The Lemont Village Board this week voted to increase the impact fees that residential developers pay when they build new homes.
The fees increase to $150,000 an acre from $100,000.
Tim Teddy, community development director, said the hike was necessary to help cover costs that schools and park districts incur when new housing is added to the community.
“Lemont will continue to have development pressure that affects the schools and the Park District,” he said.
The village has about 200 acres of vacant land that could be developed and would be subject to the fees imposed by the new ordinance. Any development proposals that already have preliminary approval will be charged at the previous rate, he said.
The new fee is among the highest in the Chicago suburbs, Teddy said. Naperville charges about $122,000 per acre, Buffalo Grove, $146,500 and St. Charles, about $200,000.
