COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Mission of the Community Development Department is to maintain and improve neighborhoods by developing and implementing innovative programs and enforcement methods; to guide development projects by providing professional planning, plan review, and inspection services that are comprehensive, and long-range; to monitor impacts of development and property maintenance code provisions and recommend amendments to ensure desired outcomes are achieved; to provide responsive customer service with the highest level of integrity and professionalism; and to remain committed to promoting and protecting the health, safety, well-being, and welfare of all Village residents and businesses.

2010/2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Obtained approval of grants for the following projects:
1. $60,000 from the Kane County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to remove a townhome that contributes to blighting conditions in the Berkshire subdivision. This is an approximate amount.
2. $15,000 from the Kane County Riverboat Grant Program to seed the Carpentersville Improvement Committee’s Adopt-a-Block project.
2. Completed cross-training of Code Enforcement Officers to conduct final building inspections for final roof, siding, and fence inspections.
3. Assisted Habitat for Humanity in locating a suitable site to move a pre-built house. The location chosen was a house on Chippewa that had been destroyed by fire over two years ago.
4. Participated in a design charrette in coordination with college students at Judson University for a proposed new eight-acre development on Binnie Road.
5. Implemented a revised Rental Licensing Program after several meetings with landlords and the Audit and Finance Committee. The program has been received well by the landlords.
6. Assisted the Carpentersville Improvement Committee (CIC) to organize the Candlelight Bowl fundraiser and the annual Paint-a-thon.
7. Successfully worked with agencies such as DCFS, Senior Services and feral cat rescue groups on various code violation issues such as unsanitary/unsafe living conditions and overcrowding.
8. Continued to assist other Village Departments by:
   1. Conducting business site-visits for the Village Clerk.
   2. Posting residences as uninhabitable for the Finance Department if water service has been terminated for non-payment.
   3. Informing the Community Service Officers of inoperable and junk vehicles.
   4. Removing squatters from vacant houses with the Police Department.
   5. Issuing citations to residents who tamper with water meters.
   6. Training users of the MUNIS' permit tracking module, including personnel in Engineering and Fire Prevention.
9. Completed the development review process and performed plan reviews for seven major development projects, including: St. Monica’s, Dana Molded Products, Lakewood School, a 160-acre concept plan on Huntley Road, the Public Works Building, the 11 West Main Street site, and the old deLacey School site.
10. Coordinated the construction review and inspection processes for five major development projects and three major new tenant build-outs, including: Dana Molded Products, Car-X, the Public Works Building, Discount Tire, and the 11 West Main Street site, Marigold Massage, Save One Dry Cleaners, and Verizon Wireless.
11. Processed significant Zoning Ordinance amendments regarding wind turbines and temporary signage, along with several minor amendments.
12. Coordinated a multi-departmental U.S. Census Complete Count Committee which included 13 committee meetings to raise awareness of and participation in the 2010 Census.
13. Began meeting with two Business Development Commission ad hoc committees to review the sign code and to map the development process.
14. Streamlined the plan review process for larger developments by establishing specific review deadlines and organizing and reconciling multiple plan review comments by Fire Prevention, Public Works, Engineering, and Planning and providing one comprehensive plan review document to the owner or developer.
15. Processed seven zoning variance requests from seven residents. This continuing low number of zoning cases reflects staff’s ability to find suitable complying alternatives by working with residents to solve problems.
16. Performed approximately 1,000 building plan reviews and 1,076 zoning reviews. These reviews included everything from sheds to new commercial construction.
17. Issued 3,620 permits. Of these 1,209 were issued “over-the-counter”; 385 were plumbing permits; and 3,106 permits were issued for work involving mechanical, electrical and/or building.
18. Conducted 5,671 inspections, including 1,220 for plumbing; 240 for mechanical; 391 electrical; and 414 structural or building inspections .

2011/2012 OBJECTIVES

1. Strive to maintain effectiveness and efficiency of building permit and inspection services and to minimize resident complaints as Staff within this division is reduced by 40 percent.
2. Endeavor to maintain current service levels. Overall, the number of staff hours within the department has decreased by 25% (from 480 to 362 weekly staff hours) since FY 2010.
3. Train engineering inspectors to conduct inspections on private properties of all flat-work, such as service walks, patios, driveways.
4. Monitor accomplishments of department staff to ensure that all current and newly assigned tasks can be preformed professionally and effectively. With two less employees in the department due to restructuring the remaining Staff will be re-assigned to others who already have heavy workloads.
5. Achieve full utilization of MUNIS to track all development and code enforcement activities and ensure that all involved personnel consistently input their activities or findings.
6. Demolish the dilapidated houses on the former Marv’s Auto property on Route 25 and at 19 North Lincoln Avenue.
7. Complete enforcement of standardized toter enclosures and fencing in the Morningside Area.
8. Complete the “Follow-the-Paver” program sweep of Berkshire, City Streets, Lincolnwood Manor, and Spanish neighborhoods.” This program focuses on areas with recent street repairs. Each area is thoroughly inspected, property maintenance violations are corrected and unregistered residential units are brought into compliance and licensed.
9. Continue notifications to and discussions with property owners responsible for eliminating gravel driveways and parking areas and for providing dumpster enclosures.
10. Complete the required ten-year update to the intergovernmental boundary agreement and intergovernmental Land Resource Management Plan with the Village of Gilberts.
11. Conduct a Village-wide survey of existing signs and analyze the effectiveness of the current signage, and use this data to draft major revisions to the Village Sign Code that will provide local businesses with the most effective onsite advertising without creating visual clutter and danger to the public.
12. Attempt to continue to issue phased permits, especially for new commercial construction, for a developer friendly approach to expediting project completion.
13. Look for further opportunities to consolidate work tasks and assist other Village Departments .

2010/2011 Fiscal Year Budget

Contact Information

Village of Carpentersville 
1200 L.W. Besinger Drive 
Carpentersville, IL 60110-2061

Phone: 847-551-3478 
FAX: 847-426-0864

Dawn Wucki-Rossbach, Assistant Village Manager/Community Development Director
Email: dwuckirossbach@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Janice Murphy, Economic Development/Special Projects Coordinator
Email: jmurphy@vil.carpentersville.il.us

John Svalenka, Senior Planner
Email: JSvalenka@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Sam Hubbard, Part-Time Planner
Email: SHubbard@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Arieh Kafenshtok, Building Inspector
Email: AKafenshtok@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Cristobal Maciel, Building Inspector
Email: CMaciel@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Sonda DelPalazzo
Email: sdelpalazzo@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Craig Martin, Senior Code Enforcement Officer
Email: CMartin@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Rick Mattern, Code Enforcement Officer
Email: RMattern@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Kevin Duda, Code Enforcement Officer
Email: KDuda@vil.carpentersville.il.us

Mike McAlevy, Part-Time Code Enforcement Officer
Email: MMcAlevy@vil.carpentersville.il.us