Section 50 ILCS 470/15 - Establishment of Star Bond DistrictThe governing body of a municipality may establish a STAR bond district within an eligible area within the municipality or partially outside the boundaries of the municipality in an unincorporated area of the county. A STAR bond district which is partially outside the boundaries of the municipality must also be approved by the governing body of the county by the passage of a resolution. The governing body of a county may establish a STAR bond district in an eligible area in any unincorporated area of the county.
(a) When a political subdivision proposes to establish a STAR bond district, the political subdivision shall adopt a resolution stating that the political subdivision is considering the establishment of a STAR bond district. The resolution shall: (1) give notice, in the same manner as set forth in item (2) of subsection (e) of Section 20, that a public hearing will be held to consider the establishment of a STAR bond district and fix the date, hour, and place of the public hearing, which shall be at a location that is within 20 miles of the STAR bond district, in a facility that can accommodate a large crowd, and in a facility that is accessible to persons with disabilities;(2) describe the proposed general boundaries of the STAR bond district;(3) describe the STAR bond district plan;(4) require that a description and map of the proposed STAR bond district are available for inspection at a time and place designated;(5) identify the master developer for the STAR bond district; and(6) require that the governing body consider findings necessary for the establishment of a STAR bond district. (b) Upon the conclusion of the public hearing the governing body of the political subdivision may consider a resolution to establish the STAR bond district. (1) A resolution to establish a STAR bond district shall:(A) make findings that the proposed STAR bond district is to be developed with one or more STAR bond projects;(B) make findings that the STAR bond district is an eligible area;(C) contain a STAR bond district plan that identifies in a general manner the buildings and facilities that are proposed to be constructed or improved in subsequent STAR bond projects and that includes plans for at least one destination user;(D) contain the legal description of the STAR bond district;(E) appoint the master developer for the STAR bond district; and (F) establish the STAR bonds district, contingent upon approval of the Director as set forth in subsection (d).(2) If the resolution is not adopted by the political subdivision within 60 days from the conclusion of the public hearing, then the STAR bond district shall not be established.(3) Upon adoption of a resolution establishing a STAR bond district, the political subdivision shall send a certified copy of such resolution to the Department of Revenue.(c) Upon the establishment of a STAR bond district, the STAR bond district and any STAR bond projects shall be governed by a master development agreement between the political subdivision and the master developer. A STAR bond district that is partially outside the boundaries of a municipality shall only require one master development agreement; the agreement shall be between the municipality and the master developer. In no event shall there be more than one master development agreement governing the terms and conditions of a STAR bond district. The master development agreement shall require the master developer to ensure compliance with the following requirements to reduce the ecological impact of the STAR bond district development: (i) inclusion of pollution prevention, erosion, and sedimentation control plans during construction; (ii) protection of endangered species' habitat and wetlands mitigation; (iii) preservation of at least 20% of the STAR bond district as green space, including lawns, parks, landscaped areas, paths, lakes, ponds, and other water features; (iv) promotion of the use of renewable energy to the extent commercially feasible; (v) promotion of access to mass transit and bicycle transportation; (vi) implementation of recycling programs during construction and at completed STAR bond projects; (vii) preservation of water quality and promotion of water conservation through the use of techniques such as reusing storm water and landscaping with native and low-maintenance vegetation to reduce the need for irrigation and fertilization; (viii) inclusion of comprehensive lighting programs that reduce light pollution within the STAR bond district; and (ix) promotion of shared parking between different users to reduce the impact on project sites.(d) Upon adoption of the resolution to establish a STAR bond district, the political subdivision shall submit the proposed STAR bond district to the Director for consideration. The Director may only approve a STAR bond district if the Director finds that: (i) the proposed STAR bond district is an eligible area, (ii) the STAR bond district plan includes a projected capital investment of at least $100,000,000, (iii) the STAR bond district plan is reasonably projected to produce at least $100,000,000 of annual gross sales revenues and 500 new jobs, (iv) the STAR bond district plan includes potential destination users and a potential entertainment user, (v) the creation of the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan are in accordance with the purpose of this Act and the public interest, and (vi) the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan meet any other requirement that the Director deems appropriate. If a proposed STAR bond district meets all of the foregoing criteria, the Director shall not unreasonably withhold its approval of the proposed STAR bond district. The Director may only approve one STAR bond district within any projected market area. However, the Director may approve additional STAR bond districts in a single projected market area provided that the Director finds that the additional STAR bond district will not thwart the purposes of this Act. The Director shall promptly send a copy of its written findings and approval or denial of a STAR bond district to the requesting political subdivision.(e) Starting on the fifth anniversary of the first date of distribution of State sales tax revenues from the first STAR bond project in the STAR bond district and continuing each anniversary thereafter, the Director shall, in consultation with the political subdivision and the master developer, determine the total number of new jobs created within the STAR bond district, the total development cost to date, and the master developer's compliance with its obligations under any written agreements with the State. If, on the fifth anniversary of the first date of distribution of State sales tax revenues from the first STAR bond project in the STAR bond district, the Director determines that the total development cost to date is not equal to or greater than $100,000,000, or that the master developer is in breach of any written agreement with the State, then no new STAR bonds may be issued in the STAR bond district until the total development cost exceeds $100,000,000 or the breach of agreement is cured, or both. If, on the fifth anniversary of the first date of distribution of State sales tax revenues from the first STAR bond project in the STAR bond district, there are not at least 500 jobs existing in the STAR bond district, the State may require the master developer to pay the State a penalty of $1,500 per job under 500 each year until the earlier of (i) the twenty-third anniversary of the first date of distribution of State sales tax revenues from the first STAR bond project in the STAR bond district, (ii) the date that all STAR bonds issued in the STAR bond district have been paid off, or (iii) the date that at least 500 jobs have been created in the STAR bond district. Upon creation of 500 jobs in the STAR bond district, there shall not be an ongoing obligation to maintain those jobs after the fifth anniversary of the first date of distribution of State sales tax revenues from the first STAR bond project in the STAR bond district, and the master developer shall be relieved of any liability with respect to job creation under this subsection. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, the master developer shall not be liable for the penalties set forth under this subsection if the breach of agreement, failure to reach at least $100,000,000 in total development costs, or failure to create 500 jobs is due to delays caused by force majeure, as that term shall be defined in the master development agreement.Added by P.A. 096-0939,§ 15, eff. 6/24/2010.