HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - R-08-009 - 05/19/2008 - SUPPORT LAND USE POLICY PROPOSAL FOR MCHENRY COUNTR-08-009
A Resolution Supporting a
Land Use Policy Proposal for McHenry County
WHEREAS, McHenry County has started the 2030 County land use plan process in
order to develop a comprehensive 2030 Land Use Plan; and
WHEREAS, the 2030 Land Use Plan, when adopted by the McHenry County Board,
will be a policy document to aid elected officials in making land use decisions; and
WHEREAS, sound policy -making will only result from a positive and cooperative
partnership between the municipalities and county on regional issues such as transportation,
infrastructure, management of natural and water resources, preservation of agricultural land
and open space; and
WHEREAS, the county, through its recently proposed conservation design ordinance,
has shown a strong commitment to managing development in an environmentally
compatible way- by preserving open space and farmland, protecting natural resources and
native vegetation and promoting compact development designs; and
WHEREAS, municipalities share these environmental goals and also support land use
policies that prevent sprawl, reduce travel on our road network, preserve farmland, improve
our transportation system and promote efficient development strategies that reduce the costs
of infrastructure and public services; and
WHEREAS, the goals identified by the county and municipalities are compatible and
can be achieved by establishing a policy proposed by the McHenry County Council of
Governments Mayors Caucus that would limit future growth and development to existing
municipalities in the county; and
WHEREAS, this policy has been successfully implemented in other counties in the
state and around the country and we believe that this may be an effective vehicle to achieve
the previously stated goals. Preliminary findings in land use and planning research reveal the
following:
1. Directing development to municipalities and away from agricultural areas reduces the
cost of development, limits the destruction of the environment and reduces the
undesirable effects of sprawl' and reduces travel for the day to day needs of residents (ie
trips for shopping, school and recreation etc.);
2. Concentrating development within and around municipalities protects farmland and
open space and reduces conflicts from competing land uses;
1 Dr. J. Dixon Essex, 1999. "Fiscal Costs and Public Safety Risks of Low —Density Residential Development on
Farmland: Findings from Three Diverse Locations on the Urban Fringe of the Chicago Metro Area"
3. Sprawling and "leapfrog" developments tend to be dispersed- requiring longer public
roads and imposing higher cost on police and fire departments and schools.; They also
lead to higher energy costs and accelerated deterioration of public infrastructure,
particularly the transportation system;
4. Low -density residential developments in unincorporated areas do not generate enough
property taxes to pay for their infrastructure and public service costs (ie fire, police
and school busing) and these costs are subsidized by residents living in adjacent
municipalities;'
5. Municipalities can assess impact and transition fees to compensate school districts and
other local governments when development occurs, thus easing the burden of such
development on local tax payers;
6. Limiting growth to municipalities does not stop development nor take away
development rights from a property owner. Instead, it creates a more predictable,
rational and orderly pattern of development; and
7. Limiting growth to municipalities is a policy that is in use in many counties around
the country (particularly in counties interested in preserving valuable farmland) and
has been upheld in court as a defensible land use policy. An example includes
DeKalb County, IL.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Corporate Authorities of the City
of McHenry request the 2030 Regional Plan Commission and McHenry County Board
consider and include a policy in the 2030 Plan and other county land use policy documents
that would limit all development to areas within existing municipalities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to Mr.
Charles Eldredge, Chairman of the Regional Plan Commission, Ms. SuzAnne Ehardt,
Director of the McHenry County Planning and Development Department, Members of the
McHenry County Board and Mr. Kenneth D. Koehler, Chairman of the McHenry County
Board.
Passed and Approved this 19`h day of May, 2008.
Voting Aye
Voting Nay
Absent:
Santi, Glab, Schaefer, Murgatroyd, Wimmer, Peterson, Condon.
None.
None. _
Signed: Cc
Mayor
Attest:
A#M;
City Cle 1
2 Report of the Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center, December 2003
3 Dr. J. Dixon Essex, 1999