Locals push against enterprise zoning
Diane DeMers, resident of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood, expresses her concerns over the implementation of a enterprise zone in DeKalb at a Monday City Council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. DeMers brought photographs of a strip mall at the corner of Annie Glidden Highway and Hillcrest Drive to show attendees what an enterprise zone could create in the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood. An enterprise zone is an area within a community where companies receive incentives, including tax credits and exemptions.
October 28, 2014
The John and Harrison Street area will be excluded from DeKalb’s proposed enterprise zone, a move that was announced at City Council Monday.
Enterprise zones are areas within communities where companies can take advantage of special state incentives, including tax credits and exemptions, said Paul Borek, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation executive director. The city must submit a proposed enterprise zone to the state by Dec. 31, and residents used City Council to talk about their concerns in regard to the enterprise zone.
City attorney Dean Frieders said the zoning would not affect or alter existing zoning and the process of any zoning or rezoning. Borek said the enterprise zone can increase employment and investment opportunities, and NIU’s west campus area can be included within the borders of the enterprise zone.
When the floor was opened to the public, residents expressed concern over the inclusion of NIU’s west campus and the possibility of the John and Harrison Street area becoming part of the enterprise zone. The original proposal that was posted on the city website, www.cityofdekalb.com, had included the John and Harrison Street neighborhoods, but after deliberation and complaints the area was excluded.
County Board member Misty Haji-Sheikh said by including NIU in the zoning map, the enterprise zoning would be “forgoing NIU’s authority.” Haji-Sheikh questioned whether the city has the authority to make university property an enterprise zone.
Speakers also expressed concerns over the results of enterprise zoning, such as the impending inclusion of the Ellwood Historic District and the possible draining of NIU’s East Lagoon.
Resident Rich Rice said he appreciated the City Council’s decision to exclude the John and Harrison Street areas from the zone.
“I urge the council to extend that consideration to the rest of the Ellwood Historic District, that appears to be, and it’s quite substantial, that appears to be on this map,” Rice said.
Resident William Blair said he was worried about a possible plan to drain the East Lagoon because the lagoon played a large role in the history of NIU.
“I’m not sure if it’s a myth, or been embellished over the years, but the story about how the university came to be located in DeKalb [was by the] damming [of] the river and building what amounts to the lagoon,” Blair said.
