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The Zoning Ordinance In Review Parallel to the blizzard of '79 come the blowing drafts of confusion on the Proposed Comprehensive amendment to the McHenry county zoning ordinance. Facts and opinions on the subject were expressed freely in mid-week. A special informational meeting jointly sponsored by the Woodstock, McHenry, and Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce organizations was held at the Opera House in IWoodstock Wednesday, Jan. 17. Before a packed room, Kit Carstens, president of McHenry C of C, capably moderated a panel consisting of Dick Klemm, chairman of the County board; Erwin Walters and Jean Hervert of the Zoning committee; Steve Aradas, director of the McHenry County Planning commission; Art Beck representing industry; Tom Harding and Jim Green, lawyers representing the McHenry County Board of Realtors; and Mike Caldwell, lawyer representing the McHenry County Bar association. After each panelist made a three to five minute statement, they exchanged questions and answers in a lively, but con­ trolled manner. During a break, the audience was allowed to submit written Chamber Of Commerce questions. Carstens directed the questions to the best qualified panelist. The first panelist, Tom Harding, intended to establish the fact that there is a tremendous amount of prime agricultural land in McHenry county by showing black and white slides of each township in McHenry county. The slides were from the Soil Con­ servation district, with prime land shown in dark gray and non-agricultural land in white. It was difficult to memorize each slide as it went by but the Holstein producers in McHenry county can be happy that the area still looks good in black and white. . Steve Aradas emphasized that in the one-third of a cen­ tury, since the original zoning ordinance in 1946, the county has grown from 45,000 inhabitants to 142,000. From an annual load of 140 permits at that time, the Zoning Board of Appeals handled 2,240 permits in 1978. There is no question, he said, that the out-dated zoning ordinance needed to be amended. However, he pointed out that the ordinance is only one tool needed for county planning. Other agencies, such as the Planning commission with a map showing land use recommendations, En­ vironmental Planning agency and Energy commission e-e part of the whole picture. Erwin Walters repeated the fact that the proposed zoning amendment was long overdue. In fact, a committee was for­ med in 1964 to tackle the problem. Now, after fifteen years of indecision the present draft was completed in July of 1978. The zoning ordinance of other counties had been studied. The committee had reviewed the facts with road commissioners, assessors, and supervisors. He pointed out that after the public hearings had been completed, the amendment would be reviewed by the County board to consider revisions. Art Beck reminded the group that originally industry was eager to locate because this area offered reasonably priced ' land, excellent transportation, and plenty of available labor. In the last decade the big change has been in availability* of labor. He noted it was true, increased industrial development has outgrown the supply of laborers but that is caused mainly by the escalating cost of housing. People on an hourly wage basis find it almost impossible to find homes they can afford. (Continued on page 18) Land classed as Agriculture under the proposed zoning ordinance changes would not be "locked in" agricultural use as persons opposing most of the new ordinance have been writing and saying, Don Luerssen, president of the McHenry County Farm Bureau, explained this week. "Owners of land classed Agriculture can petition for a new classification, including Estate and Residential classifications which are much smaller parcels," he continued "Raising the minimum acreage for Agriculture zoning from the present 5 acres to 35 acres assures that virtually all residential developments will take place only after a public hearing. Neighbors will have a chance to voice their opinions with the added important provision that consideration will be given to soils, wetness, traffic and ability of the land to handle a septic system". The state's attorney has invited comments from the public and they should be sent to him at the Courthouse, 2200 North Seminary Street, Woodstock, 60098. Luerssen said the emphasis on prime land and prime soils by opponents of the ordinance is intended to confuse the issue because the use of prime soil in Farm Bureau Views the zoning process is only one aspect of the total zoning decision. It is not written in the present ordinance although in recent years it has been considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals in appropriate situations because most citizens do want to preserve the agricultural producing soil. "Farmers are the first en­ vironmentalists, practicing good soil and water con­ servation long before it became popular to jump on that band wagon They want to preserve the food-producing capacity of their land and aljo want to avoid polluting waters," said Luerssen. Luerssen backed his assertion that a large majority of farmers support the Farm Bureau's resolutions to preserve prime farmland by explaining the resolutions process of that organization. THe Farm Bureau board of directors acted on a legislative committee proposal in early 1977 following a call-a thon to voting members- who endorsed this position It adopted its recommendations on the zoning ordinance, including the 35- acre minimum proposal for agriculture zoning and the desire to preserve prime far­ mland for farming purposes At the 1977 Farm Bureau annual meeting, members reaffirmed that policy by supporting, without dissent, a resolution prepared for the membership in two ways-a phone-calling effort that reached virtually all regular members for their views and adoption of the resolution at the organization's annual meetijigf Luerssen said that because the two issues are so vital, at the 1978 annual meeting in September, 1978, he called members' attention to these matters and asked if anyone wished to offer a dissenting voice. None of t|ie more than 600 presenf-^^poke to express disagreement with that policy "Only opposition I've heard from anyone is by those wanting to sell land or profit . from it", he observed. "Our members decide our policies. If anyone wishes to urge a change, he simply needs only to write our Farm Bureau board, attend our policy resolutions meeting, or attend the annual meeting. Ours is one of the few truly grassroots organizations around, for we do mean it when we solicit the views and participation of.,our members." Luerssen, who lives in Alden township now. said he came to (Continued on page IS'* THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER U cy MIEI.E A humorous talk-on "I. ife 'as a Balloon. Down and l 'p". will be a highlight of the annual meeting of the auxiliary to McHenry hospital Tuesday . Jan 23, at the McHenry Country club "Those of us who have heard our speaker Lucy Miele want lo share this entertainment with our friends.said Bertha Stange, retiring president So we are asking each auxilian to treat a guest or new member to this program We expect our business meeting to be short and routine, so that we can (Continued on pa^e 18 'SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Revitalization For Lakemoor? The nearby village of Lakemoor may be due for extensive revitalization if plans presented to the McHenry County board Tuesday are realized. Presentation of plans was made by Nancy Briscoe, executive--director of the McHenry County Housing authority. It receive board support, which means that it is the county making the funding request on behalf of the village. Ms. Briscoe had held two meetings at Lakemoor in which the public was invited to par­ ticipate. She also attended numerous village meetings. It was on the request of the village officers that the county acted to seek funds. A total of $437,000 is sought, but Ms. Briscoe said the fun­ ding, under a Small Cities Discretionary Community Development Block grant, is highly competitive Only about 15 percent of an anticipated 200 requests statewide will be accepted. She added that it is» possible only certain parts of the plan might be funded. Th^program is divided into four parts. Community Revitalization. Community Center, Land Acquisition and Lakefront Park In revitalization. the plan calls for hiring a code en­ forcement officer for the village who would be respon­ sible for such violations. Another part of the plan calls for clearing litter from vacant lots, removal of junked cars and the removal of health and safety hazards Housing rehabilitation- weatherization grants are an important provision, with plans for 20, up to $8,000 each, to low income residents This program would be ad ministered by the McHenry County H^U^ing Authority The Community Center project calls for remodelling of the existing municipal building, with the present full kitchen considered ideal for an ex tended "Meet and Eat' program for senior citizens The project also includes plans to buy vacant land on which the Housing Authority would build a small <20.25 units) elderly project and up to five single family homes for large families The Housing Authority intends to obtain funds from the Hl'I) Public (Continued on pane 18) Good news that almost became lost in between the high pile of Christmas goodies was completion of the Rt. 31 bridge north. It was almost a year ago that the last fatality took place on the old, narrow bridge, adding to its long and damaging safety record. In a holiday season that seemed to have more than its share of unhappiness, completion of the bridge was on the plus side. Now that we have a good, safe thoroughfare on which to drive, the question remains as to how many drivers can dig deeply enough in the pocket for money to fill the gas tank. When the price of a gallon of regular skyrocketed from 48.9 cents a gallon at the start of 1974 to 71.9 cents a gallon in late December, 1978, it marked a 47 percent increase over the five- year period. Premium escalated by 43 percent and in I VOLUME 103 NUMBER 50 FRIDAY. JANUARY 19, 1979 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20' Present Final Plans City Intersection % The final, preliminary plans for what many hope will be the improvement of the Front and Elm street intersection, were approved by the City Council Monday night. The plans were submitted for approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation and are aimed at solving the problems of what McHenry residents have labelled worst and most dangerous intersection in the city." Superintendent of Public Works Fred Meyer explained the plans to the Council and after the meeting, indicated that the next step would be the engineering for the signalization at the corner. "Manual traffic counts that have been taken will determine the timing of the lights," Meyer explained. "And, the job has to be let to bid by Sept. 30, of this year." „ The major^hange in the plan calls for revision on Waukegan street, with restrictions placed on entrance and exit. \ Entrance to Waukegan road will be only be allowed to traffic northbound on Front street, which turns left (east) on Waukegan road. Exit from Waukegan road will be a right turn only onto Front street The stop lights will be moved back from their present location to the corner of Waukegan and Front. This should eliminate the blocking of the intersection by Waukegan road traffic. A solid median will be con­ structed to prevent any other traffic movements by Waukegan road travelers The Council passed a resolution accepting the plans for Waukegan road, and will publish a notice fully ex­ plaining the right-in and right- out-only provision Decide Bid-Bond Plan For East Campus Life Safety Action on handling the sale of bonds for health, life safety and energy conservation work at East campus was taken by the board of High School District 156 in meeting Tuesday night. The total will be in the amount of $2,500,000. Len Peterson, representing the firm of O'Donnell, Wicklund and Pigozzi Architects, outlined the advantages and disadvantages of bidding the project after the board gave approval to their handling the East campus building project. Board President James Althoff suggested the board accept one bid for the entire project rather than asking for separate bids. Members agreed this would allow less confusion over the responsibilities of several contractors. Business Manager Michael Kelly then outlined the options in hiring a firm to handle the legal work on the bond sale. These were < 1) sale handled by the school attorneys, Franke and Miller; and (2) seek another bond consulting firm. The plan calls for two full lanes for traffic travelling west on Elm street, with an ad­ ditional lane for traffic to turn south onto Front street. This is the same as is presently in operation, but the new plan calls for the elimination of some parking along Elm, making the left turn lane larger. At the same tin^e, westbound traffic is allowed to turn with a He also noted the options of a locally negotiated sale and a public bid. Following more discussion, the board voted in favor of the legal firm being in charge of the sale. The larger pieces of work on East campus will be done during the summer vacations of 1979 and 1980. The board recognized there will be some disruption of school for work • that „ must be accomplished during the school terms, but (Continued on page 18) protective arrow south on Front street, eastbound traffic on Elm will have a green arrow protecting a - north turn on Front street The right turn lane for traffic eastbound on Elm street, wanting to turn south onto Front street, will be enlarged and extended The entire intersection will be revamped to allow easier (Continued on page 1 Informational Meeting On Zoning Ordinance Parkland school, 1802 N. Ringwood road, will be the setting for an informational meeting concerning the new zoning ordinance for McHenry county. Interested persons may attend this meeting, scheduled Wednesday, Jan 24. at 7:30 p m in the school gymnasium The Special Zoning Com­ mittee of the McHenry County Board has completed its work on the final draft oi the new zoning ordinance and ha^ prepared new zoning maps Hearings on this ordinance text and maps will be conducted bv the Zoning Board of Appeals and the document will then be submitted to the County board When it is adopted, this or dinance will replace the existing Zoning ordinance and maps. Columnist Featured At Hospital Auxiliary Meet Roof Damage For The heavy snow last weekend wasjiot only too much for most people to take, it was also too much for many buildings to take. Numerous roofs reportedly collapsed in the county under the weight of the snow, including several in the McHenry area. Two persons in the top photo push snow off a roof on Route 31, near Ringwood, after the roof of the storage building in the left of the photo caved in. The second photo shows the front of the Plaindealer office, after the awning in front of the building collapsed during Monday afternoon's snowfall. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD amnK:'r • ' f? ?3k-; the last two and a half years, the average of unleaded has increased 16 percent. When there is unhappy news in the economy, it seems only natural, to look to our legislators. And so many folks may heed the warning of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce which urges the populace to stay informed on issues, and to speak out on legislation that affects their everyday lives. And to make the job easier, this is the way it's done: Ad­ dress state senators as Honorable John Doe, State Senate, State Capitol Building, Springfield, 111. 62706; and state representatives as follows: Honorable John Doe, House of Representatives, State Capitol Building, Springfield, 111., 62706. Now -- make your voice heard! K A F. With another winter storm watch posted for the end of this week, area residents have been warned to check the roofs of their homes and buildings to determine the depth of the snow. Throughout the city, people are observed clearing snow off roofs. Several roofs of buildings collapsed under the weight of last weekend's bliziard, and persons are urged to take measures to help prevent a collapse. McHenry County Building and Zoning Officer Glenn Peterson said that snow should be taken from roofs, rather than have a continual buildup. "There may not be too much snow on a roof now to make it collapse," he said, "but any additional snow will just increase the strain placed on it. Peterson explained that flat roofs should definitely be shoveled, because the less pitch to a roof, the less weight it can sustain. "Some people don't realize • that while there may only be a (Continued on page 18)