Minutes of the
Planning & Regulations Committee

The Planning and Regulations Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on September 25, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the DeKalb County Administration Building, Conference Room East. In attendance were Committee Members Robert Hutcheson, Roger Steimel, Howard Lyle, Veronica Casella, Thomas Smith, and Marlene Allen, and staff members Paul Miller and Marcellus Anderson. Audience members included Bob Rosemier, Greg Millburg, Gary Cordes and Carl Heinisch.

Mr. Hutcheson, Chairman of the Planning and Regulations Committee, called the meeting to order. He noted all committee members were present except Clifford Simonson and James Barr.

 

Mr. Steimel moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Smith, and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Miller explained that the petitioner was seeking approval of an 11-unit residential development on a 30-acre wooded property which includes one existing house and two ponds. The subject property was formally a gravel pit, and prior to that it was farmed. The trees on the property were planted after the gravel operation ceased. The proposal is that the project would be a planned development. The planned development process combines rezoning and preliminary plat of subdivision review into a single process. Mr. Miller stated that the petitioner is proposing some unique qualities, including that the project would have two private drives rather than public roads, which means the Township would not be expected to maintain or plow the drives, and special septic systems because the soil on the site will not accommodate typical septic fields. The petitioner is also proposing to install a standpipe along Somonauk Road to provide fire protection both for the new houses and for other structures along this portion of Somonauk Road. The ownership arrangement would be unique, with people owning their houses but all the land being held by a homeowners’ association.

 

Mr. Miller stated that at the public hearing, the petitioner had six expert witnesses, who stated, among other things, that there is a need for the type of high-end housing that would be constructed on the property, and that, if developed, the value of the property would increase from $500,000 to $1.3 million. Also at the hearing, five persons, including adjoining property owners, spoke in opposition to the proposal. Staff also spoke in opposition, noting that the project is contrary to the County’s Comprehensive Plan and would not be in accordance with the written purpose and intent of the planned development regulations of the Zoning Ordinance. The Hearing Officer recommended denial of the request. Finally, Mr. Miller noted that a petition of opposition has been received signed by the owners of approximately 70% of the adjoining lands. This means that the rezoning can only be granted by a 3/4 majority of the County Board members.

 

Mr. Steimel stated that

Mrs.Casella moved to deny the requested Zoning Map Amendment and Preliminary Development Plan, seconded by Mr. Lyle, and the motion carried on a vote of five "aye" and one "nay." Mrs. Allen voted against the motion.

Mr. Hutcheson noted that the draft Planning and Zoning Department budget was fairly modest. There were no questions from the Committee.

 

Karen Grush, DeKalb County Health Department Director, answered questions from the Committee regarding the draft Health Department budget.

 

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________
Robert Hutcheson, Chairman
Planning & Regulations Committee