Lake County Gazette

Ogle County Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee met Dec. 10

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF A QUORUM

Chairman Janes called the meeting to order at 10:02 A.M. Roll call indicated six members of the Committee were present: Hopkins, Fritz, Youman, Asp, new member Aaron Mudge and Janes.

Reeverts was absent.

2. READING AND APPROVAL OF REPORTS FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2024 MEETINGS AS MINUTES

Mr. Janes asked for a motion regarding the report of the November 12, 2024 regular meeting.

Mr. Fritz made a motion to approve the reports as presented. Seconded by Mr. Youman. The motion to approve carries 6-0 via voice vote.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

4. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CLOSED MINUTES PER 5 ILCS 120/2 (21) (IF NEEDED)

Approval of Closed Minutes

SUPERVISOR OF ASSESSMENTS PORTION OF MEETING:

5. CONSIDERATION OF MONTHLY BILLS OF SUPERVISOR OF ASSESSMENTS, AND ACTION

Ms. Black presented the monthly bills of the Supervisor of Assessments for consideration in the amount of $998.90. Mr. Youman made a motion to approve the payment of the bills as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hopkins. The motion to approve carries 6-0 via voice vote.

Members: Janes – Youman - Asp – Fritz - Hopkins – Mudge - Reeverts

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ms. Black stated the Board of Review (BOR) had ten appeals that were over $100,000 in value and the taxing districts have been notified. BOR meets tomorrow to set up dates for the appeal hearings. There were 29 appeals from the rest of the townships with a majority from Taylor Township. There a lot of parcel combinations being processed.

7. NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Black stated our copier is having issues and because it is over 10 years old, we are unable to get replacement parts. It is working right now but if it needed to be replaced, I do not have money in my budget and need to know what the process is. I have contacted Fischers and got a quote for $6,699 for a new copier. Discussion ensued regarding usage reports and new vs. used.

Discussion ensued regarding the process. Mr. Youman it would come to this committee first and then finance. Mr. Youman asked for Ms. Black to get additional quotes and bring them to the committee for review next month. Ms. Black agreed to.

PLANNING & ZONING PORTION OF MEETING:

8. CONSIDERATION OF MONTHLY BILLS OF PLANNING & ZONING DEPARTMENT, AND ACTION

Mr. Miller presented the monthly bills of the Planning & Zoning Department for consideration in the amount of $632.15. Mr. Asp made a motion to approve the payment of the bills presented.

Seconded by Mr. Fritz. The motion to approve carries 6-0 via voice vote.

9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION)

RECONSIDERATION AND UPDATE OF CENERGY/HALDANE solar project

Mr. Miller provided a revised site plan to the committee. The new concept plan is 90’x75’ shorter to avoid the best soils in the southeast corner because the original petition was denied by the ZBA based on the high LESA score. Mr. Youman stated this committee supported the denial by the ZBA, forwarded same to the county board and the county board denied the request. Since this happened, the energy company sued the county. As part of the lawsuit, it was asked by Attorney Rock to see if we could work with the energy company to minimize the impact on high productive land. It is also the recommendation of our legal counsel that at this time, it may not be the most prudent thing to fight a lawsuit based on the LESA score. Based on this fact, Attorney Rock recommended using outside legal council, Barrick Switzer, Long Balsley & Van Evera in Rockford, and to bring it back for reconsideration as opposed to necessarily fighting this as a lawsuit. Either way, this will need to go to the Executive Committee and they will want to know our recommendation. I would make the motion that we reconsider accepting their changes as our zoning committee, as opposed to having a lawsuit here just based on a LESA score. Mr. Miller stated this would not need to go back to the ZBA as the revisions are within the area of original request. Mr. Youman stated my motion is to approve/allow this solar facility to build on the revised plan as shown, on a non-precedent basis, given that they worked with us to minimize the impact on the productive land. This will then be forwarded to the Executive Committee and then the County Board. Seconded by Mr. Fritz. Mr. Youman stated the cost of a lawsuit could be between $100K to $200K without knowing the outcome. As more counties are pushing back on certain things, we can get more case law behind us. Discussion ensued regarding setting a precedent for future lawsuits. Mr. Janes stated it doesn’t help that surrounding counties are allowing solar facilities on prime soils. Mr. Asp stated Mr. Ocken, who is on the ZBA, is of the opinion is that if you leave land idle over a period of time, with minimum fertilizer, it would increase the LESA score. Discussion ensued. Motion to forward to Executive

Committee for consideration carries 5-1 via voice vote.

10. NEW BUSINESS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION)

Request by Dan Dolan, Dolan Murphy, 765 Orchard Ave., Aurora, IL for a Special Use in the B-1 Business District to allow for a special trucking business, primarily associated with the repair of trucks to be conducted within an existing commercial building.

Common Location: 14742 E. IL Rte. 64 (formerly Timberman’s Tree Service)

Mr. Miller stated this proposed use is not a listed use within the B-1 Business District. Our Zoning Ordinance has a provision that allows a petitioner to appear before this committee to discuss the proposed use and determine if they are eligible to apply for a special use permit where it is not specifically listed as such in the zoning district.

Mr. Gabriel Mascote, the potential buyer, was present and stated we are a transportation company and are looking for a body repair facility for commercial class A trucks. This is not going be a truck repair facility, this would be a body repair facility. We have a truck repair facility in Hampshire, IL that handles truck repairs. We have a fleet of roughly 500 tractors and 800 trailers and are looking for a central hub facility that is close to some our top tier shippers and receivers. This would be a 9 to 5 operation, with maybe 5-8 trucks parked outside and the majority inside for repairs. We would like to develop something where we could employ local people. Mr. Youman asked are we provisioning the maximum number of trucks. Mr. Miller stated we can make it a condition of the special use. Mr. Youman asked is this mostly fiberglass work. Mr. Mascote answered some fiberglass, but mostly plastic. Discussion ensued regarding waste disposal. Mr. Fritz asked if the previous business had a special use. Mr. Miller answered no but they probably should have in my opinion.

Mr. Hopkins made a motion to allow this request to be present to the ZBA. Seconded by Mr. Fritz. Motion carries 6-0 via voice vote.

11. MOBILE HOME APPLICATIONS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION)

None.

12. SUBDIVISION PLATS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION)

None.

13. PETITIONS FOR REFERRAL TO THE COUNTY BOARD (Discussion & Recommendation)

#08-24SSU – Jose Gaucin & Aracely Meza, 3517 S. 60th Ct., Cicero, IL for a Supplemental Special Use Permit in the AG-1 Agricultural District to allow a Wedding Venue on the property described as follows and owned by the petitioners:

Part of the NE1/4 of the SE1/4 of Section 32 in Dement Township 40N, R2E of the 3rd

P.M., 10.02 acres, more or less, Ogle County, IL

Property Identification Number: 25-32-400-011

Common Location: 16989 E. Ritchie Rd.

RPC approved 6-0 as similar venues have been allowed; owners assurance the events will be run properly; the low LESA score; and the location does not affect the neighbors as it will all be warehouses.

ZBA approved 5-0 as all six standards were met.

Mr. Youman made a motion to approve and send to the full County Board for approval.

Seconded by Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Youman asked if they are allowed to have alcohol at these events. Mr. Miller stated they do not have a liquor license and a caterer would need to be licensed to serve alcohol. Discussion ensued. Motion carries 6-0 via voice vote. Mr. Youman asked to have a follow up in three months to see how things are going.

14. PENDING PETITIONS

There were no petitions filed for December 2024.

15. ADJOURN – 10:40 A.M.

The next monthly meeting of the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee of the Ogle County Board will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. the Old Ogle County Courthouse, Third Floor County Board Room #317, 105 S. Fifth St., Oregon, IL.

https://www.oglecountyil.gov/document_center/County%20Board/Committees/Supervisor%20of%20Assessments,%20Planning%20&%20Zoning/2024/Supervisor%20of%20Assessments%20and%20Planning%20and%20Zoning%20Committee%20Minutes%20December.pdf