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
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

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

 McHenry
County
Land Use
Light Green = Agricultural
Dark Green = Open Space

0 1.5 3 6
miles
 The Planned Development Zoning District was established
under the 1994 Zoning Ordinance

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

slopes, or other unique characteristics

Adherence: Voluntary

The Process:
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 SPRC
County 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 Conservation Design Ordinance (2008)
‘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 prairies
Soils 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
Conservation Design Goals
Limits on disturbance of:
Floodplains

Wetlands

Soils

Permanent Open Space

Tree Protection Min. 40% -70%
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

Assessment of Conservation Design for the creation of Green Infrastructure

•Flexibility

•Mandates and incentives

•Each project a new set of opportunities

•Permanent open space

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

 Agriculture
Natural Resource
Water Resources
Open Space and Greenways
McHenry
County
Master Greenways Plan

2030 Conservation
Comprehensive Design
Plan Ordinance

Master Strengthening
New goals Greenways of
ordinances
Plan
 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, Director

dasandquist@co.mchenry.il.us

Darrell Moore, Senior Planner

dnmoore@co.mchenry.il.us

The Conservation Design Ordinance can be downloaded at:

www.mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/planninganddevelopment /Pages/Ordinances.aspx