A 9-acre piece of land, owned by the McHenry County Conservation District, was annexed to Richmond Wednesday night, and zoned for estate use.
The property is located north of Broadway Road and south of Illinois Highway 173. A farm on the property may some day be restored and used for an educational purpose, said a district spokesman.
Wednesday’s action ended four months of negotiations between the village and Conservation District. Richmond needed the land for future development to the west, said Kevin Brusek, village president.
A resident living south of the district property, John Drummond, said the board should be stricter about allowable uses on the property. He said Conservation District statute would allow parking lots, entertainment centers and campgrounds and that such uses were not appropriate for the Richmond land.
Roger Stelle, a district attorney, responded that he was not authorized to make changes to the documents and said any alterations or conditions would require approval of the Conservation Board.
The petition passed as presented.
“We’re into passive recreation. We’re not into convention centers, amusement parks or water slides,” Stelle told the resident.
