Economic Development Minutes 2025 08-05-25APPROVED 9/2/25
Page 1 of 3
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 6:00pm
East Conference Room #337
651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville, IL
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Chairman Ken Koch Alderman Rusty Hyett
Alderman Joe Plocher Alderman Matt Marek via Zoom
Other City Officials
City Administrator Bart Olson
Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett
Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble
Planner I Sara Mendez
Senior Planner David Hansen
Code Official Pete Ratos
City Consultant Lynn Dubajic Kellogg
Community Engagement & Marketing Coordinator Katelyn Gregory
Other Guests
Tom DeCarlo, KEO, IL LLC Kevin C. Boyd, Prairie Point Ventures
Pat Daly, Prairie Point Ventures David Bossy, Prairie Point Ventures
J. Witt, Prologis Clare Chandler, Prologis
Katie Fraser, Prologis Sam Woodworth, WSPY News
Joshua Schultz Rebekah Axtell
George Ostreko Tammi Schleining
Josh Schleining Matt Gilbert via Zoom
Aimee Lalime via Zoom Lincoln Burrows via Zoom
Henry Blackburn via Zoom Sean R. via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Vice-Chairman Ken Koch.
Citizen Comments None
Minutes for Correction/Approval July 1, 2025
The minutes were approved as presented.
New Business
1. EDC 2025-54 Building Permit Report for June 2025
Mr. Ratos reported 146 permits in June which included 13 single family homes and 18
commercial. He said there are many permits waiting to be issued and there should be an uptick
by the end of the year.
2. EDC 2025-55 Building Inspection Report for June2025
There were 676 inspections in June and all were done in-house except a few.
Page 2 of 3
3. EDC 2025-56 Property Maintenance Report for June 2025
Mr. Ratos said there is an ongoing case pertaining to grass and weeds not being cut on Bluestem.
A fine of $4,200 was levied for not cutting the grass for 35 days and an additional fine was
adjudicated at a Hearing last night. Mr. Ratos said he spoke with the owner who requested a
settlement arrangement. There is over $20,000 in unpaid fines over a 5-year period. Mr. Olson
said the offender could be taken to court and the fines enforced or city staff will cut the grass and
a lien can be placed on the property. It was noted that Ground Effects is also in violation and the
owner is non-responsive. It will be referred to Public Works.
4. EDC 2025-57 Economic Development Report for July 2025
Katelyn Gregory reported We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym will open soon, Salsa Verde will
open at a new location and the Reds Sports Training Facility has broken ground. Alderman
Koch asked if some of the businesses are having trouble with individuals harassing customers.
Mr. Olson addressed this and said several businesses have had trespassing incidents. He also
noted the Supreme Court has granted authority to approve anti-camping ordinances to prohibit
camping on public property. He said there are a couple on private property and an individual on
public property. Aldermen Koch and Plocher both said they had received complaints from
business patrons.
5. EDC 2025-58 Downtown Brownfield Remediation – Terracon SRP Proposal
The remediation efforts are for the former FS site including the east alley and stems from
agriculture use over 100 years ago. Staff is seeking a “no further remediation” letter. The cost to
clean the site is about $100,000 with $85,000 for engineering and $10,000 for IEPA time and
permit fees. The permit will give the city authority to drill for samples and create a remediation
plan. If the letter is given, it would also allow the city to sell the property. Paying for this will
require a budget amendment which has been drafted. Mr. Olson said remediation can include
soil treatments, excavation or encapsulation of the soil. While it is not legally necessary, he said it
is good practice. Chairman Koch asked about the 2008 Kendall Safety Group and if that group
took any steps for remediation with IEPA helping with costs. Mr. Olson said IEPA will help
guide through the process, however, there are no funds available at this time. Alderman Marek
asked about the area across the tracks—the site just touches the area by the tracks. The
committee agreed to go forward with this proposal.
6. EDC 2025-59 Project Steel – Prologis (Data Center) – Annexation, Rezone, Preliminary
PUD Plan and PUD
Mr. J. C. Witt gave a brief overview of Prologis which owns 1.3 billion sq. ft. of buildings across
the globe including many data centers. They own 80 million square feet in the Chicago area and
are connected to many non-profit organizations. He said they held a meeting with nearby
residents and answered many questions about their proposal.
Ms. Katie Fraser, Director of Development Services for Prologis, gave a brief presentation of the
proposed project in Yorkville. She said Project Steel is a 540-acre site bounded by Galena Rd,
Corneils, Eldamain and Beecher Rd. They are proposing 18, two-story data center buildings with
a 15-20 year phased buildout time. Their site would include a landscaping berm and a trail and
they also would provide benefits to the community. She provided other details and renderings of
the buildings.
Ms. Noble gave the staff overview and stated the history of the previously proposed
developments for homes though the land was never annexed or rezoned. The petitioner is seeking
M-2 zoning. She said the PUD request allows for flexibility in zoning and variances and
Page 3 of 3
the petitioner must meet at least one of the city standards. She discussed landscaping, access
building phasing, two school district boundaries and coordination with ComEd. Ms. Noble said
the project does require vacating W. Beecher Rd. after annexation and will require demolition of
3 homes there. There are 13 deviations requested. She also discussed parking requirements,
multi-use trail, landscaping, berm and street design/road reconstruction and other street
improvements. Road recapture payments are also required. Noise testing will also be mandatory
throughout the project. The Comprehensive Plan will also require an amendment. Development
agreements will be consistent with the other proposed projects in the area. She said this proposal
will move forward to Planning and Zoning on August 13th.
Mr. Olson addressed the Beecher Road discussion. He said East Beecher would not go through
the Cardinal property and all of W. Beecher is being requested to be vacated. East Beecher
would extend to Corneils with a possible roundabout. He said this matter would go to Planning
& Zoning and then City Council.
Tammi Schleining who resides on Eldamain Rd., had several concerns and questions. She said
the main entrance to Project Steel is right next to their driveway and the pedestrian walkway ends
at her driveway. She asked where pedestrians would be parking and where they enter the trail.
Also, there are berms on Galena and Eldamain and a smaller setback by her property—she asked
for a larger buffer. She also asked if the main entrance will be used for construction traffic and
had concerns about many issues--possible power outages, water well, site changes for privacy,
lighting and effect of constant humming on their livestock. Other concerns noted later were dust
and energy pollution. She will forward all concerns to the city. Mr. Olson and Ms. Noble replied
to some of her comments. Mr. Koch suggested the entrance could be farther north and Prologis
personnel will reconsider the driveway and trail issues.
Matt Gilbert (on Zoom) who represents Green Door Capital and owns nearby property, said they
paid a premium price and do not approve of Beecher Road running through their property. They
have not heard anything from the petitioner about the project being discussed tonight. He asked
to go on record with his comments that they oppose the vacation of W. Beecher and and southern
routing.
The committee recommended moving this petition forward to the Planning & Zoning
Commission.
Old Business: None
Additional Business:
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:55pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Marlys Young, Minute Taker