Growth in Sycamore has presented the city with a topic of debate.

According to the City of Sycamore’s Web site, results from a 2005 consensus report Sycamore’s population is 14,900, which is a significant increase in comparison to 2000’s reported population of 12,020.

“My position has always been that growth is good, as long as it pays for itself,” said First Ward Alderman Rich Neubauer. “But I believe you will find an alternative philosophy from some people in city hall and in business, that we shouldn’t do anything to slow down growth.”

Neubauer also said although there are positives that come from community growth, many tangible negatives that result from exponential growth.

For instance, if Sycamore enacted road impact fees, higher revenue would have been collected and the city’s proposed gas tax would not be necessary, Neubauer said.

Also, according to Neubauer, in order to fund new schools needed due to recent growth in DeKalb, property taxes took a major increase and are expected to further increase up to $600.

“For some people, this is not a big deal, but it will have a pronounced effect on seniors with a fixed income and low-income families,” Neubauer said. “Conceivably, they could be forced to choose between making the mortgage payment or buying their medicine.”

Sycamore resident Joel Barczak spoke out at the March 3 city council meeting in support of growth.

“I believe our town is based on growth, historically,” Barczak said. “No growth is contrary to the essence of business.”

According to a handout entitled “Reality Check” given out by Neubauer at a February city council meeting, advocates of slower growth are not a vocal minority. In March 2004, 71 percent of voters in Sycamore voted “yes” to the referendum question: “Shall the Sycamore City Council be directed from further approving a residential development for a period of seven years, with the exception of housing for the elderly, homeless and handicapped?”

In addition, three current aldermen were elected to their positions on a platform based on slower growth.

“When I was campaigning last spring, I visited an elderly couple on High Street. They told me they were scared by the new growth and the inevitable referendums that always seem to follow growth,” Neubauer said. “Their only income was Social Security, and an increase in property taxes was going to be a real hardship for them. I usually think of that couple whenever we talk about impact fees or a new annexation.

“When we talk about growth, we usually throw around statistics, but there are actually real people involved for whom we are creating real problems,” Neubauer said.

Advocates of slower growth do not really want zero-growth indefinitely, according to the “Reality Check” handout. They just want moderation and fiscal responsibility.

In the wording from Article 4.4.2.F. of the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, “The Council will seek to adjust both the timing and the number of new housing permits in any given year in order to approach an overall average of 250 dwelling units per year in the City of Sycamore, from 2010 onward.”

The city’s latest permit timeline shows that the city’s actual average number of new dwelling units per year is 292, which is 42 homes over the annual limit.

“We have a pacing mechanism, but it is not enforced,” Neubauer said.

He said the only pacing of growth that is likely to occur will be the result of the downturn in the housing sector.

“I believe in growth,” Barczak said. “I believe growth is life and it’s positive.”