Lake County officials have been invited to help select a site for a model “smart growth” housing development.
“Choose an appropriate piece of land in Lake County that will be an example of conservation development in Lake County, which would be a model in Lake County and perhaps the state as a whole,” Richard J. Dixon, a director of the Home Builders Association of Lake County, told members of the Lake County Board’s Planning, Building and Zoning Committee.
The home builders and the Conservation Fund, a national environment group, announced in January that they had joined forces to build three affordable and environmentally sensitive communities.
Such communities would feature clustered housing to preserve open space while minimizing paved areas so rain and snow can soak into the ground instead of causing flooding.
Model subdivisions already are taking shape in Germantown, Wis.; Niles, Mich; and Huron, Ohio.
“You’re very fortunate that you already have a terrific example of conservation development in Prairie Crossing,” a Grayslake subdivision, said Elizabeth Cisar, director of the Conservation Fund’s Great Lakes office.
Cisar said her organization has been discussing the model housing development with officials of Grayslake and Vernon Hills.
Ward Miller, executive director of the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, said conservation development features have been part of the county storm-water management code since 1992.
“Unfortunately, large parts of the developer community ignored the practices because they are voluntary,” Miller said.
“We are committed to smart growth,” Dixon responded. “Let’s cooperate and not confront each other. That’s what this is all about. It’s good for home builders, it’s good for Lake County and it’s good for the people.”
County Board member Robert Buhai (D-Highland Park) said conservation elements have been included in the formation of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance and the Watershed Development Ordinance, now making their way to final approval by the board.
“In some ways, you are preaching to the choir,” Buhai said.
But board member Pamela Newton (R-Vernon Hills) suggested going further.
“We have to take a new step into the millennium,” she said.
The panel also reviewed a new building and zoning fee structure for homeowners and developers that would increase more than 50 percent next year if adopted.
Planning and Development Director Philip Rovang said the department currently falls short by about $600,000 in covering the expenses of processing building permits and zoning reviews.
The proposed increase would boost revenue by $1.2 million in fiscal 2000 over fiscal 1999. The Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago has encouraged county officials to show how such fee increases are justified.
“It’s important to understand the statistics driving the fee increase,” said Bruce Deason, director of governmental affairs for the association.
Rovang said fees will be charged for the first time for zoning matters, including $50 for requests for zoning interpretation. This does not apply to telephone requests.
The panel announced that the first public hearing on proposed Unified Development Ordinance maps will be Nov. 8 in the College of Lake County by the Zoning Board of Appeals. UDO text and maps are expected to become effective April 1 if adopted by the County Board in February.
