DeKalb put forth a moratorium on residential buildings nearly six months ago, and it was later extended from the end of September to the end of November.

The setting of residential building guidelines and the administering of impact fees were the two hurdles in the way of lifting the DeKalb building moratorium, but they’ve now been cleared.

As of the Oct. 12 Plan Commission meeting, DeKalb settled on a set of guidelines it will follow, opening the way for growth to continue if the city council agrees.

These are guidelines, not rules, stressed Russ Farnum, DeKalb Community Development Director.

“The moratorium will expire Nov. 30 unless any other actions are taken,” said DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki.

At the Nov. 14 city council meeting, the council members will consider the issue of impact fees.

Area developers are conflicted. They want the moratorium lifted, yet they protest the increased amount of the proposed impact fees.

“I don’t think it is good for DeKalb, we are losing out to neighboring communities,” said Mac McIntyre, executive officer for the DeKalb County Developers and Builders Association.

The region has certainly seen large growth in all directions, with many young people being priced out of the Chicagoland area and moving west. That has brought an influx of development city officials were afraid the city services couldn’t keep pace with.

The moratorium has been official for about the last six months, but it has really existed since the last annexation in 2001, McIntyre said.

“You’ll see larger subdivisions being proposed,” McIntyre said. “That will be the only way that they’ll be able to absorb the proposed impact fees.”

A couple of potential developments near Bethany Road could contain more than 2,000 homes.

“I worry about the contractors,” said Pat Elsner, owner of Century 21 Elsner, 901 N. First St. “We have a large inventory with a lot of brand new houses on the market.”