Expansion of business district in Highland to go before city council this month

The Highland business district expansion went before a public hearing last week, and will come up before the city council by the end of the month.

Highland’s business district is slated for expansion by adding Glik Park and other areas to it, totaling 34 parcels of property and rights-of-way.

The business district would impose a 1% tax on businesses within the district for up to 23 years, which would be used for redevelopment and infrastructure.

City Manager Chris Conrad said three people spoke at the public hearing last week. One was a resident who lives near the business district and was concerned about the impact of water runoff and drainage issues for future development. Another had questions about the sales tax, and a third was in favor of the business district approach, Conrad said.

“(He said it was) a more fair way for governments to pay for infrastructure and improvement because it is a user tax rather than a property tax,” Conrad said.

Under a business district tax, the costs are paid by everyone who comes into Highland and patronizes Highland businesses, rather than putting all the burden on property owners.

The Highland business district was established in 2017 and amended in 2019. The expansion would include proprieties on the north side of the existing district along Illinois 143; the central portion along U.S. 40 and Nagel Drive; and south of U.S. 40 and north of West Monroe Street to the south; as well as property adjacent to Frank Watson Parkway north and south of Sportsman Road.

Business districts can only be established in areas where there is economic, environmental or other forms of blight. The report presented to the council last month found aged and deteriorated buildings, roads in disrepair and deterioration in parking areas and driveways.

There are several annexations of property pending that are contingent on the business district expansion, Conrad said. Those annexations would ordinarily be acted upon at the Nov. 7 council meeting, and were on the agenda. But Conrad said they would be tabled until the Nov. 21 meeting, which is when the business district will come up for a vote before the council.

That means residents will have the opportunity to address the city council at the Nov. 21 meeting to express their opinions about the business district expansion, Conrad said. Community members had this opportunity at the Nov. 7 meeting as well.

The council also will have its audit presentation on Nov. 21, examining the city’s finances.