabled, Then after all these discussions and after with one exception. The only time a denied, or if approved, subject to any required public hearing the City preliminary plat must have a public requirements or recommendations from Council will vote on the request. Again, hearing is when it is part of a PUD. This staff, the Planning Commission or legal separate votes are taken for annexation, public hearing may be held simultane- council. It is at this stage where issues zoning, agreement, and platting (unless ously with the annexation and zoning such as traffic, stormwater detention, set the plat is a part of the agreement), and public hearing or it may on occasion be backs and easements are addressed, in a positive vote on one does not guaran- held separately. addition to making sure the proposed tee a positive vote on the others. The United City of Yorkville City Hall: 800 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560 • Hours—M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 630.553.4350 • Fax: 630. 553.7575 • www.yorkville.il.us 2 Yorkville’s future and past 2006 marks anniversary year for the United City of Yorkville. Yorkville looks to future special census will reveal just how much Yorkville has grown, and new and excit- and embraces past. ing businesses—commercial and retail Originally settled in 1836, the United opportunities abound including a new City of Yorkville will celebrate 170 years Wal-Mart Supercenter, a new Walgreens of existence in the new year. It started a on the south side of the river, a 37,000 lot like other towns in that time—prairies, square-foot addition to the library and the farms, and horse drawn buggies and carts redevelopment of the city’s downtown pulled up and down Bridge Street. And area. Yorkville’s face may change, but the now, 170 years later, Yorkville is planning city’s roots and heritage will always and embracing change and the future.