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Council moves forward on Eastpointe Commons annexation after $2.9 million DCEO grant
Summary
Belvidere council advanced an annexation agreement for Eastpointe Commons after staff said the State DCEO awarded $2.9 million for public improvements; a roughly $1.6 million gap will be split between the city and the developer and the project requires at least 50 acres for industrial use.
The Belvidere City Council Committee of the Whole voted July 13 to advance the annexation agreement for a development called Eastpointe Commons after the city secured a $2,900,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to fund most public improvements.
City Attorney summarized the agreement and said the grant covers the majority of the public-improvement costs but leaves about a $1.6 million shortfall that the agreement splits equally between the city and the property owner, identified in the meeting as the Bush family/DMD Investments. The agreement also requires at least 50 acres of the project be devoted to industrial development to qualify for the grant.
Why it matters: City officials said looping the water system to serve the property is a major benefit that could unlock future development. City Attorney flagged a December 31 deadline in the grant agreement for installing public improvements and recommended timely approvals so work and bidding can begin.
Council procedure and next steps: The city attorney said the annexation will require an ordinance and a public hearing; he will return an ordinance for first reading next week, followed by a second reading two weeks later. He noted the annexation ordinance will require a supermajority of eight affirmative votes on the council when it reaches a formal vote. Mayor and council members who spoke framed the deal as necessary to spur development and extend water service to the site.
No vote tally was recorded in the transcript for the first-motion step beyond the committee’s voice vote to advance the agreement; the city attorney said formal ordinance proceedings and public hearing requirements remain.
