Frankfort Board Supports Cook County Class 8 Tax Incentive for Frankfort Pointe Development

Frankfort Village Board Meeting | April 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Village Board adopted a resolution backing a vital tax incentive to level the playing field for the 133-acre Frankfort Pointe site, the only parcel in the Village located within Cook County.

Class 8 Tax Incentive Key Points:

• The Board passed Resolution No. 26-14 supporting a Cook County Class 8 Real Estate Tax Incentive for the Else Emoff Trust II.

• The incentive applies to the 133-acre Frankfort Pointe development located at 7200 Sauk Trail.

• Industrial property taxes in Cook County are approximately 25% higher than in neighboring Will County, necessitating the incentive to attract development.

The Frankfort Village Board on Monday, April 20, 2026, unanimously adopted Resolution No. 26-14, formally supporting and consenting to a Cook County Class 8 Real Estate Tax Incentive application for the Frankfort Pointe development.

The 133-acre vacant parcel, located at the southeast corner of Harlem Avenue and Sauk Trail, is legally owned by the Else Emoff Trust II and is currently advancing through the Village’s Planned Unit Development process for a mix of light industrial, commercial, and solar facilities.

However, the site faces a significant geographical hurdle: it is the only parcel within the Village of Frankfort that is located in Cook County. According to Village Administrator Rob Piscia, industrial developments in Cook County are subject to property tax rates approximately 25% higher than comparable developments just across the border in Will County.

“Without mitigation, this disparity places Frankfort Pointe at a significant competitive disadvantage in attracting quality users and investment,” Piscia explained in a memo. “Utilization of this incentive is often a determining factor in whether projects move forward in Cook County or are instead developed in neighboring jurisdictions.”

The Class 8 program is designed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners to spur development in targeted areas by significantly reducing the assessment levels for qualifying industrial and commercial projects. The Village’s resolution of support is a required component of the developer’s application to the County.

Trustee Maura Rigoni presented the resolution, noting that the Village’s consent is strictly conditioned upon the property being used exclusively for industrial or commercial purposes. If significant development progress is not made within 30 months, the Village’s consent will automatically revert.