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supported their zoning with very different strategies. The
<br />upgrade of the roadway in Lake Mary was a major public
<br />improvement separate from the overlay ordinance. The
<br />development that follows the public investment will fulfill
<br />the gateway zoning concept. Portland's urban design
<br />guidelines, directional signage, skyline enhancement, and
<br />tree-planting efforts were also measures above and beyond
<br />the enforcement of its zoning requirements. Denver has gone
<br />a step further by rolling its gateway priorities into the
<br />development of an entirely new district. Ultimately, a
<br />combination of design, zoning, and development is necessary
<br />for each community to achieve its vision.
<br />
<br />Illinois County
<br />Shrinks Ag-lot Size
<br />
<br />McHenry County, at the northwestern fringe of the Chicago
<br />metropolitan area, has changed its minimum lot size in its
<br />agricultural district from 160 acres to 40. The county board
<br />adopted the measure on November 1 with just a few
<br />dissenting votes despite opposition from both the local Farm
<br />Bureau and an environmental group, the McHenry County
<br />Defenders. Principal planner James Hogue says the planning
<br />department recommended the measure after surveying the
<br />sizes of available parcels in the county and finding that the
<br />average was "right around 40 acres." The new zoning, he
<br />says, is more legally defensible because it "fits what is actually
<br />out there."
<br /> The previous 160-acre lot minimum, with a 300-foot
<br />frontage, was enacted in 1979. Before that, it had been a mere
<br />five acres, which itself had been an increase over the original
<br />half-aci'e rule established when the county first adopted zoning
<br />in 1946. McHenry County's eastern end, however, has been
<br />experiencing steady growth as residential development has
<br />moved outward from Chicago's older suburbs, sometimes
<br />bringing those land uses into conflict with agriculture. Farmers
<br />and many environmentalists have argued for more effective
<br />farmland preservation measures as suburban growth has
<br />overtaken the once rural county.
<br /> John Pihl, president of the McHenry County Farm
<br />Bureau, says his group opposed the change because "we have
<br />gotten along pretty well" with the existing rule. It takes far
<br />tnore than 40 acres, he says, to support a family today in
<br />production agriculture, and those acres now in farmland
<br />should be preserved for future generations. "Farm Bureau
<br />was not asking for a change," he notes. "We were asking
<br />them to leave it alone."
<br /> Pihl concedes, ho~vever, that farmers did not universally
<br />support the Farm Bureau position. Those expecting to retire
<br />soon tended to support zoning changes that would make it
<br />easier to divide their land and sell it to developers. In
<br />addition, he noted, other farmers complained that the 160-
<br />acre rule made it too difficult to build an additional house
<br />for family members on their property. But Pihl says these
<br />farmers still can build additional housing on their property.
<br />"They just have to jump through the hoops and have a
<br />hearing," he says. "A lot of guys feet that's infringing on their
<br />property rights, but everybody has rules and regulations for
<br />the good of the community."
<br /> Jim S&wab
<br />
<br /> m
<br />
<br /> 1994 Zoning News Index
<br />
<br />~gvJcultural Preservation
<br />Illinois County Shrinks Ag-Lot Size
<br />
<br />Big Box Retail
<br />Thank You For Approving Kmart
<br />Big Box Retail in the Big Apple
<br />
<br />Bylaws and Ethics
<br />Dealing with Bias and Conflicts of Interest
<br />
<br />Economic Development
<br />Field of Steel
<br />
<br />Gambling
<br />Loading the Dice: Zoning Gaming Facilities
<br />
<br />Growth ~anagement
<br />Pierce County Gears for Growth
<br />
<br />Health Care Facilities
<br />Planning and Zoning for Medical Districts
<br />
<br />Military Bases
<br />Clearing a Path to Base Survival
<br />
<br />flioise
<br />How to Draft an Effective Noise Ordinance
<br />
<br />Open Space
<br />Planning for Open Space Developments
<br />
<br />Restrictive Covenants
<br />A Primer on Restrictive Covenants
<br />
<br />Takings
<br />Deciding Do/an: A New "Rough Proportionality" Test
<br />
<br />Transit
<br />Zoning for Transit: A New Orientation
<br />
<br />Urban Design
<br />The Slippery Path to Monotony Control
<br />Planning Basics for Gateway Design
<br />
<br />Zoning Ordinances
<br />Making Zoning Codes More Readable: Part 1
<br />Making Zoning Codes More Readable: Part 2
<br />
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<br />September
<br />
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<br />December
<br />
<br /> June
<br /> July
<br />
<br />Zoning News is a monthly newsletter published by the American Planuing
<br />Association. Subscriptions are available/or $45 (U.S.) and $54 (forelgu}.
<br />Michael B. Barker, Executive Director; Frank S. So, Deputy Executive Director;
<br />Wifliam R. Klein, Director of Research.
<br />
<br />Zoning News is produced nr APA. Jim Schwab, Ediror; Michael Barrette, Dan Biver,
<br />Sarah Bohlen, Fay Dolnlck, Michelle Gregory, Sanjay Jeer, Beth McGuire, Marya
<br />Morris, David Smith, Reporters; Cynthia Cbeskl, Assistant Editor; Lisa Barton,
<br />Design and Production,
<br />Copyright ©1994 by American Plhnnlng Association, 1313 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL
<br />60637. The American Planning Association has headquarters offices at 1776
<br />Massachusetts Ave., N.W,, Washington, DC 20036.
<br />All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in nny
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<br />or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission itt writing
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