HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2/21/2024 - Planning and Zoning CommissionPlanning & Zoning Commission
Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2024
Page 1
City of McHenry
Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2024
Call to Order
The Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of McHenry, Illinois, met on Wednesday, February
21, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at McHenry City Hall, 333 S. Green Street, McHenry, IL. The special session
was a joint meeting with the McHenry Planning & zoning Commission for a Comprehensive Plan
Progress Update.
Roll Call
Following the roll call for the City Council, Deputy Clerk Johnson called the roll for the Planning &
Zoning Commission. Roll call: Members present: Commissioners Davis, Bremer, Locke,
Rockweiler, Riley, and Gleason. Absent: Lehman.
Public Comment
No members of the public wished to comment during the public comment portion of the
meeting.
City of McHenry Comprehensive Plan – Progress Update
Director Ross Polerecky introduced members of HDR Inc to update the Council and Planning &
Zoning Commission on the Comprehensive Plan.
Jeff Young of HDR began the presentation by giving a process overview. Of the five phases of the
process, we are currently at Phase 3, where plan goals are defined. It was explained that nearly
2,000 people have been reached through pop-up events, intercept surveys, through social media,
and more. Samples of the November Design Charrette were shown and briefly explained. The
survey was active for 78 days and received 424 respondents. A demographic breakdown of
survey respondents was also discussed. Seven topics were ranked from highest to lowest priority,
with new sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails for walking and biking around town coming in as the
highest priority.
Topics with very strong consensus (80%+ agree) included economic development, walkability,
open space & conservation, and redevelopment. Other topics ranged in majority consensus (50-
60% agree), and less consensus (40%+ agree). The survey also showed how often and why people
came to the downtown. A positive takeaway from the survey is that 77% of respondents believe
that this plan will help McHenry grow. Sixty-three percent of respondents are happy with how
the City has changed in the last 20 years.
Planning & Zoning Commission
Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2024
Page 2
William Wellington of HDR presented the opportunities and challenges moving forward for the
City. Major opportunities included commercial development on Routes 31 and 120, while
challenges included struggling retail corridors and housing issues. It was noted that the Route 31
expansion was both an opportunity and a challenge. A possible vision for McHenry and a vision
for the downtown were developed using feedback from survey respondents, and Council
members and Planning & Zoning Commissioners discussed the visions and how they can be used
moving forward.
Shai Roos of HDR presented themes, goals, and objectives for the different areas of McHenry. A
map of McHenry was shown with character areas broken into Downtown Mixed-Use,
Employment Center, Mixed-Use Commercial/Suburban Retrofit, Neighborhood Commercial
Corridor, Walkable Residential Development, and Conservation Residential Development. Each
area was discussed and explained their purpose and how they could be right for McHenry.
The next steps in the planning process were discussed, including the development of a citywide
future land use map, a mobility framework, creating goals and objectives, and the
implementation workshop that is tentatively scheduled to take place in April of 2024.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Commissioner Locke and seconded by Commissioner Bremer to adjourn
the meeting at 8:29 p.m. Voice Vote: 6-ayes: Commissioners Rockweiler, Locke, Davis, Gleason,
Riley, and Bremer. 1-absent: Lehman. 0-nay; 0-abstained. Motion Carried.
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Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson