Kane County Regional Planning Commission

Transcription

1 Kane County Regional Planning Commission Glenn Morgenroth, Chair Chris Lauzen, Ex-Officio Sue Harney, Vice Chair Kurt Kojzarek, Ex-Officio Steve Arnold Joseph Slawek Matt Tansley, Secretary Ian Lamp Phone: (630) Steve Persinger Tom Armstrong Joe White Esther Steel County Government Center Geneva, Illinois Call Meeting to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes: June 14, 2017 (attached) 4. Regional Update CMAP ON TO 2050 REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, October 11, :00 p.m. Government Center, Building A 4 th Floor Conference Room 719 S. Batavia Ave. Geneva, IL AGENDA a. Plan Development Update (Matt Tansley, Land Use Planner) b. Conservation Data Layer Review (Karen Miller, Executive Planner) 5. Kane County Planning Cooperative Updates a. Health Updates: Give Kane a Voice Project (Michael Isaacson, Assistant Director of Community Health) b. Transportation Updates: Long Range Plan Outreach and Data Gathering (Jen Becker, Chief of Planning & Programming) c. Land Use Updates i. Fox River Water Trail Initiative (Karen Miller, Executive Planner) ii. Food Hub Project (Matt Tansley, Land Use Planner) iii. LTA Update: Transfer of Development Rights Research (Janice Hill, Executive Planner) 6. Other Business (as needed) 7. Planning Division Monthly Report (attached) 8. Public Comment 9. Adjournment

2 Minutes of the Kane County Regional Planning Commission Meeting Kane County Government Center 719 S. Batavia Avenue, Building A Fourth Floor Conference Room, 7:00 p.m. Geneva, Illinois June 14, 2017 The Kane County Regional Planning Commission held a meeting on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., in the Kane County Government Center, Building A, Fourth Floor Conference Room. Regional Planning Commissioners in attendance: Chairman Glenn Morgenroth, Commissioners Steve Arnold, Joseph Slawek, Steve Persinger, Tom Armstrong, Joe White, Esther Steel Commissioners absent: Vice Chairman Sue Harney, Commissioner Ian Lamp Development and Community Services Staff Attendees: Dir. Mark VanKerkhoff; Planners Janice Hill, Karen Miller, Matt Tansley, Chris Toth Health Department Staff Attendees: Health Planner Maria Pergi Guest Attendees: Ed Brettschneider, John Brettschneider, Denise Brettschneider 1. Call Meeting to Order Chairman Morgenroth called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. 2. Roll Call The roll was called and a quorum was established with seven (7) voting members. Following the roll call Chairman Morgenroth invited the Commissioners and staff to give brief personal introductions. 3. Approval of Minutes: May 11, 2016 Minutes were approved on motion by Arnold, seconded by Persinger. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 4. Brettschneider Property Minor Subdivision & Land Use Reclassification The petitioner, Ed Brettschneider, introduced himself and the members of his family in

3 attendance including his wife Denise and brother John. Planner Tansley proceeded to provide an overview of the staff report with presentation slides prepared in review of the petitioner s request for subdivision. The petitioner was requesting to subdivide a lot in Hampshire Township into three similarly sized parcels. Tansley referenced a map displaying the County s Conceptual Land Use Strategy with the subject property denoted by a star. He then reviewed the site plan proposed by the petitioner to subdivide the lot, which consists of two single-family homes and a duplex, with the duplex being the southernmost building on the property. The subject property is currently split between two zoning districts, with the roughly northern third of the lot designated as E-3 District Estate and the southern two-thirds as F District Farming. As part of the petitioner s request for subdivision, they are also requesting that the proposed subdivided lots be rezoned such that the two northernmost lots are E-3 District Estate and the southernmost lot becomes R-5 District Two-Family Residential. Tansley referenced a zoning map and an area map of the 2040 Land Use Plan with the subject property and surrounding areas illustrating the land uses of neighboring properties. According to the 2040 Land Use Map the subject property falls within the Estate Residential land use classification. Tansley went on to review the Estate Residential land use description as described in the Kane County 2040 Plan, including terrain consistency and vegetation types. He noted that the recommended gross density according to the plan should typically not exceed more than one dwelling unit per four acres of land. Tansley reviewed objectives from the 2040 Plan that warranted consideration as part of a review of the petitioner s request. The objective categories highlighted included: Land Use & the Built Environment, Housing, Agriculture / Food & Farms and Open Space & Green Infrastructure. Tansley returned to a map of surrounding land uses drawing commissioners attention to the site s proximity to the Village of Burlington. Although the subject property fall s within the municipality s mile and a half extraterritorial planning jurisdiction, the village has waived its jurisdiction in an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Hampshire. The agreement designates that the Village of Burlington does not have planning jurisdiction over any lands that fall within Hampshire Township. And because the subject property is more than a mile and a half from the village of Hampshire, it does not fall within the planning jurisdiction of any municipality. Tansley reviewed the site area on the county s Green Infrastructure Map, which included a brief recap of the Green Infrastructure Plan s function as well as the natural resources recognized by the plan within proximity of the subject site. He concluded his summary of the staff report with a staff recommendation that the petitioner s request be approved. Staff concluded that the proposed subdivision would neither intensify the land use or change the density on the site. Also, the proposal would not be removing any active farmland from production. In the future the Commission might consider reclassifying the site area to a land use category which recognizes higher densities. The site s current density exceeds the recommended one dwelling unit per four acres specified in the 2040 Plan s Estate Residential land use classification. Chairman Morgenroth inquired as to when the structures on the property were built, to which Ed Brettschneider replied that they were constructed in the 1970s.

4 Dir. VanKerkhoff explained the need for the Regional Planning Commission to consider and provide a recommendation on the petitioner s requests for rezoning. Petitions for rezoning that do not conflict with the Kane County 2040 Plan would ordinarily bypass the Regional Planning Commission before being considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and County Board. In cases such as this, where a petition may present inconsistencies with the 2040 Plan, the Regional Plan Commission is empowered to issue a recommendation to be considered by the County Board. Morgenroth asked to what extent the approval of the zoning petition would encourage similar rezoning/subdivision requests. VanKerkhoff noted that the petition in question applies to structures that have been in place for years and would only serve to bring the properties into compliance with permitted uses. Commissioner Armstrong noted that it wasn t likely that the structures on the property would be going anywhere and it makes sense to bring them into compliance. VanKerkhoff said that the Commissioners could vote on issuing a recommendation for the approval of the petition for rezoning the subject property. Commissioner White motioned to approve the zoning petition, which was seconded by Commissioner Arnold. The motion carried unanimously by a roll call vote. 5. Farmland Protection Program and Investment Promotional Video Planner Hill provided an introduction to a promotional video that was developed to tell the story of Kane County s Farmland Protection Program. Hill noted that video, combined with social media tools, is an effective means for reaching larger audiences and sharing the personal stories of Kane County farmers. She recounted the county s history of protecting and promoting farmland as a favorable land use, including through long range plans and ordinances. After the video was played for the Commissioners, Hill discussed the funders, including Farm Credit, who financed production of the video as well as funding sources driving other project areas within Growing for Kane, including the Food Hub Project. This video, and others to come, will also serve as fundraising tools. Chairman Morgenroth asked if the riverboat casino funds were drying up. Hill confirmed that this was true, noting that during peak funding years, about $1.8 mil. was allocated for the Farmland Protection Program, with that figure falling to around $300K. The future of the program will also depend on the composition of the next federal Farm Bill. This builds the necessity for diversifying funding streams as well as building new partnerships outside of the county. Morgenroth inquired if there are preservation programs similar to Kane County s being operated in other states. Hill said that there are and highlighted a land trust operating in Iowa, that she has collaborated with, which is instituting a farmland protection program strictly for the purpose of preserving land for growing food. She noted that some states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and California, operate state-wide farmland protection programs. Kane County is one of few counties in the country that operates a county-based preservation program. 6. Wisconsin-Illinois Fox River Water Trail Initiative Planner Miller discussed the sponsoring organization for the Fox River Water Trail Initiative, the National Park Service, which manages the program designating national water trails across the country. The National Park Service s definition of a water trail is a recreational route on waterways, consisting of a network of public access points supported by broad-based community

5 partnerships that provide both conservation and recreational opportunities. Referencing presentation slides, Miller went on to identify the best management practices required of water trails that are recognized by the Park Service. This includes access to a wide variety of recreational opportunities (e.g. canoeing, kayaking fishing etc.) and opportunities for education (e.g. cultural heritage, boating skills, outdoor ethics and conservations strategies to restore waterways). Community support and advocacy for stewardship of the water trail are desired practices as well as planning and visioning which support the best management practices. There are a variety of benefits that come with being recognized through the National Water Trail System, which includes a special designation by the Secretary of the Interior, national promotion and visibility through the National Park Service website, opportunities to access sources of technical assistance and funding, positive economic benefits through increased tourism, improved public health and quality of life through enhanced outdoor recreational activities along the river and access to networking and training opportunities. Despite a lack of funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership remains strong and committed to preserving and enhancing the Fox River system. FREP is represented by a diverse group including businesses, non-profit organizations, land owners and governmental agencies within the Fox River watershed. FREP has been working with their Wisconsin counterpart to host and annual Fox River Summit in Burlington, WI. Angie Tornes, with the National Park Service, was a speaker at the 2014 Summit, who sparked the idea that FREP might pursue a National Water Trail designation for the stretch of the River which runs through Kane County. She encouraged the FREP and its partners to submit a proposal that would encompass the entire 200-mile length of the Fox River, which begins in southern Wisconsin. In 2015 the project team applied for and was awarded technical assistance from the National Park Service to pursue the National Water Trail designation. The core development team expanded their project team to include the director of the Rock River Water Trail, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning as well as some Wisconsin-based organizations. The project team initially developed a set of goals and a water trail action plan using the NPS best management practices. Some of the plan elements will include an educational component for the features of the river, advocacy for the protection of the river, a public planning process to gather input and create a partnership that will ultimately be responsible for the plan s implementation. The team is currently collecting data that will be used to develop maps that will be accessible online and functional using a smartphone. In addition to print promotional materials, Miller also hopes to have a video created showcasing the river as a community asset. The plan itself will detail the various types of amenities and access points along the river, where future improvements are desired and who the key partners will be to accomplish the plan s goals. As part of the initial planning process Miller reviewed the existing data for access points along the Fox River Trail. The project team has also developed a survey to be used by volunteers to collect data on the existing conditions of resources and access points along the river. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning

6 Commission have begun working together to coordinate the creation of maps for the river plan. A formal application for National Water Trail designation will still need to be submitted at a later date. Commissioner Armstrong asked what the timeline would be for submitting the formal application. Miller replied that data collection will continue through the end of the current paddling season with the hope of having a final plan completed and the application submitted by the end of Commissioner White asked how many counties were involved in the project. Miller noted that there are two in Wisconsin and six in Illinois. Chairman Morgenroth inquired if it would be possible to traverse the 200-mile length of the river. Miller said that it would be very challenging, especially through the Chain-of-Lakes segment of the river, in addition to the numerous dams along the length of it. Armstrong expressed his excitement for the project, citing the improvements and recreational amenities that have been added to the Rock River corridor since its designation as a National Water Trail. 7. Food Hub Project Updates Referencing presentation slides, Planner Tansley discussed the origins of the Kane County Food Hub Project and Feasibility Study. The project originated as a recommendation from the Growing for Kane Health Impact Assessment, released in 2013, outlining program and policy guidelines for increasing the production of healthy and locally grown foods. The HIA called for the county to work with the Farm Bureau, Northern Illinois Food Bank and other partners to determine the feasibility of developing a food hub to create a pipeline for locally grown fruits and vegetables into wholesale and institutional markets. Tansley explained that food hubs primarily serve small and mid-sized farms, which working independently often face challenges doing business with wholesale buyers. Food hubs can provide services such as processing and packaging to better meet the demands of buyers. Tansley provided an overview of the Food Hub Feasibility Study and its findings. The first major element of the study was a market assessment, which quantified the level of interest among food growers and wholesale buyers to use a regional food hub for the sale or purchase of local produce. Interested buyers surveyed represented about 850 acres of current fruit and vegetable production. Those buyers also indicated the presence of a food hub would provide the incentive for them to bring up to an additional 160 acres into production. Surveyed buyers with an expressed interest in working with a hub represent $53 mil. in annual purchasing of whole produce and $26 mil. worth of processed produce. Tansley also discussed some of the barriers that farmers currently face in expanding the sale of grown foods. Some of the barriers identified in the study include the cost in time and dollars to implement Good Agricultural Practices, health and safety best practices required by most wholesale buyers. Farmers also expressed concern over not selling all of what they are growing as well as getting a fair price from buyers. The Feasibility Study also focused on developing a set of health equity strategies to be embedded within the food hub s operating model. The first strategy focused on meeting the needs of school districts for fresh-cut produce by incorporating specialized processing capabilities. The second

7 strategy calls for the food hub to partner with one or more health service providers to develop a CSA style prescription produce program. Such a program would be a resource to patients facing nutrition related illnesses or with limited means to obtain healthy produce. The Food Hub Project consultant team was also able to generate financial and other operating projections for the food hub at its 3 to 5 year operating stage. The hub is anticipated to need about 8,000 square feet of warehousing space. The team produced a list of sites that met the basic criteria for a food hub facility based on the operating projections. This along with all other project research will be made available to the selected hub operator. Tansley noted some of the anticipated economic benefits of a hub operating in Kane County and the current process for selecting an operator. Tansley described some of the supporting work that is being done to insure the food hub project s success including a prescription produce pilot project and vegetable demonstration gardens at the Juvenile Justice Center. He wrapped up the presentation highlighting various project partners and their roles. Commissioner White asked if the eventual operator would be expected to provide the physical space for the food hub. Tansley replied that the operator would be deciding as to where the food hub would be located. They might choose to select a site from the list generated by the team or an alternate site not yet identified. VanKerkhoff noted the project team received feedback during a networking event for potential operators which led to the conclusion that it might be overwhelming for operator candidates to initiate a site search across the county from scratch. Commissioner White asked what the current timeframe is for selecting an operator. Tansley replied that once the staff Selection Committee makes their recommendation, a resolution would be introduced to authorize an agreement between the operator and the county. At the earliest this would be finalized in the fall. Planner Hill added that in addition to pursuing funding in support of institutional readiness activities, the team has also applied for grants that would support farmer readiness through trainings and other resources. 8. Planning Division Monthly Report May Tansley highlighted the most recent Planning Division Staff report. VanKerkhoff emphasized the importance of renewed attention to the Conceptual Land Use Strategy as economic conditions improve and development pressures increase. Chairman Morgenroth asked if there were currently any development proposals under consideration. VanKerkhoff noted that there have not been any recent developments submitted within the unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioner White asked when staff could be expected to begin working on the county s 2050 Plan. VanKerkhoff said that the county plan will be updated in such a way that it coincides with CMAP s development of a new regional plan, which is currently ongoing. Health Planner Pergi provided an overview of current Health Department planning initiatives including the ongoing work of three Action Teams including Chronic Disease, Income & Education and Behavioral Health. The Health Department is also piloting a series of community engagement projects to better understand community needs through improved channels of communication.

8 9. Public Comment None. 9. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Arnold at 8:38 pm and seconded by Persinger. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

9 Kane County Development & Community Services Department Planning & Special Projects Division Monthly Report September 2017 In addition to regular on-going activities, the following are highlights of regional land, agriculture and other Planning Division activities of the past month. Chicago Wilderness Oak Ecosystem Recovery Program Science and Management Meeting On Aug. 24th Karen Miller participated in this meeting with the focus to identify highest priority research goals for oak ecosystem recovery in the Midwest and collaborators for research projects. Zoning - Planning Meeting Chris Toth and Matt Tansley met with Subdivision Planner, Brooke Biewer, to review key elements of the Kane County Zoning Ordinance and common inquiries from constituents. Wisconsin-Illinois Fox River Water Trail Initiative As Illinois co-chair of the Initiative, Karen Miller participated in the monthly meeting on August 28th to discuss progress on collecting existing data on access sites, dams and segments along the Fox River as well as developing a budget and funding. Regional Plan Commission Staff Meeting Janice Hill, Karen Miller, Chris Toth and Matt Tansley met on August 30th to discuss a tentative schedule and prospective agenda items for Regional Plan Commission meetings to be held in Fox Valley Sustainability Network Karen Miller facilitated presenters at the Forum focusing on Green Infrastructure held at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center on August 29th. Matt Tansley attended the FVSN meeting and discussed partner opportunities with a representative of Sustain DuPage on developing local food infrastructure assets. Food Hub Project Mark VanKerkhoff, Janice Hill and Matt Tansley met with the President of Juneteenth Productions, a videography consultancy, on August 16 th to discuss the parameters for creating a video to build awareness for the Food Hub Project, funded by the Food to Market Catalyst grant.

10 Mark VanKerkhoff, Janice Hill and Matt Tansley met with staff from the Kane County State s Attorney s Office and Purchasing Department to discuss the provisions that should be included in a draft Memorandum of Understanding between the County and food hub operator. On August 31 st Janice Hill and Matt Tansley met with a partnering representative of the Rush-Copley Foundation to refine a grant proposal to the Telligen Community Initiative. The grant opportunity would provide resources for the future food hub operator to pilot a prescription produce program in partnership with a local healthcare provider to meet the nutrition needs of patients with limited access to healthy, local foods. On September 5th Janice Hill and Matt Tansley met with the candidate to be Kane County s partner and food hub operator, to discuss the Telligen funding opportunity. The team discussed the candidate s current assets and anticipated needs to further refine the grant proposal. Valley Industrial Association Collaboration Conference Chris Toth attended the VIA s annual Collaboration Conference on September 7th. Manufacturers from around the Fox River Valley attended the conference, which included sessions discussing salaries in manufacturing, cyber security, financial skills, and safety culture. Fox River Ecosystem Partnership On Sept. 13th Karen Miller attended the September Membership Meeting focusing on nutrient reduction strategies in the Fox River and Illinois.