Ivanhoe Village Update

Dear D79 and D120 Communities,

Fremont School District 79 and Mundelein High School District 120 remain committed to keeping our community informed with updates regarding the potential Ivanhoe Village development in Mundelein.

Our last communication on April 10 shared that the Illinois State House of Representatives passed HB 22 which was introduced and passed in the House within 48 hours (press release). This legislation allows municipalities to impose impact fees to help cover the costs of constructing new school buildings when those costs are directly tied to specific residential developments.

However, the April 14 Village of Mundelein Board of Trustees meeting agenda has been posted, and it is clear that they intend to move forward and vote to approve two key items:

• School impact fee agreement for the proposed Ivanhoe Village development

• While the proposed agreement includes approximately $6.7 million for D79 and $4.4 million for D120, the investment still falls woefully short of the costs associated with facility needs attributable to Ivanhoe Village. Over 1,000 K-12 students generated from this development will require significant facility investments.

• The financial gap will have to be made up by current taxpayers. It is not fair for our taxpayers to subsidize the costs prompted by the new development.

• New impact fee ordinance for future developments

• This new ordinance outlines the financial support school districts, park districts, and libraries will receive to offset costs associated with the growth from any subsequent residential developments.

• The new ordinance will restrict the ability of impacted taxing bodies to negotiate in the future and lock future fees at a significantly discounted rate (50%+) compared to recent impact fee agreements.

• Why lessen the funding required of developers at taxpayers’ expense?

These actions are not in the best interests of our community, and will negatively impact taxpayers for decades to come. There’s still time for you to take action to influence Mundelein Mayor Lentz and the Village Board.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Village of Mundelein’s next meeting is Monday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall

• Urge Mayor Lentz and the Village Board to halt any action regarding both the Ivanhoe Village impact fees agreement and the proposed new permanent impact fee ordinance items. Ask them to allow time for current legislation to advance in Springfield and “untie the hands” of Village officials to negotiate a deal that is fairer to all stakeholders.

• Encourage Mayor-Elect Robin Meier and the incoming trustees to call upon Mayor Lentz and the current Village Board to delay action and allow the Village’s new leadership to deliberate on these important decisions. There is no need to rush on these issues, no need to act before Mayor Lentz exits Village leadership in two weeks.

• Contact the Village of Mundelein Board of Trustees and implore them to support the current legislation and halt any action concerning impact fees (both for Ivanhoe Village and for the proposed new permanent ordinance) and to support the current legislation (letter template)

• Make a public comment at the next Village of Mundelein Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall.

We continue to advocate on our taxpayers’ behalf and so that our educational priorities will not be compromised by hasty political actions that benefit developers.

Sincerely,

Trisha Kocanda, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools, D79

Kevin Myers, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools, D120