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Zion council approves sidewalk grant application, land transfers, leases and development steps
Summary
On Dec. 3 the Zion City Council approved a Lake County CDBG sidewalk grant application, intergovernmental agreements to fold the county land bank into the Northern Illinois Land Bank, property transfers and leases to support a Start Early early-education facility, purchase of park district land for a new fire station, and a conveyance step in the Trumpet Park industrial redevelopment.
ZION, Ill.
At its Dec. 3 meeting the Zion City Council approved a package of consent and development items intended to advance infrastructure, public-safety facilities and economic development.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda: Minutes of Nov. 19, 2024 approved; bills and vouchers (147260' 147363) totaling $1,895,464.23 approved by roll call.
- Resolution (Item 8): Council passed a resolution authorizing application to the Lake County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for sidewalk replacement and ADA ramp installation. Staff said the grant would provide $80,000 toward an estimated $115,000 project.
- Ordinance 9a (IGA): Council approved an intergovernmental agreement to transfer Lake County Land Bank operations into the Northern Illinois Land Bank; two appointments to the expanded board will return to council in January.
- Ordinance 9b (property transfer from School District 6): Council accepted terms to acquire roughly 4'5 acres between Zion Central Middle School and Shiloh Park for the Start Early early-childhood facility, enabling the city to enter a lease arrangement with fewer public-entity restrictions.
- Ordinance 9c (ground lease): Council authorized a ground lease (contingent on the district's transfer) between the city and Start Early / Starkville corporation for the site; staff said construction is expected to start in spring if approvals proceed.
- Ordinance 9d (park-district conveyance): Council authorized purchase/transfer of about 4.5 acres from the Zion Park District for Fire Station No. 2 for $120,000 so architects can proceed with site design; council asked staff to include traffic and response-time analysis during due diligence.
- Ordinance 9e (Trumpet Park conveyance): Council approved an initial conveyance step tied to an option with North Shore Water Reclamation District to close on about 21 acres in Trumpet Park. Staff said a developer is interested but not yet disclosed; final transfer and any incentives depend on a later redevelopment agreement.
What the council said
Administrator David Navell described each item and noted contingency language that will require subsequent redevelopment agreements or approvals for specifics like incentives and performance targets. On the park-district conveyance for a new fire station, commissioners asked about traffic impacts at Lewis and Route 173; staff said a traffic study will be conducted during design and existing rights-of-way could serve as primary entrances.
Other updates and announcements
Department directors reported a building demolition in the downtown area, an IDOT timeline for Sheridan Road reopening (potentially Dec. 6 if weather permits), and approval of phase 1 of a Fortieth Street stormwater project that could be funded at about $5 million. Chief Barton highlighted the upcoming Shop With A Cop event and safety reminders for the holiday season.
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter closed session under 5 ILCS 120/2 to discuss litigation, purchase/sale of real estate, collective bargaining and personnel matters.
This roundup reports actions approved by roll call at the Dec. 3 meeting; specific redevelopment terms, developer identities and incentive details were not disclosed at the meeting and will be subject to later agreements and public notices.
