On Aug. 9, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago concluded public hearings on its draft Cook County Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO).

The ordinance could have a significant negative impact on commercial redevelopment in Cook County, due to revisions of stormwater retention requirement calculations, as well as upon existing commercial developments, due to compliance with revised components of the ordinance. This ordinance would only apply in suburban Cook.

Cook County is already under a competitive disadvantage for commercial development, due to its onerous property tax assessment system compared to neighboring counties, and the water management ordinance could complicate plans for future commercial development in the county.

IAR Governmental Affairs staff will continue partnering with other trade associations to monitor additional revisions to the water management ordinance and request that the most onerous components of the ordinance be removed or lessened.

Suburban caucuses of mayors have also come out against the ordinance, citing severe economic development implications and mirroring the Illinois Association of REALTORS®’ public statements on this vital policy matter.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Board of Commissioners is expected to take action on this proposal in mid-September.

For more information or for a copy of IAR submitted comments, contact Mike Scobey or Brian Bernardoni.