Public hearing opens on Arlington Heights’ draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan and proposed CDBG allocations; staff recommends targeted cuts and program continu

The Arlington Heights Village Board opened a public hearing June 2 on the draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the draft 2025 annual action plan, which sets proposed uses of the village’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Nora Boyer, the village housing planner, presented the draft plan, application summaries and staff recommendations; the hearing closed after public comment and questions from trustees.

Boyer reported the village’s 2025 CDBG entitlement from HUD is $332,747; estimated carryover from prior years is about $90,000, producing an estimated budget of $422,747 for the 2025–26 program year. Federal caps limit public services to 15% ($49,900) and administrative costs to 20% ($66,500) of available funds. Boyer explained the village historically funds both caps and that the remaining money is available for infrastructure, housing rehabilitation and related capital activities.

Seventeen applications totaling $670,050 were received. Applicants included local and regional nonprofits providing social services and housing support: FamilyForward, Resources for Community Living, Children’s Advocacy Center, Connections for Care, Suburban Primary Health Care, WINGS (domestic violence shelter), Lifespan, Northwest Compass, Northwest Center for Sexual Assault, Journeys, Clearbrook and Lehi Kirk (group home rehabilitations), Full Circle Communities (Grace Terrace supportive housing), and village-administered programs for single‑family rehab and public infrastructure.

Staff recommendations, presented by Boyer, seek to preserve smaller public service grants at existing levels while reducing some larger requests so total allocations fit the available budget and federal caps. For example, staff proposed funding the group home rehabilitation umbrella program at $80,800 (to be vetted by the Housing Commission), a single‑family rehab program at about $75,000, and public infrastructure projects at $150,000. Staff did not recommend awarding CDBG funds to Full Circle Communities’ Grace Terrace new-construction public‑improvement request (they requested $100,000) because HUD rules generally prohibit funding new housing construction with CDBG, the village would be responsible for compliance oversight for roughly $400,000 of public improvements, and the requested $100,000 would represent a large portion of the total yearly budget.

Several applicants spoke during the public comment period. Clearbrook and Lehi Kirk representatives described proposed group‑home rehabilitation projects for aging residents and people with developmental disabilities. WINGS outlined services and caseload metrics and requested continued funding for shelter operations; WINGS said it serves about 32–35 Arlington Heights residents annually. Resources for Community Living asked for reconsideration after missing an application cycle during reorganization and emphasized that allocated dollars pay case manager hours for village residents. A community member urged the village to make a small general-fund transfer (approximately $32,000) to fully cover the gap between public-service requests and the capped available amount.

Board members asked clarifying questions about applicant status and conflict-of-interest recusal. Trustee Santa Maria recused herself from the hearing due to a relationship with a listed applicant; staff clarified Shelter Inc. did not submit an application for the 2025–26 year but noted the trustee’s recusal had been recorded. Trustee Bertucci asked staff to confirm the full benchmarking and ranking tables and Boyer and staff agreed to provide additional detail on relative rankings and historical context.

Formal actions at the meeting included opening the public hearing, calling for the 30‑day public comment period, and later a motion to close the hearing. Trustee Bertucci moved to close the hearing; Trustee Lebeds seconded; the roll call recorded all present voting in favor.

Next steps: the draft consolidated plan will be available for a 30‑day public comment period and a second public hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 21. Staff told the board the Housing Commission will vet group‑home rehabilitation applications under the recommended umbrella allocation and that staff will provide any additional applicant clarifications and benchmarking tables upon request.