Batavia sets public hearing, Joint Review Board meeting for proposed downtown TIF district

Batavia officials will hold a public hearing and Joint Review Board meeting as part of their ongoing consideration of a new tax increment financing, or TIF, district in the city’s downtown.

A TIF district is an economic development tool that freezes the amount of property tax revenue local taxing bodies receive at the point at which the district is instituted. Additional tax revenues created by the development of the property go into a special fund used to pay for improvements to the area.

The proposed TIF District 7 is set to include a segment of Batavia’s downtown, largely west of the Fox River. The potential redevelopment area generally includes property south of Wilson Street, north of Union Avenue, west of South River Street and east of South Lincoln Street.

Among the properties that would be included is the new QT9 headquarters, which is moving from Aurora to downtown Batavia, setting up shop at a former factory site at 190 S. Water St. The project is slated to receive TIF funds to help with renovation costs.

Earlier this year, the city pumped the brakes on moving forward with the new TIF district, indicating it wanted additional time to review the proposal.

The matter recently came back before the city.

At a meeting of the city council’s committee of the whole last month, a resolution initiating a review process for the proposed TIF district, including setting a Joint Review Board meeting and public hearing, was recommended for approval.

Then, on Nov. 2, the city council gave final approval to that resolution, officially setting the hearing and meeting dates and initiating the review process for the proposed TIF district.

The Joint Review Board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 30, while the public hearing is set for Jan. 4, 2027. The Joint Review Board is a panel made of the various local governments that will be affected by the TIF district.

Both meetings are set to be held at 100 N. Island Ave. in Batavia, with the public hearing set to take place during the Batavia City Council’s meeting on that date.

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com