“… anybody who said 'Don’t rezone this property,’ I eliminated from consideration."

Did you think your 2030 plan commission was listening to you?

Your 2030 Planning Commission has held the first of three meetings to review the comments you submitted on the Land Use Chapter and Map. Some minor changes (that are probably big changes to those individual requesting them) were made, but the major issues addressed in your comments - population projections and resource protection - were not addressed. They moved some things around on the map, but did not eliminate any of the sprawl. One notable change is the removal of the large industrial area northwest of Woodstock and its replacement south of Marengo. The large amounts of estate (1-5 acre) designation remain intact to encourage development in the middle of farmland where the lack of roads, utilities and services will increase taxes for all of us.

Among the many quotable quotes from the RPC over the past two years is the new one in the title of this post. The statement was in response to some of your comments where you used the word "zone" instead of the word "plan". The complete quote is:

"Many, many of the comments that I read and heard that related to these (areas under discussion) dealt with zoning and anybody who said 'Don't rezone this property,’ I eliminated from consideration."

The next meeting of the Plan Commission is Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 pm, but please verify the time if you go. They will review comments that pertain to the text of the 2030 Land Use Chapter. There may be one more meeting and then the plan goes to the Planning and Development Committee of the County Board before it goes to the full board.

Planning and Development can make changes. Maybe they will be better listeners. The following County Board members are on the P&D Committee: Lynn Orphal, (815) 455-0303; Mary Donner,(815) 459-5954; Tina Hill (Chair),(815) 347-4222; Marc Munaretto, (815) 385-5590; Sue Draffkorn (815)653-6057; Randy Donley, (815) 790-9435; Ersel Schuster, (815) 338-2207. Hill and Orphal are up for reelection in 2010. They will be discussing the plan at 9 am on November 11, at the County Building on Ware Rd. Please attend and tell them what you want in YOUR County Plan.