North Aurora prepares fee break to get hotel

North Aurora is poised to give a developer a $90,000 break on impact fees to get a hotel built on Orchard Gateway, west of Orchard Road.

The village board discussed the matter Monday, and will vote on the proposal next Monday, according to President Dale Berman.

Motels of North Aurora LLP proposes to build a four-story, 92-room Fairfield Marriott Inn and Suites Hotel.

Under the proposal, it would pay less in traffic and water- and storm-sewer connection fees than were originally anticipated when the property was annexed in 2004. The 2004 plan called for stores to be built there. A hotel is expected to generate about 70 percent fewer daily automobile trips, according to an engineer.

The hotel would be part of the 12-lot Orchard Commerce Center.

"Business conditions were different (in 2004)," Berman said, explaining why the village board is willing to make the change. The 2008 recession stalled North Aurora development, both retail and commercial.

North Aurora wanted businesses that would generate sales tax revenue for the village. "We would love to have all retail," Berman said.

The village does have a 3 percent hotel-motel tax, but has to give 80 percent of such receipts to the Aurora Convention and Visitors Bureau.