McHenry County Blog

Joining former City Councilman Thomas Hayden on the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission is former City Councilman Dave Goss.

Goss seemed to have been left out of the “incumbent slate” during last spring’s election.

At least if sign placement is any indication.

Jeff Thorsen’s, Ralph Dawson’s and Carolyn Schofield’s signs regularly appeared together.

Goss seemed like the odd man out.

But Mayor Aaron Shepley, who had a Goss sign on his front year along with Thorsen’s and Dawson’s, has appointed him to the city Planning and Zoning Commission.

I don’t know whether he actually replaced Schofield on the commission, but that ’s what it looks like.

One thing is for sure.

Goss will do his homework. I can’t remember a time he didn’t do so when I attended council meetings.

Tucked away on the last page of the Crystal Lake Council minutes for May 6, 2008, is the report of a 4-3 vote to re- appoint Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Hayden and outspoken member Jim Batastini.

The council members voting against the two were Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Dave Goss.

The council members voting in support of reappointment were Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins.

Breaking the tie was Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Hayden is a former city councilman. Batastini ran for city council against Mueller and Ferguson last time around. The two women and Goss supported bringing a minor league baseball stadium to McHenry County College.

Dawson, Thorsen and Hopkins were on the opposite side of the MCC re-zoning issue, supporting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous vote to oppose allowing a baseball stadium at MCC. By their vote, the three voting for re-appointment killed the proposal because the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote triggered an extraordinary majority vote requirement.

Shepley, of course, led city efforts to bring a minor league baseball team to McHenry County College.

Tucked away on the last page of the Crystal Lake Council minutes for May 6, 2008, is the report of a 4-3 vote to re- appoint Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Hayden and outspoken member Jim Batastini.

The council members voting against the two were Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Dave Goss.

The council members voting in support of reappointment were Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins.

Breaking the tie was Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Hayden is a former city councilman. Batastini ran for city council against Mueller and Ferguson last time around. The two women and Goss supported bringing a minor league baseball stadium to McHenry County College.

Dawson, Thorsen and Hopkins were on the opposite side of the MCC re-zoning issue, supporting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous vote to oppose allowing a baseball stadium at MCC. By their vote, the three voting for re-appointment killed the proposal because the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote triggered an extraordinary majority vote requirement.

Shepley, of course, led city efforts to bring a minor league baseball team to McHenry County College.

Without dissent, the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend to the Crystal Lake City Council that McHenry County College be allowed to cover at least 50% of its current and proposed 57-acre addition, all in Crystal Lake’s watershed.

There were no objectors from the Crystal Lake public.

MCC President Walt Packard explained that the college was only seeking a variation from the 20% building limit contained in the watershed ordinance.

After he finished his brief presentation, Commission Chairman Tom Hayden observed that “the ball field for all intents and purposes is now dead.”

“That’s correct,” City Attorney John Cowlin replied. “The mayor said it (presumably the improper motion to reconsider) was moot.”

“To my way of thinking you are here because the 20% (limit) is still on the books (even though) the Best Management Practices are now (in place),” Hayden continued.

“By granting this variation..you eliminate the concerns of what can go on the property.” Hayden said.

“That’s correct,” Packard replied.

“I’d also submit that you’d probably be run out of town on a rail if you spent $3.6 million on land and couldn’t build on it,” Hayden continued.

Attorney Jane Collins was the only one to speak during pubic comment time.

She tried to elicit why the college was asking for a “variation,” rather than an “exception.”

No answer was forthcoming.

Carolyn Schofield was curious as to why the college was before her commission.

“I’m under the impression you can already do this,” she said.

“In order to eliminate any question (about the) 20%. Until it’s removed, it’s there,” Cowlin explained.

“They are in kind of a trick bag right now. They have agree to Best Management Practices, but the 20% is still in the ordinance.”

Concerning the 20 percent’s retention in the ordinance, Hayden said, “I think it gives us protection if someone wants to develop property (on the watershed) without Best Management Practices.

“My only objection was the road problem,” Commissioner James Jouron commented.

The six members present all voted to recommend the variation requested.

The vote seemed almost anticlimactic.

Waiting in the wings, however, is a second 3rd party review by Economics Research Associates.

New numbers.

Taxpayers would be naive to think that the MCC board majority has deep-sixed the baseball stadium proposal.

= = = = =
In the top photo, McHenry County College President Walt Packard makes his pitch to the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission.

The head shots, from top to bottom are of Commission Chairman Tom Hayden, attorney Jane Collins, Commissioner Carolyn Schofield, City Attorney John Cowlin and Commissioner James Jouron.

At the bottom of the article, a clearly pleased MCC President Walt Packard shakes hands with MCC Board President George Lowe. MCC Trustee Barbara Walters is seen in the background.

Without dissent, the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend to the Crystal Lake City Council that McHenry County College be allowed to cover at least 50% of its current and proposed 57-acre addition, all in Crystal Lake’s watershed.

There were no objectors from the Crystal Lake public.

MCC President Walt Packard explained that the college was only seeking a variation from the 20% building limit contained in the watershed ordinance.

After he finished his brief presentation, Commission Chairman Tom Hayden observed that “the ball field for all intents and purposes is now dead.”

“That’s correct,” City Attorney John Cowlin replied. “The mayor said it (presumably the improper motion to reconsider) was moot.”

“To my way of thinking you are here because the 20% (limit) is still on the books (even though) the Best Management Practices are now (in place),” Hayden continued.

“By granting this variation..you eliminate the concerns of what can go on the property.” Hayden said.

“That’s correct,” Packard replied.

“I’d also submit that you’d probably be run out of town on a rail if you spent $3.6 million on land and couldn’t build on it,” Hayden continued.

Attorney Jane Collins was the only one to speak during pubic comment time.

She tried to elicit why the college was asking for a “variation,” rather than an “exception.”

No answer was forthcoming.

Carolyn Schofield was curious as to why the college was before her commission.

“I’m under the impression you can already do this,” she said.

“In order to eliminate any question (about the) 20%. Until it’s removed, it’s there,” Cowlin explained.

“They are in kind of a trick bag right now. They have agree to Best Management Practices, but the 20% is still in the ordinance.”

Concerning the 20 percent’s retention in the ordinance, Hayden said, “I think it gives us protection if someone wants to develop property (on the watershed) without Best Management Practices.

“My only objection was the road problem,” Commissioner James Jouron commented.

The six members present all voted to recommend the variation requested.

The vote seemed almost anticlimactic.

Waiting in the wings, however, is a second 3rd party review by Economics Research Associates.

New numbers.

Taxpayers would be naive to think that the MCC board majority has deep-sixed the baseball stadium proposal.

= = = = =
In the top photo, McHenry County College President Walt Packard makes his pitch to the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission.

The head shots, from top to bottom are of Commission Chairman Tom Hayden, attorney Jane Collins, Commissioner Carolyn Schofield, City Attorney John Cowlin and Commissioner James Jouron.

At the bottom of the article, a clearly pleased MCC President Walt Packard shakes hands with MCC Board President George Lowe. MCC Trustee Barbara Walters is seen in the background.

One of the friends of McHenry County Blog rightly thinks that those interested in Crystal Lake watershed issues should not be packing it in for the winter.

Here’s the email I received:

Development of the CL watershed is still ongoing, but have heard people says that they thought it was “over” due to MCC stalling out on their ballpark plans. You web-writers can say it better than I can, but I have sent out this notice….

ALERT!!

A public meeting for the NW Subarea Plan, the City of CL development plan for the CL watershed, is listed for Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm at the City Hall. WE NEED THOSE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CL WATERSHED TO SHOW UP.

The draft NW SUB AREA plan is downloadable at http://www.crystallake.org/, then click on the Unified Development Ordinance information link on Bottom Left of City’s home page.

This meeting was originally a Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, but as some may recall, Shepley called for the meeting to be a “joint meeting’ of the Council and Planning and Zoning Commssion. It is not clear if he will let Tom Hayden, Planning and Zoning Chair, run the meeting, or Shepley may be running the meeting. Tom typically allows for good public input.

THIS IS the plan to develop the watershed!!

The maps (which are too low a resolution to be readable in many cases) show what the plan of the Mayor and staff is for development.
The staff has indicated that they would be doing “Conservation Development” but we need to see the Conservation Development Ordinance. The UDO information is associated with this, so please if you have time, take time to look at it, but much is “details” and we need a good conservation ordinance which promotes OPEN SPACE (with definitions & credits for increased open space, which will allow for more natural infiltration) and Green linkages pre-mapping (Green infrastructure) throughout the watershed.

We also need the input of Soil and Water Conservation District and actual soils, and Natural areas maps (MCNAI), not just mentions of this as it stands now.

The City staff has been sent the draft of the County’s Conservation Development
Ordinance. We should push to have the city adopt this for the watershed also once it is adopted by County Board some time after January.

Please tell your friends and neighbors to come to this meeting, the City Council
needs to know people are still concerned.

= = = = =
The maps are from the McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District. All may be enlarged by clicking on them.

The red hatched areas in the top map show the areas where soil is hydric or characterized by considerable moisture.

The red cross hatched area in the second map shows the high permeable soils. At the bottom is the Route 14 part of the larger permeable soil map.

The one with all the numbers shows the various soil types in the watershed. Wouldn’t you think a city ordinance would reference them and what can be built upon them?

The map with all the blue shows the soil leaches. The blue parts indicate intermediate leaching; the red high.

Click to enlarge.

One of the friends of McHenry County Blog rightly thinks that those interested in Crystal Lake watershed issues should not be packing it in for the winter.

Here’s the email I received:

Development of the CL watershed is still ongoing, but have heard people says that they thought it was “over” due to MCC stalling out on their ballpark plans. You web-writers can say it better than I can, but I have sent out this notice….

ALERT!!

A public meeting for the NW Subarea Plan, the City of CL development plan for the CL watershed, is listed for Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm at the City Hall. WE NEED THOSE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CL WATERSHED TO SHOW UP.

The draft NW SUB AREA plan is downloadable at http://www.crystallake.org/, then click on the Unified Development Ordinance information link on Bottom Left of City’s home page.

This meeting was originally a Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, but as some may recall, Shepley called for the meeting to be a “joint meeting’ of the Council and Planning and Zoning Commssion. It is not clear if he will let Tom Hayden, Planning and Zoning Chair, run the meeting, or Shepley may be running the meeting. Tom typically allows for good public input.

THIS IS the plan to develop the watershed!!

The maps (which are too low a resolution to be readable in many cases) show what the plan of the Mayor and staff is for development.
The staff has indicated that they would be doing “Conservation Development” but we need to see the Conservation Development Ordinance. The UDO information is associated with this, so please if you have time, take time to look at it, but much is “details” and we need a good conservation ordinance which promotes OPEN SPACE (with definitions & credits for increased open space, which will allow for more natural infiltration) and Green linkages pre-mapping (Green infrastructure) throughout the watershed.

We also need the input of Soil and Water Conservation District and actual soils, and Natural areas maps (MCNAI), not just mentions of this as it stands now.

The City staff has been sent the draft of the County’s Conservation Development
Ordinance. We should push to have the city adopt this for the watershed also once it is adopted by County Board some time after January.

Please tell your friends and neighbors to come to this meeting, the City Council
needs to know people are still concerned.

= = = = =
The maps are from the McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District. All may be enlarged by clicking on them.

The red hatched areas in the top map show the areas where soil is hydric or characterized by considerable moisture.

The red cross hatched area in the second map shows the high permeable soils. At the bottom is the Route 14 part of the larger permeable soil map.

The one with all the numbers shows the various soil types in the watershed. Wouldn’t you think a city ordinance would reference them and what can be built upon them?

The map with all the blue shows the soil leaches. The blue parts indicate intermediate leaching; the red high.

Click to enlarge.