Economic Development Minutes 2025 12-02-25DRAFT
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UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 6:00pm
East Conference Room #337
651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville, IL
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Chairman Ken Koch
Alderman Matt Marek
Alderman Joe Plocher
Absent: Alderman Rusty Hyett
Other City Officials
Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett
Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble
Senior Planner Sara Mendez
Senior Planner David Hansen via Zoom
Code Official Pete Ratos
Attorney Megan Lamb via Zoom
Economic Development Coordinator Katelyn Gregory
City Consultant Lynn Dubajic Kellogg
Other Guests
Heather DiVerde, Yorkville School District #115
Matt Zediker, Yorkville School District #115
Kerry Pipal, Attorney for Yorkville School District #115, via Zoom
Shannon Westberg, Green Door Capital
Matt Gilbert, Green Door Capital
Jessica/Caledonia resident, via Zoom
Sean Reynolds, JLL, via Zoom
Sam Dunkin, JLL, via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Ken Koch
Citizen Comments None
Minutes for Correction/Approval October 7, 2025
The minutes were approved as presented.
New Business
1. EDC 2025-80 Building Permit Reports for September and October 2025
Mr. Ratos reported 130 new building permits in September and of those, 12 were single family
detached and 26 for single family attached. He said the single family attached were primarily in
Grande Reserve North. In October, 164 permits were issued with 20 of those single family
detached, and 41 single family attached mostly in Grande Reserve. There were also 13
commercial permits. No further discussion or action.
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2. 2025-81 Building Inspection Reports for September and October 2025
There were 648 inspections in September and 820 in October. Most were for single family
homes, fences, and decks.
3. EDC 2025-82 Property Maintenance Reports for September and October 2025
Mr. Ratos said many cases were heard in September. A fine of $3,150 each was assessed for
several townhomes not being worked on which had broken windows and doors. In October
$36,000 in citations and fines were issued for weeds and grass for that property which consists of
180 individual lots. Also in September, $35,000 in fines was paid by the former owner of a
property on Bluestem and that property has now been sold. Also, Target incurred a fine for a
non-stop leak not fixed.
4. EDC 2025-83 Economic Development Reports for October and November 2025
Ms. Gregory said many businesses opened in this time period, including Costco. She also
referred the committee to her report.
5. EDC 2025-84 Meyer Data Center - Rezoning
Ms. Mendez said the petitioner paused the rezoning application on September 18. They have
now resumed it and wish to rezone only the 2 western parcels (91 acres) to M-2. Their decision
to rezone the western parcels reflects EDC feedback. For the remaining 37-acre eastern parcel,
staff is recommending rezoning it from R-4 to A-1 or OS. This would provide a buffer between
Caledonia residents and a future data center. Staff also recommends a development agreement to
ensure no other manufacturing uses are allowed on the 2 western parcels and a 500-foot minimum
building separation from any future residential structure is maintained if it is rezoned to A-1. The
petitioner is requesting to be placed on the January 14, 2026 PZC meeting agenda for the
rezoning. In the meantime, they will conduct their public meeting. An updated land plan has also
been submitted.
Ms. Shannon Westberg, representing Green Door Capital, said there are 2 issues to discuss:
zoning and down-zoning. She said they would like flexibility to market the property if it is not
developed as a data center and they also want to preserve the value of the land. Ms. Noble said
the city would not want to have M-2 and R-4 zoning next to each other which is not consistent
with regulations. She said the city is maintaining its position of recommending a down-zoning of
the M-2 to ag or open space if it is not used for a data center. Mr. Gilbert inquired if they would
be able to rezone the 37 acres back to residential use if they rezoned all properties to residential.
He said it would be a major concession to not rezone the 37 acres. Ms. Noble said that stipulation
could be written into a development agreement.
A resident of Caledonia, Jessica, asked if there is a company tied to the petition or is the data
center a hypothetical plan. She asked if it were to be rezoned, would the data center be closer to
the residential area, which it would not. She said the potential rezoning is of concern to the
Caledonia residents. Alderman Koch said the developer would meet with Caledonia residents
before moving ahead with any plans. Alderman Plocher recommended the rezoning not be
residential and suggested language stating if there is no movement in 20 years, that it be zoned
Ag. Mr. Gilbert asked if the ag use could be applied to the east portion since they would like to
continue the farming there to cover the taxes. He also asked about the Rob Roy Creek
deforestation and if there are plans to let it grow back naturally. It is handled by the Drainage
District and Ms. Noble will find the answer for this question. Mr. Ratos said they had to clear it
due to restrictions and so that it does not clog the creek
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6. EDC 2025-85 Yorkville School District 115 – Annexation and Rezoning
Ms. Mendez presented this request from the school district. They wish to annex 3 parcels totaling
155 acres located north of River Rd., west of Game Farm Rd. and east of Eldamain Rd. They
seek rezoning from R-1 to P-I for school facilities. The property is currently A-1 in Kendall
County. Due to the growing city population, this petition addresses the need for additional
facilities for a student population of 7,151 students. She detailed the contiguity of the properties,
the rezoning, and Comp Plan. The school district will submit a land plan and this item moves
forward to a Public Hearing at City Council on January 13 for annexation and then to Planning
and Zoning on January 14 for rezoning.
School district representatives Heather DiVerde and Matt Zediker said new buildings will be built
on the properties. Ms. DiVerde said discussions have been held with the fire district and land
may be donated to them for a new fire station. She also said they do not plan on extending
Beecher Rd. all the way south to River Rd. Mr. Plocher noted it had been discussed as an
emergency exit.
7. EDC 2025-86 Meeting Schedule for 2026
The committee approved the meeting schedule presented.
Old Business: None
Additional Business: None
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:34pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Marlys Young, Minute Taker