Newly elected Crystal Lake Park District Commissioner Mike Walkup came up with a wonderful idea about regulation of Crystal Lake’s watershed last week.
It was right after watershed consultant Gary Scheafer said, “Think big box retailers” taking up 70% of a watershed site.
“We no longer know what the future will bring,” Walkup said.
“Now, you’re kind of looking at estate-type (development),” Schaefer explained.
“We’re looking at that whole Route 14 corridor being developable to some degree,” Walkup added. “(Any) area more than four feet above the waterway–a couple of hundren yards or so south of Route 14 and everything north of Route 14.
“If that happens what happens to the lake? I’m assuming that happens.
“What I see coming down the line is development and we don’t have any way to object unless we own 20% of the contiguous property,” Walkup observed.
“I think Mr. Walkup’s view is completely on target,” Schaefer observed.
“I wonder if the park district could be given standing in the ordinance to request a super majority,” Walkup suggested.
“Anything that goes through that tile system goes onto our property,” park district Director Kirk Reimer said.
Walkup explained that the objection power would be similar to that now held by a township which has a township planning commission.
“That’s a great idea!” park board President Mike Zellman exclaimed.
There’s 1,000 to 1,500 undeveloped acres in Crystal Lake’s watershed. Under the proposed new “rules of the game,” any part that is at least four feet above the water table can be developed.
Most will probably be along Route 14. As one person at the park board meeting pointed out, the road was originally an Indian Trail. It is likely, he thought, the Indians picked the highest elevation to travel through a wetland.
As Walkup said earlier in the meeting,
“The college is the camel that wants to get its nose under the tent.”
Will the Crystal Lake City Council members be willing to allow an entity which views one of its primary roles to be protection of Crystal Lake, the lake, to have more than an advisory role?
Or will its members act as most politicians would and keep all power themselves?
The City of Crystal Lake has the power to protect or destroy Crystal Lake, the lake.
No one thinks city council members would deliberately take actions that would adversely affect the lake, but a minor check and balance that allowing a super majority vote to be imposed by another government with a more ecological approach to local affairs might be a good idea.
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On top is a picture of Crystal Lake Park Board Commissioner Mike Walkup. Beneath is watershed consultant Gary Schaefer with park board member Jerry Sullivan in the background. Next is park district director Kirk Reimer. The bottom photo is of park district President Mike Zellman.