River Forest residents may have a more difficult time completing construction on their homes without the blessing of village government.
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The River Forest Village Board on Jan. 26 unanimously approved an ordinance that allows staff to issue work stop orders and issue fines up to $750 per day for each day the violation continues.
“Village staff have direct knowledge of work that has been conducted on various properties in River Forest without a permit,” Village Administrator Eric Palm said in a Jan. 22 memo to the Board. “Without staff review or enforcement, such work may be performed in a way that endangers the health, safety and welfare of the community and its residents.”
Without the ordinance, the village did not have the authority to prevent property owners from allowing construction until the proper permits or licenses are acquired.
“The language that staff is asking the board to adopt is common among municipalities and the ability to issue a stop order is viewed as standard practice in building departments,” the memo said.
The existing River Forest Municipal Code allowed village staff to cite property owners in violation of village code, but could not force them to halt construction, the memo said.
“The alternative would be to go into Circuit Court,” Palm said at the meeting. In that instance, the village would seek an injunction, an option that would take considerable time and expense.
Though the village has been successful in obtaining injunctions, the amount of time it takes to do so means construction may be completed before one is issued.
“Because time is of the essence and this remedy can come at considerable expense and inconvenience to all involved, village staff prefers to use Circuit Court action in only the most extreme cases,” the memo said.
Trustee Roma Colwell-Steinke expressed some concern at the high per-day fine. But Palm said he expects most residents will comply with the work stop order and are unlikely to rack up huge fines.
“We’re looking for compliance. We’re not looking to be punitive,” he said.
According to the ordinance, the work stop orders, containing conditions under which work will be allowed to resume, will be placed on a conspicuous place on the work site and given to the property owner and person doing the work.