conservation design and the comprehensive plan

8/8/2019 Conservation Design and the Comprehensive Plan

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Conservation Design and

the Comprehensive Plan:Pathways to Green Infrastructure

McHenry County, Illinois

McHenry County Department of Planning & Development

Dennis Sandquist, Director

Darrell Moore, Senior Planner

May 27, 2010


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Top-Down Approach

Gather county and regional environmental data

Gather/create environmental maps

Identify major resource areas

Collect input from specialists, developers, and the public

Formulate a greenways master plan and map

Work to gain support for the plan

Adopt the plan

Modify/create ordinances that enforce the plan

Open space and greenways created


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Bottom-Up Approach

Permanent open space created, one subdivision at a time

New subdivision proposals subject to ordinance

County Board adopts ordinance

Taskforce crafts Conservation Design Ordinance

County Board creates citizen taskforce


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McHenry

County

Land UseLight Green = Agricultural

Dark Green = Open Space

0 1.5 3 6

miles

N


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The Process:

Requirements: Minimum 40 acres and the combination of woods, severe

slopes, or other unique characteristics

Adherence: Voluntary

Sketch Plan to Staff Plat Review Committee (SPRC)

Present to the County Board

Preliminary Tentative Plat to SPRC

Rezoning petition filed with Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

Public Hearing before ZBA

Preliminary Tentative Plat to Planning & Development (P&D) Committee of the County Board

Resubmission Preliminary Tentative Plat with Zoning Amendment to SPRCCounty Board approval of PD zoning

Final Tentative Plat to SPRC and P&D Committee

Final Plat to SPRC

Final Plat to P&D Committee

Final Plat to County Board for final approval

The Planned Development Zoning District was established

under the 1994 Zoning Ordinance


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Land First approach to subdivision design

Adherence : Mandatory (with environmental triggers) or Voluntary

Triggers:

McHenry County Natural Area Inventory Site

Natural area identified on McHenry County ADID study as having high habitat value

Wetlands

Floodplains

Glacial kettle holes

Woodlands or savannas

Remnant prairiesSoils with excessive permeability, high leach potential, high potential for aquifer

contamination, severe slopes, or hydric soils

State-designated Class III Special Resources Groundwater Area

Existing public or deed-restricted open space

The Conservation Design Ordinance (2008)


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Conservation Design Goals

Limits on disturbance of:

Floodplains

Wetlands

Soils

Tree Protection

Permanent Open Space

Min. 40% -70%


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Developers have bought in to Conservation Design

Developed by an inclusive taskforce

Improvements to the Planned Development system

Preserves open space and developable lots

Costs tend to be offset

Conservation Design subdivisions are marketable


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Assessment of Conservation Design for the creation of Green Infrastructure

Flexibility

Mandates and incentives

Each project a new set of opportunities

Permanent open space


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Assessment of Conservation Design for the creation of Green Infrastructure

May result in more houses

Comes only with subdivisions

Only mandatory with environmental trigger

Only for unincorporated developments

Open space may never be connected


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Agriculture

Natural Resource

Water Resources

Open Space and Greenways


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McHenry

County


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Conservation Design and

the Comprehensive Plan:Pathways to Green Infrastructure

McHenry County, Illinois

If you have comments or questions, please contact us at the

McHenry County Department of Planning & Development

Dennis Sandquist, [email protected]

Darrell Moore, Senior [email protected]

The Conservation Design Ordinance can be downloaded at:www.mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/planninganddevelopment /Pages/Ordinances.aspx

conservation design and the comprehensive plan

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