UPDATE: About 40 residents attended the public hearing on a TIF district for the Hickory-Kensington area on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. Opposing issues to the redevelopment plan include …
(1) high-density population in the area with skepticism about 5-story condo/apartment buildings,
(2) concern about the existing businesses that would be relocated or closed,
(3) heavier traffic at an unusual angled T-intersection at Northwest Highway and Kensington Road and already-congested Mariano’s parking area,
(4) business draw away from downtown Arlington Heights, and
(5) opinions about the benefit of letting the free market drive the best development instead of government “forcefully” making the area develop.
The village will hold several meetings before a final vote on the project in July. Additional details about the Hickory-Kensington TIF District and re-development will be published on vah.com next week. There were no reminders regarding Wednesday night’s hearing on the Village of Arlington Heights website front page, and there were no reminders on any of the social media channels for Arlington Heights (@ArlingtonHtsGov, Facebook Village of Arlington Heights – Planning and Community Development, or Facebook Discover Arlington Heights)
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The Village of Arlington Heights is scheduled to hold a public hearing tonight (Wednesday, April 2, 2014) starting at 7:00 p.m. to discuss plans and a timeline for the proposed new tax increment financing district in the Hickory-Kensington area of town.
The meeting will include a summary and description of the plan, a timeline of next steps for the TIF District project, an explanation of how the TIF works, and time for questions and comments from the public.
45-Degree Aerial Conceptual Drawing of Hickory-Kensington TIF District. http://t.co/WSxxO9Eba6 pic.twitter.com/MMLRdUsJwu
— Cardinal News (@EarlyReport) April 2, 2014
SOURCE: Village of Arlington Heights (See additional graphics Hickory-Kensington TIF Village of Arlington Heights).
The proposed TIF District is defined by Dryden Avenue to the east, Northwest Highway to the south, Belmont Avenue to the west, and Miner Street to the north. The area considered for redevelopment is largely light industry and vacant, but many existing businesses would be affected by the re-development.
Redevelopment in recent years has already occurred with the construction of Mariano’s at the former Lattoff Chevrolet building property, a Walgreens and new Arlington Crossings townhouses.
Some businesses may have to upgrade or relocate under the proposal. At the time of the plan’s approval there were 20 businesses in the core area that would be affected by redevelopment.
Business that have vanished in the conceptual drawing are Heller Lumber and Beverly Lanes. The conceptual drawing also shows dense multi-story housing throughout much of the area.
If a TIF district is approved for the area, property tax disbursements to local governments from the properties in the TIF district would be frozen at current levels. Any revenue growth through the life of the TIF district would go to a special Village of Arlington Heights fund to pay for planning and construction of improvements within the TIF district.
On November 12, 2013 at the Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Trustee Thomas Glasgow moved, that the Committee-of-the-Whole recommend to the Village Board approval of the execution of a contract with Kane McKenna and Associates, not to exceed $20,500 for Phase Two. Trustee Robin LaBedz seconded the motion. This Phase includes drafting the Redevelopment Plan and to commence the Public Hearing process for considering a TIF District for the Hickory Kensington area. The motion was passed unanimously by the Village Board — Mayor Thomas W. Hayes, and Trustees Carol J. Blackwood, Joseph C. Farwell, Thomas Glasgow, Bert Rosenberg, John Scaletta, Mike Sidor, Jim Tinaglia, and Robin LaBedz.
The initial proposal for the TIF District was at a Village Board Meeting on December 17, 2012, which was opposed by Scaleta, Blackwood, and Rosenberg; and approved by Glasgow, Hayes, Sidor, Breyer, Farwell, and Mulder (approved 6-3).
See also …
vah.com/assets/1/agendas_and_minutes/minutes_12_17__2012.pdf
vah.com/assets/1/planning_department/HickoryKensingtonPlan.pdf
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