Community &
Economic Development

These documents and podcast summarize the April 2026 proceedings of the City of Harvard’s Community and Economic Development Committee, featuring meeting transcripts, agendas, and departmental reports. The records highlight debates over Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments, specifically to reduce indoor parking mandates for apartments and to grant administrative authority for fence variances on corner lots. Staff reports emphasize that these changes aim to enhance housing affordability and streamline permitting for residents. Beyond legislative updates, the sources detail economic initiatives, including revolving loan programs, regional tourism partnerships, and transit-oriented development planning. Finally, technical exhibits provide fee schedules for municipal inspections and monthly data on code enforcement activity and construction permits within the city. For more info, use the links on the upper right.

This meeting was a closed session meeting. Therefore, there is nothing to report. An agenda and minutes were published; both documents are linked on the right.

The committee oversees a period of transition and steady growth, characterized by significant commercial developments, a conservative yet stable budget, and strategic efforts to revitalize the downtown district. Key takeaways include the recommendation to approve a $50,000 economic development loan for building renovations at 47 N. Ayer Street and the ongoing management of several high-profile commercial projects, including the opening of Verizon and the resolution of construction delays at Starbucks. Financially, the Economic Development Fund remains reliant on a cash balance of $224,350 as no active revenue stream has been established. Strategically, the city is pursuing a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund a Downtown Building Improvement Program aimed at reducing vacancy and blight in the city's historic core.

The City of Harvard's Community & Economic Development Committee focused on strategic planning, economic readiness, and regulatory flexibility during its October 15, 2025, meeting.

The committee unanimously recommended the City Council approve a $177,982 contract for a comprehensive site assessment of over 276 acres surrounding the Dacy Airport. This project, largely funded by a $145,000 DCEO grant, aims to prepare the land for future regional economic development.

In downtown planning, the committee reviewed the grant-funded Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan and a new TIF Eligibility Study. Due to the significant overlap, the committee decided to strategically prioritize and utilize the ETOD's community-driven findings to inform any subsequent decision on establishing a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.

Furthermore, an expert clarified that the city’s adopted building codes, including the International Existing Building Code, allow flexibility for renovating older downtown properties. The "performance method", a point-based system, was highlighted as a critical tool that can enable safe redevelopment without mandating expensive upgrades, such as full sprinkler systems, in all cases. Finally, the committee initiated policy reviews concerning the potential formation of a community arts council and the fairness of the corner lot fence ordinance.

The City of Harvard's Community & Economic Development Committee met on August 19, 2025, to discuss a range of projects and strategic goals. A key takeaway from the meeting was the impact of recent staffing changes, particularly the absence of a permanent Community Development Director, on project momentum.

 Several projects are currently in progress, including negotiations for a cannabis dispensary at the former Blockbuster building, which could generate  5% tax revenue for the city. An Equitable Transit Plan is also moving forward with grant funding, potentially putting a hold on the Downtown Master Plan. A "Harvard on the Mooove" plan is underway to improve bike and pedestrian paths, with ongoing community engagement efforts.

 The committee also discussed its strategic vision, focusing on a "Vibrant Downtown" and "Thriving Economy." Ideas included creating an Arts & Culture Commission, using tourism from neighboring Wisconsin and the Metra train to boost local business, and exploring "out-of-the-box" zoning for mixed-use neighborhoods.

 Staffing remains a critical issue, with the city prioritizing the hiring of a new City Administrator before resuming the search for a Community Development Director. In the interim, staff members are filling the roles. Finally, new business items included a proposal to require fire alarm systems in renovated downtown apartments and addressing a "slots" advertising flag deemed aesthetically displeasing.

The recent Community & Economic Development Committee meeting addressed significant regulatory proposals concerning two distinct yet impactful structures: intermodal shipping containers and cellular towers. Prompted by a local car wash's intent to utilize shipping containers for storage and a substantial nearly 300-foot cellular tower proposal for the downtown area, the committee engaged in detailed discussions to establish comprehensive guidelines. The conversation on shipping containers weighed their cost-effectiveness and diverse repurposing (from storage to homes) against concerns about long-term aesthetics, maintenance, and the potential for real estate tax collection. For cellular towers, the focus was on minimizing visual intrusion, especially near residential zones, by encouraging joint use of existing city assets, such as water towers, and proposing specific requirements for height, setbacks, and camouflage techniques.

Beyond these key regulatory debates, the meeting also provided updates on the city's broader strategic vision for economic development, including the development of a downtown master plan. In new business, the committee celebrated the notable achievements of code enforcement in bringing properties into compliance and initiated a discussion on revisiting the fence ordinance for corner lots to potentially reduce restrictions and associated costs for residents. Brief updates were additionally shared regarding the delayed Starbucks completion and the planned development of a new standalone cellular store behind Walgreens.