Kurt S. Asprooth
Partner
Chicago Office
140 S. Dearborn Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Direct Phone: 312.604.9139
Fax: 312.782.0943
Email: kasprooth@ancelglink.com
B.A., The George Washington University (2008)
Kurt has dedicated his career to representing municipalities and other units of local government.
Kurt has represented local governments for his entire legal career. Through his experience, Kurt has come to understand the dynamics of how public entities operate and the legal issues that they face. He advises municipalities and other local governments on a broad array of legal topics, including compliance with the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, transactional matters, intergovernmental relations, competitive procurement requirements, ethics requirements, and economic development. Kurt currently serves as counsel to numerous municipalities, park districts, public libraries, and townships.
Kurt has a particular focus on land use, zoning, and development matters. He advises municipalities on all aspects of the zoning process, including how to handle complex and controversial developments. Kurt also works with municipalities on economic development strategies, such as the negotiation of annexation and development agreements and tax increment financing (TIF) incentives. Kurt also works with private sector clients to help them secure zoning and land use entitlements.
In addition to his corporate practice, Kurt has considerable litigation experience representing governmental entities at both the trial and appellate level. He has successfully defended municipalities in numerous zoning, subdivision, annexation, and land use disputes. Kurt also represents municipalities and local governments in suits involving home rule authority, statutory compliance, constitutional violations, and breach of contract claims.
Highlights of his legal practice include:
- Successfully defended a village from a lawsuit challenging the sale and development of municipal property for a downtown mixed-used commercial and residential development. Station Place Townhouse Condo. Ass’n v. Village of Glenview, 2022 IL App (1st) 211131.
- Successfully defended a city from a lawsuit disputing ownership and maintenance obligations for a subdivision drainage system. Reich v. City of Lake Forest, 2022 IL App (2d) 210515-U.
- Assisted municipalities in developing creative economic incentive programs in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Drafted municipal zoning regulations to respond to the legalization of recreational cannabis.
- Successfully defended a village’s zoning restriction on the size and location of highway billboards. WC Media, Inc., v. Village of Gilberts, 2020 IL App (2d) 190250.
- Resolved numerous FOIA and Open Meeting Act challenges filed with the Illinois Public Access Counselor on behalf of local governments.
- Successfully defended a city from a class action lawsuit alleging that the city’s reduction in health care contributions to retirees violated the pension protection clause of the Illinois Constitution. Dawson, et al, v. City of Geneseo, 2018 IL App (3d) 170665.
- Successfully defended a township in a challenge to the validity of its tax levy ordinance under the Truth in Taxation Law. Mandigo v. Stolman, 2019 IL App (2d) 180466.
- Assisted a solar energy company in obtaining a special use permit for a large solar farm.
- Successfully obtained a special use permit for a medical cannabis dispensary from the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Drafted and negotiated a wide variety of contracts and intergovernmental agreements on behalf of local governments, including annexation agreements and economic incentive agreements.
Awards/Professional Recognitions/Memberships
- Illinois Local Government Lawyers
- Chicago Bar Association
Publications
- Co-Author of “Home Rule” in the IICLE Municipal Law Series Handbook (Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2020).
- IICLE 7th Annual Local Government Law Institute, “Standing on the Precipice of Legalization: The State of Local Authority under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act” (2019).
- Frequent contributor to Ancel Glink’s local government blog, Municipal Minute, and the Ancel Glink land use e bulletin In the Zone.
Presentations
- 2023 DuPage Mayors and Managers – Newly Elected Officials Workshop
- 2023 IAPD/IPRA Conference – Session 124: Not in My Park! Regulating Controversial Park Activities
- 2022 APA-IL State Conference, “From Town of Gilbert to City of Austin – The Changing Law on Sign Regulations.”
- 2019 APA-IL State Conference, “Common Zoning Questions Answered” and “Quorum
Forum Podcast Live, Cannabis Q&A.” - Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference, “Sports Betting and Gaming: Latest from the Legislature” (2019).
- Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference, “Using Your Powers for Good: Tips for Uniting your Board” (2018).
- American Planning Association, “Rules of the Game: A Framework for Fair & Effective Zoning Hearings” (2018).
- Municipal Clerks of Illinois Institute, “New Laws, Conflicts, and Trends to Watch” (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Hobbies
Kurt enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling in his free time. Kurt is also an
avid golfer, having grown up working at a municipal golf course.