In a joint session of DeKalb’s planning commission and city council, the “points of consensus” of the growth summit committee were discussed.

Even though the group did not come up with a plan for dealing with future growth and its impact on the DeKalb school district, the plan commission staff was empowered to brainstorm strategies for dealing with the main concern: How will the city deal with the impact on the school district?

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow offered the idea that the plan commission could lay out the comprehensive growth plan for the city, and leave it up to the council to “coax” the plan around the needs of the district.

The group most likely will meet again to discuss the issue further, but did not announce a date for the future meeting.

In a PowerPoint presentation from Paul Rasmussen, community development director, the question of whether the school district should have a “bigger role” in planning and annexation decisions was brought up.

“For one reason or another, [the school district] has not elected to attend those meetings,” said Rich Fassig, plan commission chair. In the past, when large discussion of developments has come up, the DeKalb Park District has elected to attend plan commission meetings.

Despite the school district’s absence from development discussions, its members are kept aware of plans by the commission. Fassig said the school district only commented on the River Mist and Savannah Green developments.

“I think we need to make our decision before they can make theirs,” Fassig said.

NIU’s impact

The meeting brought up several points concerning NIU’s population as it effects the city’s growth.

Currently, about 14,000 NIU students, of the 25,000 total, live in DeKalb; Five thousand of those students live in the residence halls.

While a trend exists that shows students have an impact on the city’s growth, they may not necessarily effect property taxes and benefit the school district.

The majority of students live in apartment complexes, which Sparrow likened to industrial development in their effect on property tax. While some students may have families and live in the city, their children probably will not become a part of the school district before they graduate.

Ultimately, the group did not reach a consensus on whether NIU students will impact the city’s growth.