Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge released a video statement Tuesday opposing the Build Act, warning that state housing legislation designed to increase residential density lacks critical safeguards to protect communities from infrastructure strain.
The bill, part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s housing initiative, would require municipalities to allow multiple housing types in residential zones without local approval. It has drawn pushback from suburban mayors and the Illinois Municipal League, which says communities vary widely in infrastructure capacity and housing demand.
The bill, which aims to address housing affordability and supply statewide, has “good intentions,” Dodge said. But he warned that the legislation lacks critical safeguards.
“Good intentions written in law without the right safeguards can create very real problems for the people who actually live in places like Orland Park,” Dodge said.
Dodge identified three specific concerns: stormwater management, school capacity, and emergency services. He emphasized that adding density without upgrading infrastructure creates real consequences for residents.
“We have all seen what heavy rain can do to our neighborhoods,” Dodge said. “Adding density without upgrading the infrastructure that manages that water isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a burden that lands directly on homeowners.”
More homes also mean more students. Dodge said expanding schools is necessary but carries significant costs that must be planned for upfront—not passed along to taxpayers later.
“If that cost isn’t planned for within the framework of this legislation, it will eventually show up on your tax bill,” Dodge said.
Dodge said he has taken action. He traveled to Springfield to meet directly with state legislators, delivered specific concerns about stormwater, school planning, and fiscal impact, and contacted the governor’s office. He has also coordinated with other mayors who share similar worries.
“Words without action won’t fix a flooded basement. Words without action won’t build new classrooms,” Dodge said. “And words without action won’t change legislation as it’s being created.”
Dodge stressed this is not about opposing growth. “This is about making sure that when growth comes, and it will come, it comes with a plan that protects the community we’ve all worked very hard to be part of,” he said.
The Illinois Municipal League, which represents cities and villages statewide, has also proposed changes to the bill. Dodge said those conversations remain ongoing and he will continue engaging with state officials until Orland Park’s concerns are addressed.