Schemes to drain swamps are common, but Warren Township Supervisor Suzanne Simpson wants to drain the woods in a bid to save them.
Simpson said the 25-acre Warren Township Community Woods are dying because they are always flooded from storm runoff as a result of overdevelopment.
“We have 80, 300-year-old oak trees dying,” Simpson told the Lake County Board’s Planning, Building and Zoning Committee Monday. “The only thing I can see is a drainage system for the woods.”
Simpson said her fears for the trees were heightened by recent proposals to build the Delaware Crossings subdivision, which would feature 60 units in two four-story buildings on 3 1/2 acres near Gurnee.
County officials said Delaware Crossings is an example of why it was necessary to revamp the county’s planning and zoning ordinance, a process now under way.
Under the present ordinance, said Patrick Tierney, a Lake County senior planner, no height restrictions were set for residential areas. And, Tierney said, when the plat was approved around 1993 for development, it was expected to be in the form of town homes.
“The new ordinance addresses this,” said Pam Newton (R-Vernon Hills), chairperson of the committee. “Unfortunately, this was approved under the old ordinance.”
Tierney said final development plans must be reviewed by the county’s department of planning and development. He said the county will encourage the builders to conform more closely with standards proposed by the new Unified Development Ordinance, which comes up for public hearings Tuesday in Gurnee and Thursday in Lake Villa.
The 3 1/2-acre parcel is owned by developer Frank Blazevich, Tierney said.
“I’m not against development of the property; it should be developed,” said Al Westerman (R-Waukegan). “But I’m against the height. It does not belong.”
The committee also approved an amendment to an ordinance allowing adult entertainment establishments, which mandates 250-foot buffer zones from residential areas.
Under the present ordinance, 3,967 acres of Lake County could have been zoned for adult entertainment establishments, said Mitchell Hoffman of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office.
Under the amendment, he said, 986 acres can be developed for such uses, based on requirements that they be at least 1,000 feet from some public buildings and recreation areas, and 250 feet from residences.
“It’s an obvious change for the better,” said Bob Buhai (D-Highland Park).
The ordinance goes before the Lake County Board on May 12 for final consideration.
