Pearl Lake in South Beloit Plans Expansion

Pearl Lake owner Lance Beatch plans an expansion on the west side of the lake, adding 142 sites for recreational vehicles and vacation homes. Pearl Lake, at 1220 Dearborn Ave., already offers lots for RVs and camping, as well as swimming, scuba diving and other recreation opportunities at the 200-acre-plus site.

“Pearl Lake wants to make this a destination for all,” said South Beloit Mayor Tom Fitzgerald. He also thanked the city staff for their time, patience and hard work in making this development possible.

The city is asking for a $325 sewer connection fee for each unit added at the new expansion site. Beatch asked that the connection fee be paid as each unit is added, rather than paying for all 142 units up front. He said this expansion will be completed in phases, with 48 units expected to be added in the first phase.

City officials expressed agreement saying that sounded like a fair request.

The PUD agreement also requested that the developer reimburse the city for the costs put into the development by the city’s engineering firm. Beatch requested that the city be open to allowing some leeway in reimbursing professional service costs. He said he has made a significant investment already in this project.

Fitzgerald said he did not have the costs associated with the professional services yet, but he hoped to have that figure by the next City Council meeting on Feb. 19. He said the council then can revisit the professional fees issue and decide how big of a portion of the professional services fees the developer should pay.

“We’ve done that for other people,” he said about giving developers a break on professional fees.

Council member Ryan Adleman agreed that the city should work with Beatch on this project.

“I am fine with working with him. There is some wiggle room to work with,” Adleman said.

Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski said most of the agreement can be finalized at the next council meeting. However, there is a zoning map amendment that must be taken up by the Zoning Board of Appeals separately. Sosnowski said there is a small portion of the development area which currently is zoned Light Industrial, which is to be changed to Urban Transitional for this project. This item was not on the Zoning Board of Appeals agenda when it approved the other portions of the agreement, so the ZBA will take this issue up at its next meeting. That portion should then advance to the City Council meeting on March 4.

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