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Lindenhurst holds public hearing on proposed Grand Avenue TIF; residents press questions on scope and impacts
Summary
Village officials and consultants outlined a proposed Tax Increment Financing district for Grand Avenue on March 21, 2022; residents asked which properties would be included, whether TIF would affect property taxes, and suggested corridor improvements; ordinances to implement the TIF were announced as forthcoming.
The Village of Lindenhurst held a public hearing March 21 to review a proposed Tax Increment Financing district aimed at spurring commercial redevelopment along Grand Avenue.
Village Administrator Clay Johnson presented the plan, program objectives and the proposed project area to the Village Board during the special meeting. Representatives from Teska Associates, the consulting firm assisting the Village, described how TIF would work and how the tool could be used to incentivize new investment along the corridor.
Members of the public who spoke in person and virtually raised questions about investor interest, alternative incentive programs the Village had considered, and which specific properties would be included in the proposed TIF district. Village staff and the Teska representatives responded to questions and clarified that the TIF itself would not affect property tax rates. The Board noted that ordinances to implement the proposed Grand Avenue TIF would be introduced after the hearing.
Website comments submitted before and during the hearing urged the Village to clarify district boundaries and recommended offering incentives to existing as well as new businesses. Several commenters asked how residential properties within the proposed boundary would be affected. Other suggestions focused on roadway and pedestrian improvements for the Grand Avenue corridor, specifically the segment between Sand Lake Road and Granada: redesign to create a downtown feel, reduced vehicle speeds, enhanced signage, new sidewalks, and installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
Trustee Patty Chybowski moved and Trustee Ron Grace seconded to open the public hearing; the motion passed 4-0 and Trustee Pat Dunham opened the hearing at 7:03 p.m. After roughly an hour of public input and staff responses, Trustee Chybowski moved and Trustee Pat Dickson seconded to close the hearing; that motion passed 4-0 and the hearing was closed at 8:24 p.m. The special meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
The Board announced that a series of ordinances to implement the Grand Avenue TIF would follow. Details about the exact properties in the district, the draft ordinance language and any proposed incentives were described in the hearing presentation but will be formalized in the subsequent ordinance packets that the Board must consider and vote on at a later meeting.
