If you’ve lived in Round Lake for any amount of time, you’ve probably had this thought at least once:

“Why are they building that?”
or
“Why doesn’t the village just stop this?”

Those are fair questions. But the answers are more complicated than most people realize—and you deserve a straight explanation.

Growth Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Development isn’t random. Property owners have legal rights to use and develop their land within zoning rules. The village doesn’t “own” most of the land you see being developed—we regulate it, we don’t control it outright.

That means we can guide growth, shape it, and set standards. But we cannot simply say “no” to everything we don’t like without legal and financial consequences.

What the Village Can Control

We can:

• Set zoning and land use rules
• Require infrastructure improvements
• Enforce building standards
• Negotiate with developers for better outcomes

When a project comes forward, our job is to make it fit the community as best as possible—not pretend we can stop growth entirely.

What the Village Cannot Control

We cannot:

• Stop all development
• Ignore property rights
• Override state laws
• Turn away projects that meet legal requirements without risking lawsuits that cost taxpayers

That last part matters. Saying “just say no” might sound good, but it can come with real financial consequences for the village.

A Real Example of How We Push for Better Outcomes

In a recent development approval, we didn’t just accept what was proposed—we pushed for more.

The developer will be paying for a much-needed traffic study, but importantly, the village will select the engineering firm to ensure it’s independent and credible. The developer pays the bill, not taxpayers.

They have also agreed to participate in any traffic signal and roadway improvements allowed under Illinois regulations. That means they’re not only sharing in the cost of problems their project may contribute to—but also helping fix traffic issues that already exist today and that they had nothing to do with.

On top of that, the developer agreed to pay higher impact fees to the local school districts. Just as important, those fees will be paid immediately upon final approval—not delayed through phased payments or after construction is complete. That ensures schools see the benefit up front, not years later.

That’s what negotiating for the community looks like.

The Trade-Offs No One Talks About

Every development decision comes with trade-offs.

New businesses can mean:

• More local jobs
• Increased tax revenue
• Less pressure on residential property taxes

But they can also bring:

• Traffic
• Noise
• Change to the character of an area

Both things can be true at the same time. Pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.

Why Growth Matters

Without responsible growth, communities stagnate.

Costs go up. Infrastructure ages. The tax burden shifts more heavily onto homeowners. That’s not sustainable long term.

Smart growth—done carefully and with community input—helps keep a village financially stable and moving forward.

The Approach Moving Forward

The goal isn’t to approve everything. It’s also not to block everything.

It’s to:

• Be transparent about what’s happening
• Push for better projects
• Protect residents where we can
• Make decisions that hold up legally and financially

You may not agree with every decision—and that’s okay. But you should always understand why those decisions are being made.

It Takes All of Us

At the end of the day, we need growth and development—but it has to be smart, measurable growth.

And that only works if people are involved.

Right now, one of the most important efforts we have underway is the update to the village’s comprehensive plan. This plan will guide Round Lake for the next decade—what gets built, where it goes, and how our community evolves.

Residents don’t just get to participate in this process—they’re encouraged to participate, and frankly, we need you to participate.

The old saying “it takes a village” couldn’t be more true here. The future of this community shouldn’t be decided by a handful of people in a room. It should be shaped by the people who live here every day.

 Take the online survey

 Share your thoughts on Map.Social

For more information on this project

Visioning Workshop
 Thursday, April 30 | 5:30–7:30 PM
 Round Lake Area Park District Community Center (814 Hart Rd)

Keep the Conversation Going

If you have concerns about a project or development in your area, speak up. Come to meetings. Reach out.

The more informed and engaged our community is, the better decisions we make together.

Growth is coming either way. The real question is whether we shape it—or let it shape us.