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The Montgomery Village Board has voted to increase the village’s building and annexation fees.
In a 4-0 ballot April 10, the board approved raising the base building fee from $50 to $55 to $90 to $100, and new construction fees from $25 to $30 per 100 square feet.
The board’s vote also hikes the village’s planning fee from $400 to $600, and sets annexation fees at $600 for lots smaller than 1 acre and $1,000 for lots of 1 acre or more in size.
In a memo, Sonya Abt, the village’s community development director, said the fee increases ensure that more of the village’s expenses related to processing, reviewing and issuing permits and zoning applications are being covered
Abt told the board that in proposing the fees village staff also sought to make sure the village’s fee are in line with other area communities.
The board’s vote served to update a comprehensive fee and deposit schedule that was adopted in 2018 and then updated with some minor additions the following year. Before that time, the last major update to the village’s building and development fee schedule was in 2011.
“I agree with the $600 fee for lots of less than an acre. I feel it is consistent and accomplishes what staff is looking for in getting (our) costs covered...It doesn’t punish the smaller residential lots.”
— Doug Marecek, Montgomery Village Board member
Initially, village staff proposed a flat $1,000 annexation fee. However, board member Doug Marecek expressed concern during a March 27 meeting that by setting the fee at $1,000 it might discourage some property owners, including those who reside along Montgomery Road in unincorporated Aurora Township, from seeking annexation to the village. In response, village staff revised their proposal to reduce the annexation fee for properties of 1 acre or less to $600.
Marecek said he appreciated village staff reviewing the fee for smaller lots and presenting the board with some options.
“I agree with the $600 fee for lots of less than an acre,” Marecek said, adding, “I feel it is consistent and accomplishes what staff is looking for in getting [our] costs covered...It doesn’t punish the smaller residential lot [owners].”
Joining Marecek in voting to approve the fees were board members Theresa Sperling, Dan Gier and Steve Jungermann. Absent from the meeting and the vote were board members Tom Betsinger and Matt Bauman.