Kane County staff recommended relief from a land-cash fee Tuesday for a 15-acre single-family lot on Crane Road, saying the parcel already pays more in property taxes than the calculated fee would require. The Land Cash Subcommittee did not vote on the recommendation because it did not have a quorum.

Miss Orlick, the county plat officer, told the subcommittee that the property is zoned E-3 and that the land-cash obligation for the proposed single-family residence was calculated at $13,615. “Purpose of land cash is to close that gap between when a resident takes occupy occupies their house and when their taxes catch up,” she said, describing an 18-month lag between occupancy and the full tax contributions to local districts. Miss Orlick said the parcel currently pays “over 14,000 a year” in property taxes and that, based on the parcel’s tax history, enforcing the land-cash ordinance “would be unfair.”

Staff compared the Crane Road parcel to five nearby sites within a half-mile. Two nearby farm fields were described as paying under $600 a year in taxes; one improved single-family site across the street pays just over $17,000 a year; a vacant lot in the same subdivision pays about $4,000 annually. Miss Orlick said the Crane Road parcel “has paid $29,290,000 over the last 20 years,” and she noted a prior, similar request for a parcel across the street about two years earlier.

Miss Orlick said technical staff requested relief from both the affected school and park districts and received a written response from St. Charles Park District. Reading an email into the record from Holly Cable, director of the St. Charles Park District, she said: “Based on the attached information, we understand that the county is the only entity that has the authority to adjust fees depending on the circumstances, and we support the county's assessment and determination regarding adjustments that are made if there is unusual or unique circumstances.” Miss Orlick said St. Charles School District 303 did not provide additional comment.

Chair Rick Williams told the subcommittee it did not have a quorum and therefore could not approve or deny the request at that meeting. Staff recommended allowing the parcel relief from the land-cash fee; no motion was made and no vote was taken. Williams said the item “will be presented again to you during [the] Development Committee for your approval.”

The record indicates the property owner is Adam Wolf, identified by staff via email the morning of the meeting. The county staff presentation and the park district response will be included when the item is brought back to the Development Committee for formal action.

The subcommittee meeting opened and proceeded with discussion only; no formal actions were recorded on the land-cash item because of the lack of quorum.