Developer asks Riverwoods for fee-in-lieu option on Wolters Kluwer site; village delays decision

A developer proposing housing on the former Wolters Kluwer site has asked the Village Board to consider accepting a fee-in-lieu of on-site affordable units after revising site plans to move development out of woodlands and respect wetlands. The village attorney said engineer and planning consultants reviewed the revised plan and described it as an improvement; the developer told staff that providing required on-site affordable units would make the project economically infeasible given the gap between market sale prices and the required affordable-unit pricing. The developer instead asked the village to indicate whether it might accept a fee-in-lieu before the developer spends additional money on the project. Staff explained that the village’s affordable-housing ordinance reserves discretion to the board on on-site requirements versus fees. The attorney and Director Witt said they would not provide a board-level answer at the meeting because Trustee Eastman — who requested to be part of the discussion — was absent. The item was therefore put over to the August 19 meeting so the full board can weigh the economics, potential fee amount and policy implications. Trustee Jamerson asked whether the units would be for-sale and whether they would be attached duplexes; staff answered yes, for-sale duplex units. The village attorney noted other nearby communities are taking different approaches: Northbrook imposed an on-site requirement on a recent project while negotiations continue elsewhere (Lexington Homes example of an eight-unit scenario). No formal vote or direction was made at the meeting; staff urged trustees to review the revised plans and be prepared for a full board discussion on August 19.