The City of St. Charles - Economic Development Department

Corridor Improvement Program Description

1. History
The City of St. Charles Corridor Improvement Program, initiated in 2001, draws its roots from many sources and builds upon ideas expressed by local developers, the Chamber of Commerce's Community Development Division ("Friends of the West" subcommittee), and the City's Plan Commission. The program expands on work already undertaken to improve the appearance of the downtown, extending improvements to the major thoroughfares within St. Charles. Additionally, the program complements work being done by the City Tree Commission, Rotary Club Tree Planning Program, Downtown St. Charles Partnership Design and Public Art Committees, the Pottawatomie Garden Club, and the St. Charles Park District.

2. Program Purpose

The Corridor Improvement Program is designed to enhance the physical appearance of private property, excluding buildings, along the City's most public auto and pedestrian corridors. The intent of this program is to encourage and assist owners of these highly-visible properties to make improvements which enhance the overall economic vitality and character of the City.

3. Funding Source
The source of funding for this program is Hotel/Motel tax receipts. The dollar amount available will be determined on an annual basis after funding has been set aside from the Hotel/Motel tax receipts for the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, Riverfest, Cultural Commission, and the City's Façade Improvement and Tree Commission programs.

4. Program Start-up: Corridor Inventory and Corridor Improvement Program Design Guidelines
To implement the Corridor Improvement Program, design consultant services were engaged to 1) inventory the properties within the Corridor District (Randall Road, Kirk Road, Main Street, and properties within the downtown special service area known as SSA 1B, and 2) to create design criteria and landscape guidelines. The Corridor Improvement Design Guidelines are available from the City's Community Development Department and all approved grant projects will conform to these standards.

5. Description of the Grants Programs and Eligible Costs for Each
Three grant programs are available: The following table describes each grant program, identifies eligible properties, eligible costs, and the selection process for grant awards. Improvements not specifically listed as eligible are subject to review by the CIC with final decision by the City Council. Eligibility will be determined based upon the item's contribution towards meeting the goals of the program and design principles in the Design Guidelines.

Corridor Grants
Corridor Grant Purpose (Approximately 75% of the CIC funding will be used for Corridor Grants.) Corridor Grants should enhance the economic vitality of highly visible properties and enhance community character. Funding will allow for up to 100% of plant material; property owner will contribute to design costs. The Commission reserves the right to review the designs to ensure adherence to the Design Guidelines and to ask for revisions. The property owner will contract for the actual work to be performed; work will conform to the design guidelines.
Eligible Properties	Selection Process	Eligible Costs
To be eligible for a Corridor Improvement Grant, property must be located along the major arterial routes of Main Street, Kirk Road, Randall Road. Main Street properties within the downtown SSA 1B are not eligible for a Corridor Grant but may apply for a Downtown Grant.	Each year the CIC will update the corridor inventory to identify and prioritize those properties on Main Street, Randall Road, and Kirk Road deemed to benefit most from landscape improvements as determined by the design criteria adopted. When considering eligibility the CIC will consider upcoming public work projects, which could affect improvements. The City Economic Development Director, with the help of the CIC, will contact the owners of the properties on the priority list to enlist their participation in the program; therefore, this grant is not "competitive." Projects will be chosen based upon the Commission's priorities. Corridor Grant recipients will be selected by the CIC and approved by City Council.	Adequate Soil Preparation is REQUIRED. Labor Mulch Landscaping - limited to perennial plantings including trees and shrubs when in conjunction with an overall concept design for the area and in conformance to the Design Guidelines adopted by the CIC. All species planted must be listed in the Design Guidelines Plant Pallet. Landscaping will occur at the property's internal edge (not on public right-of-way), at the building foundation, and within buffer yards. Parking Lot Improvements - screening of vehicles, loading docks, and trash receptacles, and installation of pedestrian walkways. Walkways - sidewalks, pavers, stamped concrete, plazas, and other permanent improvements designed primarily for pedestrian use. Walls - construction, repair, and rebuilding of walls (non-building walls, such as those found in plazas or public areas) conforming to design standards. A portion of design fees is eligible for grant funding. The grant recipient will pay for the first 25% of the design cost and the grant would pay up to a cap amount based upon linear footage of the property along the Corridor Roadway (Main, Kirk, or Randall). See the chart below:

Grant Funding for Design of Corridor Grants
Linear Footage of Property on a Corridor Roadway (Main, Kirk, Randall)	Owner Pays	Commission will Pay
< 200 feet	First 25% of Total design Cost	Up to $2,000
201-500 feet	First 25% of Total design Cost	Up to $3,000
501+ feet	First 25% of Total design Cost	Up to $4,000

Downtown Grants
Downtown Grant Purpose (Approximately 75% of the CIC funding will be used for Corridor Grants.) Downtown Grants should enhance the economic vitality of the downtown district and enhance community character. Funding will allow for up to 50% of plant material; property owner will contribute to design costs. The Commission reserves the right to review the designs to ensure adherence to the Design Guidelines and to ask for revisions. The property owner will contract for the actual work to be performed; work will conform to the design guidelines. Where grant funds are being used to construct and improve pedestrian access to private property located along the banks of the Fox River, the owner will be required to grant an access easement to the City or Park District to ensure continued public access.
Eligible Properties	Selection Process	Eligible Costs
To be eligible for a Downtown Improvement Grant, property must be located within the Downtown Special Service Area 1B (SSA1B) of the City.	Awards of the Downtown Grants will be on a competitive basis. Applications will be judged based upon their ability to fulfill the criteria expressed in the Corridor Improvement Design Guidelines. Downtown Grant applications will be reviewed by the CIC and approved by City Council. A design should be attached to the application.	Adequate Soil Preparation is REQUIRED. Labor Mulch River Retaining Walls - construction, repair, and rebuilding of walls utilizing masonry materials and conforming to preferred design standards and exceeding minimum standards. Landscaping - All species chosen should be selected from the Design Guidelines Plant Palette. Walls - construction, repair, and rebuilding of walls (non-building walls, such as those found in plazas or public areas) conforming to design standards. Street Furnishings - eligible furniture designs are pictured in the Corridor Improvement Design Guidelines. Public Art including murals, statues, building lighting, and fountains. A portion of design fees is eligible for grant funding. The grant would pay 50% up to a maximum of $2,000.

Four Season Grants
"Four Season" Grant Purpose (Each year the Commission will award up to ten grants of $500. No cost match is required.) Four Season Grants should create a sense of continuity and design impact in the city corridors through attractive, eye-catching additions of colorful perennial plantings. These plantings will use a unified color theme while encouraging creativity in selection of species to accomplish the unified design goal. The Commission reserves the right to review the designs to ensure adherence to the Design Guidelines and to ask for revisions. The property owner will contract for the actual work to be performed; work will conform to the design guidelines.
Eligible Properties	Selection Process	Eligible Costs
To be eligible for a Four Season Grant, property must be located along the major arterial routes of Main Street, Kirk Road, Randall Road, or within the Downtown Special Service Area 1B (SSA1B).	Awards of the Four Season Grants will be on a competitive basis. Applications will be judged based upon their ability to fulfill the criteria expressed in the Corridor Improvement Design Guidelines. Four Season Grant applications will be reviewed by the CIC and approved by City Council. A design should be attached to the application.	Adequate soil preparation is REQUIRED Labor Mulch Perennial plant material is an eligible cost for these grants; the design of this new landscape area shall include plants of varying heights and species. All species should be selected from the Design Guidelines Plant Palette. Plant Choice Requirements: Color Scheme Yellow & White with accents of orange and/or red Plants featuring the color scheme must account for 50-75% of the planting composition. The remainder may be green foliage or non-flowering foliage texture such as ornamental grasses. Plants must be hardy perennial, hardy woody plants or bulbs. No annuals. Native plants are encouraged Low maintenance Salt tolerant Pollution tolerant Design Guidelines: Each planting should offer bloom of some kind from April through October Winter interest is encouraged (e.g. ornamental grass foliage) Mass plantings for commercial impact

6. Corridor Improvement Commission
The Corridor Improvement Commission (CIC) will review grant applications and recommend awards to the City Council. This seven (7) member commission is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. Staggered terms are for three (3) years. Members may serve for more than one term.

The CIC will meet at least three times a year: before any grant cycle begins to review the priorities as established by the Corridor Inventory; to review grant applications and make recommendations to the City Council; and to discuss the final status of the year's projects. Additional meetings of the Commission may be needed, as well as meetings to enlist property owner participation.

Composition of the Commission: The effectiveness of the Commission will be enhanced if the collective commission members possess knowledge of the community and the professional disciplines related to property improvement. Commission members should not be concentrated in any one geographic area of the City or professional discipline. Optimally, three members will be representatives of the business community (a business owner, property owner, or a designee of a business or property owner). An individual appointed as a designee of a business or property owner does not have to live in St. Charles, but must be employed in St. Charles. Any design guidelines adopted by the Corridor Improvement Commission will not contradict those policies established by the St. Charles Tree Commission.

Community Knowledge. To ensure knowledge of the community, geography will be considered when choosing commission members with an attempt to represent the west, central, and east districts of the City. One member will be chosen as an "at large" member who resides in the community but does not necessarily own a business.

Professional Knowledge. At least three commission members should possess professional knowledge in these areas:

Design professionals such as a Landscape Architect or Artist.
Land development professional such as a Real Estate Developer, Construction Worker, or Engineer.

Other desirable knowledge to be possessed by any Commission member includes financial /accounting, interest in the arts (especially a working knowledge of public art), riverfront issues such as design or ecology. A willingness to meet with property owners to discuss their participation in the program is strongly desired.

7. Grant Cycle and Applications
A deadline for submittal of applications will be determined by the Commission each year that will allow time for careful deliberation and award prior to February 28th of each year.

8. Maximum Reimbursement
The maximum amount of the reimbursement grants for a specific property will be set forth in a Corridor Improvement Agreement (CIA) between the City and the property owner or tenant (that has a property owner as co-signer). If costs exceed the original estimates, the property owner or tenant will be responsible for the full amount of the excess. The City cannot reimburse more than the total amount in the CIA.

Grant recipients will hire their own contractors and apply for reimbursement. Before and after photos must be submitted for payment.

Property owners may apply for multiple phases of a project, over a period of years, but are not assured additional funding will be available, as projects for the year will be based upon the commission's priorities for that year.

9. Federal and State Taxes
Reimbursement grants are subject to federal and state taxes, and are reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form 1099. Property owners or tenants should consult their tax advisor for tax liability information.

10. Completion of Work
All improvements must be completed within nine months after the CIA is approved, unless otherwise authorized by the City. Extensions may be approved by the Director of Economic Development. Projects which have not received an extension and have not been completed within nine months will not receive funding.

Where applicable as outlined in the City Building Code, building permits will be required. Check with the City Building and Zoning Department at (630) 377-4406 if not sure.

11. Commencement of Work
After the agreement is approved by the City Council, obtain a building permit and begin the work. DO NOT START BEFORE- You will NOT be reimbursed for work done prior to City Council approval of the Corridor Improvement Agreement (CIA). A final JULIE locate should always be done before commencing any construction project (call 800-892-0123).

12. Reimbursement Payments
A lump sum payment will be made after a project has passed final inspection (by the Commission). For all grant types, request for payment must include "before" and "after" photos.

13. Alterations
The property owner and tenant shall be responsible for maintaining the improvements without substantial alteration for five (5) years unless approved by the Director of Economic Development. A restrictive covenant limiting alterations may be required by the City Council at the time of approval of the Corridor Improvement Agreement (CIA).

Community Development Department
(630) 377-4443