Hoffman Estates approves consent agenda including Compass Data Center tax classification and site plan; schedules executive session

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Village Board of Hoffman Estates on Feb. 17 approved a multi-item consent agenda and separate planning-and-zoning ordinances, including support for a Cook County 6b property tax classification related to Compass Data Centers and approval of the data center’s preliminary and final plat and site plan.

The board voted to approve the consent agenda, which included the schedule of bills in the amounts listed on the agenda ($5,109,000.08 and $27.94), an ordinance supporting a Cook County 6b classification for property tax assessment purposes for entities identified as Compass Data Centers ORD 1 LLC, Compass Data Centers IA ORD LLC, Compass Data Centers IB ORD LLC and Compass Data Centers IC ORD LLC for property described on the agenda as 5400 through 5600 Trillium Boulevard (formerly 3333 Beverly Road), and several purchasing and consulting agreements.

Why it matters: The Cook County 6b classification is referenced on the agenda as a tax-assessment classification for the proposed data center site; approval by the village is a local step that municipal officials took at the Feb. 17 meeting. The board also signed off on contracts and authorizations that fund consulting, public-engagement work on the village comprehensive plan, and professional services the village said are needed for operations and development review.

Key items approved on the consent agenda and by subsequent roll calls

- Schedule of bills: approved as listed on the agenda in the amounts shown ($5,109,000.08 and $27.94).

- Cook County 6b classification support for Compass Data Centers: approved as placed on the consent agenda for the properties associated with the data center site listed on the agenda (5400–5600 Trillium Boulevard, formerly 3333 Beverly Road).

- Professional services agreement with SRSD Consulting LLC: approved in an amount not to exceed $78,600 for executive leadership development and coaching (agenda language).

- Incentive agreement (Village and Compass Data Centers): approved as listed on the agenda; the agenda text included a location description tied to the same property referenced above (the agenda text contained formatting errors for that parcel number).

- Authorization to waive formal bidding and award contract (vendor name given on the agenda as “Altogether of Evanston Inc.”) related to unspecified scope in the agenda text.

- Comprehensive plan public engagement and graphic design support: contract approved in an amount not to exceed $110,560, with village-manager-approved change orders not to exceed $30,000 as needed.

Planning and zoning actions

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommendations were presented and the board approved three land-use-related ordinances and motions on Feb. 17:

- Garage-size variation at 5560 Airdrie Court: the board approved an ordinance granting a variation to increase the planned garage size from 750 square feet (as listed on the agenda) to 930 square feet. The record shows the petitioner explained the increase was to make the space more useful; trustees asked about the reasons for the change before the vote.

- Amendment to Hoffman Estates Municipal Code, section 9-1-18-A (temporary planned development process): the board approved an ordinance extending the expiration date for the temporary planned development process until a new permanent version is adopted.

- Compass Data Center preliminary and final plat of subdivision and site plan for property identified on the agenda as 3333 Beverly Road: the board approved the preliminary and final plat and site plan as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Members noted the ComEd substation in the area will be the subject of a separate application.

Other committee and procurement items discussed or scheduled during the meeting

Board members described upcoming committee meetings and items that committees are expected to consider, including:

- Finance Committee (meeting scheduled, agenda item noted: authorization to award a contract for the 2025 Ford Fest drone show in an amount not to exceed $37,500).

- Public Works & Utilities Committee (items listed for Feb. 24): change order No. 1 for Pfizer lift-station improvements (Martam Construction Inc., amount not to exceed $10,199 and a 77-day time extension), contract award for the Children’s Advocacy Center renovation (Total Pro Construction, amount not to exceed $84,770), and cooperative-purchase authorization for a Caterpillar XQ230 generator (Altafur Power Systems, amount not to exceed $162,825).

- Public Health & Safety Committee (items listed for Feb. 24): authorization to purchase 13 Lifepak 30/5 cardiac monitors/defibrillators from Stryker (amount not to exceed $702,333.14), award of a contract for station alerting system installation at new Fire Station 21 (Digicom Installations Inc., amount not to exceed $85,573.43), ratification of emergency repairs to Fire Engine 22 (Coming Sales and Service, $40,923.30), and authorization to purchase a 2025 Ford Explorer interceptor utility vehicle from Friendly Ford (amount not to exceed $46,955).

Administrative and community notes

The village clerk reported that in January the clerk’s office processed 34 passports and responded to 225 FOIA requests, and that early voting at Village Hall will run March 17–30 with posted hours on the agenda.

Executive session

The board voted to move into executive session for matters described on the agenda as review of closed-session minutes and personnel, citing “5 ILCS” as the statutory authority in the meeting motion. The board took the roll call and adjourned into executive session and did not return to open session that evening.

Votes at a glance (roll-call summaries as recorded in the meeting transcript)

- Consent agenda (items A–E): recorded roll call responses on the agenda: Trustee Noel — Aye; Trustee Palafis/Plathis — Aye; Trustee Staunton — Aye; Trustee Keneen/Knoone — Aye; Trustee Mills — Aye; Mayor McLeod — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Planning & Zoning — garage-size variation (5560 Airdrie Court): recorded roll call responses: Trustee Knoll — Aye; Trustee Plathis — Aye; Trustee Staunton — Aye; Trustee Knoone — Aye; Trustee Mills — Aye; Mayor McLeod — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance amending temporary planned development process (Sec. 9-1-18-A): recorded roll call responses: Trustee Palafis — Aye; Trustee Staunton — Aye; Trustee Kinne — Aye; Trustee Mills — Aye; Mayor McLeod — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Compass Data Center preliminary/final plat and site plan (3333 Beverly Road): recorded roll call responses: Trustee Nolte/Noel — Aye; Trustee Palafis — Aye; Trustee Staunton — Aye; Trustee Keneen — Aye; Trustee Mills — Aye; Mayor McLeod — Aye. Outcome: approved.

Notes on the record and transcript inconsistencies

The meeting transcript used several inconsistent spellings and identifications for trustees and vendors (for example, variations of Palafis/Plathis, Noll/Knoll/Nolte/Noel, Keneen/Knoone, and vendor spellings). Where names and vendor spellings appear in the village’s official agenda or minutes they should be treated as authoritative; this article reports the names and amounts as presented on the Feb. 17 meeting agenda and as spoken in the public record. The agenda text also contained a formatting error in the parcel description for one Compass Data Centers incentive item; the village agenda and subsequent staff materials should be consulted for the official parcel ID and incentive agreement language.

What’s next

Several items approved at the Feb. 17 meeting — including the Compass Data Center approvals, the comprehensive plan consulting contract, and committee procurement items — will proceed under the contract and permitting processes identified by village staff. The board recessed into executive session at the end of the meeting and did not return to open session that evening.