Homer Glen Looks at Upping Developers' Fees

In other news: Board sheds light on new ordinance

by Jamie Lynn Ferguson

December 09, 2007

As part of the village's initiative to make sure developers pay their own way in Homer Glen, the village is proposing an increase in some of their development fees. The proposal was discussed as a workshop item at the Nov. 27 Village Board meeting and is expected to be voted on in December.

"We're making sure application or permit fees are consistent with what we're seeing in other communities and that they reflect the cost to the village," Interim Village Manager Paula Wallrich said.

The planning staff compared the proposal fees with five other communities to come up with the new charges.

Some of the changes were that annexations, previously fee-free, will now cost $750 to $3,000 depending on the size of the property. Planned Unit Development fees are also proposed to increase—the highest being 11-acre lots, which will go up from $675 to $3,750. Publication notices for land one to 10 acres went up $150 and notices for land over 10 acres was raised $200.

"Our (publication) fees are currently very low and don't even begin to cover the costs we're incurring," Wallrich said.

The extra cash collected from the proposed fees would be used for objectives in the village's comprehensive plan. Trustee Chris Locacius suggested using the money for a village police department, while Trustee Margaret Sabo pointed out the money could be used to purchase land to increase the size of the village.

The village's Building Department will also review fees and conduct a three-month study of time spent on various inspections and pass-through costs. The results of that study will be evaluated and discussed at a later date.

Board approves new ordinance regulating outdoor lighting

The village board approved an ordinance regulating outdoor lighting in the village Nov. 27 in an effort to promote environmental policies while still ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The new policies affect agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial districts.

"I'm glad we've come this far," Chairperson of the Environmental Committee and Trustee Margaret Sabo said. "The people who have worked on this have done so in the sincere spirit of trying to conserve energy."

As part of the ordinance, lighting in commercial and industrial zoning districts cannot exceed 100,000 lumens per net area. Illuminated surfaces for parking areas, playing fields, auto dealerships and other areas were also given specific minimum and maximum light levels.

In residential areas, any lights exceeding 1,100 lumens must have sufficient shielding, beam angle control or be aimed lower than the property line when viewed at a height of 60 inches above grade.

"We're not really asking to change much (in residential lighting) but the downward projection of the light," said Trustee Russell Knaack, who spearheaded the drafting of the ordinance.

Motion-activated lights in residential areas are an exception to the rule and may have an output of 2,200 lumens if only activated for five minutes.

Prohibited outdoor lighting include lights that change intensity, such as flickering or rotating lights, upward direct lighting, searchlights, neon lights that accent buildings or architectural features, mercury vapor lights and any lights that are deemed by the village to create a hazard or nuisance.