Yorkville leaders talk growth

City, schools: Joint meeting covers common concerns

YORKVILLE -- The increased demand on city services and impact on the school district classrooms are nothing new to elected officials here.

However, putting two governmental bodies in the same room to talk about potential solutions and ways to improve communication is a relatively recent development.

For the second time in just over a year, the Yorkville City Council and Yorkville School Board met in a joint session Monday to discuss challenges that are common to both.

"I think this is certainly something we need to do at least once a year," School Board President Robert Brenart said.

Mayor Art Prochaska said that, while the city is trying to control the influx of new development as best it can, market factors that are drawing people to Yorkville are likely to continue.

"Are we going to stop it?" Prochaska said of the growth. "No, it's an economy-driven thing," he said.

The school district saw its enrollment grow by more than 10 percent this year, and an even higher increase is likely next fall.

City Administrator Tony Graff said the city issued about 350 building permits last year and expects about 600 this year. Eighty percent to 85 percent of the permits are for single-family houses, he said.

School Board Vice President Michael Crouch said he is concerned because of the two-year time frame it takes to build schools, and because, as it stands now, the district's debt service limits would not allow the board to seek a referendum to add significant classroom space.

School Board members asked whether the city has considered measures to reduce the amount of growth, such as placing a limit on building permits.

Prochaska said that such a move would likely raise legal issues. He said he recently spoke to a farm land owner who did not want anyone telling him what to do with his land.

However, Prochaska said, the city has acted to help see that new development pays its way as it comes to Yorkville.

"We have developers putting up water towers and water mains," he said.

Alderman Richard Sticka said the city has worked through the Yorkville Economic Development Corporation to help bring businesses that add to the tax base without adding students.

Requiring larger lot sizes, adding requirements to the landscape ordinance and increasing capital development fees are some ways the city has been able to have a measure of control over growth, city officials said.

In addition, the School District and the city are working with a consultant to help locate potential school sites in the city's planning area, the mayor said.

The Yorkville School District includes parts of Montgomery, Oswego, and Plano. In addition, part of Joliet's planning area extends into the Yorkville School District.