Developer Must Pay Elmhurst Legal Fees: Council

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst officials have presented ways they plan to curtail the city's growing attorney costs. On Monday, they gave a real-life example.

In a unanimous vote, the City Council decided to have Elmhurst BMW pay for attorney costs related to a minor change to its 5-year-old development agreement with the city. No one gave an amount.

Officials said the dealership requested the change, so it was appropriate for Elmhurst BMW, rather than taxpayers, to cover the resulting legal costs.

In 2017, the council agreed to give up to $6 million in incentives from a city tax increment financing district to help the dealership at 500 W. Lake St. expand. At the time, BMW corporate was pressuring the local dealership to move to another town for more space, according to a city memo.